How long after being laid off can I file for unemployment - Washington ESD timing question

You can file your Washington ESD claim immediately after being laid off. There's no waiting period to submit your initial application. In fact, you should file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts the week you file, not the week you were laid off. So if you wait too long, you're potentially losing money.

You can file your claim immediately - there's no waiting period to FILE the claim itself. The sooner you file, the better because your benefit year starts from when you submit your application. However, there IS a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment, but that's built into the system automatically.

File online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. The system is usually less busy early in the morning or late at night. You'll need your social security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months. Don't wait - benefits are calculated from the date you file your claim, not when you lost your job.

Just to add to what was said above - when you file, make sure you have your employer information ready including their federal tax ID if possible. Also, even though you can file immediately, your first payable week won't be until after that waiting week is served. So if you file today, you'll still need to do your weekly claims but won't get paid for the first qualifying week.

I tried filing my claim online but kept getting error messages and couldn't get through to anyone on the phone. The hold times are insane - I've been trying for three days straight to talk to someone at Washington ESD. Has anyone found a way to actually reach them when you need help with your claim?

I was in the same boat last month - got laid off and stressed about timing. Filed the same day I got the news and it worked out fine. The key thing is don't delay because you're losing potential benefit weeks. Even though there's that waiting week, the sooner you get in the system the better.

One thing to remember is that even though you can file immediately, there's still a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits. So your first payable week will be the second week after you file. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during that waiting week.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!!! i got laid off 3 weeks ago and still haven't figured out how to file properly. every time i try to create an account on their website it says my information doesn't match their records. this is so frustrating when you need money to pay bills

honestly the hardest part isn't when to file but actually getting through to washington esd if you have questions or problems. I spent hours on hold trying to get help with my claim status. Eventually found this service called claimyr.com that helps you get through to an actual agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Pro tip: If you're having trouble with the online system, you can also file by phone, but be prepared for long wait times. The automated system can handle basic claim filing if you can't get through to a person. Just call 800-318-6022.

File ASAP but be prepared for the system to be slow. I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking I needed to 'process' being laid off emotionally first. Bad idea - those few days matter for your benefit calculation.

I filed my claim the day after I got laid off and it took about 3 weeks before I saw my first payment. Part of that was the waiting week, but then there was also some kind of verification process that took longer than expected. Just be patient and keep filing your weekly claims.

Just want to echo what others have said - file ASAP! I waited almost a month thinking I needed to job hunt first or something, and I lost out on a lot of money. Washington ESD doesn't backdate claims, so you only get benefits from the week you actually file forward.

The waiting period thing confuses everyone. To clarify: NO waiting period to file your initial claim. But there IS a one-week waiting period before you can collect benefits. So if you're laid off on Tuesday, file Wednesday (or even Tuesday night online), but your first payable week will be the week after your waiting week is served.

Make sure you have your employment information ready when you file. They'll ask for details about your last job including your employer's name, address, your last day worked, and the reason you were separated. If you were laid off due to lack of work, make sure you select that option clearly.

been trying to call washington esd for two weeks about my claim status and can never get through. tried the claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! got connected to an agent in like 30 minutes instead of spending all day on hold. definitely recommend if you're having phone issues.

One thing to watch out for - if you had any vacation pay or severance pay when you were laid off, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers some types of separation pay as wages, which could delay your first payment. Make sure you report any money you received accurately.

The key thing is to file your initial claim as soon as possible after being laid off, then make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you're not getting paid yet. Missing weekly claims can mess up your benefits later on.

i'm confused about the whole process. do i need to wait until i get approved before i start looking for work? or am i supposed to be job searching while my claim is being processed?

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to file for unemployment, don't accept any temporary or part-time work right away without understanding how it affects your benefits. You can work part-time and still collect some unemployment, but there are rules about how much you can earn.

File immediately, period. There's literally no benefit to waiting and you're just losing money. I learned this the hard way when I got laid off from Boeing a few years back. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start the process and get your benefits flowing.

Don't overthink it - file today! I was laid off from Boeing and filed the same afternoon. The Washington ESD website walks you through everything step by step. Just have your social security number, employer details, and last few paystubs handy.

I'm curious about this too since I might be facing a layoff next month. Do you have to file during business hours or can you do it online anytime?

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - file immediately! I helped my sister with her claim last year and the biggest mistake people make is delaying. Washington ESD even recommends filing on your last day of work if possible.

UGHHH the whole washington esd system is so confusing!! I waited two weeks to file because I thought you had to wait and then found out I could have filed immediately. Lost two weeks of potential benefits because of bad information. FILE NOW!

Pro tip: when you file online, make sure you have a good internet connection and don't rush through the questions. I had to restart my application twice because I got kicked out of the system partway through.

Another vote for filing immediately! I was laid off from a restaurant job and filed the next day. Took about 10 days to get my first determination letter. The key is getting in the system ASAP so your benefit year starts.

I used to think you had to wait until you received your final paycheck to file, but that's not true either. You can file as soon as you know your employment is ending. Washington ESD will figure out the payment details based on your work history.

Question about the claimyr service someone mentioned earlier - has anyone else used it? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff but the idea of not waiting on hold forever is really appealing.

For what it's worth, I filed my unemployment claim about 6 hours after getting laid off and everything went smoothly. The online system asks you for your last day of work, so they know exactly when your employment ended. No need to overthink the timing.

Last thing I'll add - when you do file, make sure you understand the weekly claim requirements. You'll need to file every week even during that waiting week, and you'll need to report any work or income. Don't skip weeks thinking you'll start later.