How fast does unemployment kick in after filing with Washington ESD?

2-3 weeks?? That's longer than I hoped. Do I file the weekly claims right away or wait until something happens with my initial claim?

You can start filing weekly claims immediately after submitting your initial application. Don't wait - you need to file every week to get paid for that week later.

It was a layoff due to slow business. Should be straightforward then?

Layoffs are usually the easiest to process, so you should be on the faster timeline assuming your employer doesn't contest it.

My layoff still took 3 weeks because they had to verify my wages with my employer. Don't count on anything being truly fast with Washington ESD.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or one of those scammy things?

It's legitimate - they just help you get connected to Washington ESD phone agents instead of getting busy signals or hung up on. Saved me probably 20+ hours of trying to call.

What's a monetary determination letter? How long does that usually take to arrive?

It tells you how much you'll get per week based on your past wages. Usually comes within a week of filing if there are no issues. You can also check your account online to see the status.

Have you tried checking if your claim is in adjudication? That would explain the long delay. You should see the status when you log into your account.

it just says pending and has said that for over a month. no explanation of what theyre waiting for or when ill hear anything

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you can't get through to find out what's happening with your claim, having a way to actually reach an agent makes all the difference.

Wait, so even when I do start getting paid, I lose a whole week of benefits? That seems unfair.

Yep, the waiting week is just gone - you never get paid for it. It's supposedly to prevent people from filing frivolous claims but it hits everyone.

Job search activities? I thought I just had to file the weekly claims.

Nope, you need to actively look for work and document it. The WorkSourceWA website has all the details about what counts as a valid job search activity.

This is important - failure to meet job search requirements is one of the fastest ways to get disqualified from benefits.

That's helpful to know. Did you get paid for all 3 weeks or just 2 because of the waiting week?

Just 2 weeks - lost the first week to the waiting period. But after that first payment, subsequent weeks came regularly as long as I filed on time.

Is there anything I can do to make sure my claim processes as quickly as possible?

File accurately and completely, respond to any requests for information immediately, keep filing weekly even while waiting, and make sure your job search activities are documented properly.

How did you find out your employer reported it wrong? Did Washington ESD tell you?

Eventually, yes, but only after I managed to get through to someone on the phone. Which took forever because their phone system is overloaded.

This is another situation where Claimyr would have helped - getting through to an actual person to find out what's holding up your claim is half the battle.

My employer said the layoff was indefinite due to business conditions. Doesn't sound like standby applies to my situation.

Probably not then. Standby is mainly for seasonal layoffs or temporary shutdowns where you have a definite return date.

So the online status isn't reliable?

It's better than nothing but it doesn't always give you the full picture. Sometimes you need to talk to a person to understand what's really happening.

Easier said than done when you're worried about paying bills!

i get it trust me. but stressing about it doesnt help and you need to focus your energy on finding your next job anyway

Good point. I should probably gather my pay stubs and employment info before I start the application.

Definitely. Having everything ready makes the application process smoother and reduces the chance of mistakes that could slow things down.

That's somewhat reassuring at least. I was worried it might take months based on some of the horror stories I've heard.

The horror stories are usually from complicated cases or people who didn't follow the process correctly. Simple layoffs generally move through the system more predictably.

I don't think the day you file makes much difference for the initial claim processing. The weekly claims have specific filing periods, but the initial application is processed when they get to it.

Maybe you're right. Could just be coincidence that mine processed quickly when I filed on a Monday.

Yeah, I'm going to file today. Better to start the process even if it takes a few weeks.

Smart move. Time is money when it comes to unemployment benefits, and there's no benefit to waiting.

What kind of documentation should I keep handy?

Pay stubs, separation notice from your employer, any correspondence about the layoff, and records of your job search activities once you start looking.

Thanks everyone for all the info. This has been really helpful in setting expectations.

Good luck with your claim! Hope everything goes smoothly and you find new work soon.

I'll keep that in mind if my claim gets stuck. Hopefully it won't come to that but good to know there are options.

Exactly - hope for the best but have a backup plan if you need to escalate things.