How long after being let go can you file for unemployment benefits in Washington?

You should file your claim as soon as possible after being laid off! There's no waiting period to file in Washington state. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. You can apply online at esd.wa.gov or by phone.

The key thing to understand is that benefits are paid from the Sunday of the week you file your claim. So if you got laid off on a Wednesday but don't file until the following Tuesday, you'll miss out on benefits for those first few days. File immediately after job loss, even if it's the same day you were terminated.

I was in the same situation last month - got let go on a Friday and filed my claim that same evening online. The Washington ESD website walks you through everything step by step. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready (dates, wages, reason for separation). If you run into issues reaching ESD by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent quickly. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i got fired last week and still haven't filed because i keep reading different things online about waiting periods and stuff. some sites say you have to wait 7 days??

Just to clarify some terminology - there's no waiting period to FILE your claim, but there is a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. This is different from the filing deadline. Your first payable week is actually the second week after you file, assuming your claim is approved.

File immediately! I got laid off on a Tuesday and filed that same day. Even though there's the one week waiting period for payments, you want to get your claim in the system ASAP. The processing can take time, especially if they need to verify anything with your employer.

The Washington ESD website says you can file a claim for benefits immediately after becoming unemployed. There's no waiting period to file the application itself. The key is to file as soon as possible after your last day of work to avoid losing any potential benefits.

been through this before - you can file the same day you lose your job if you want. I always tell people to file RIGHT AWAY because you never know if there might be complications or if they need additional info from you. Better to get the ball rolling immediately.

One thing to keep in mind - make sure you have your separation paperwork ready when you file. Sometimes employers take a few days to submit their side of things to ESD, which can delay processing. But you should still file your claim right away regardless.

File immediately! The longer you wait, the more potential benefits you lose. Washington doesn't have a waiting period to file like some other states do. I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking I needed to 'process' everything first - big mistake.

Just to add - if you have trouble getting through to ESD on the phone for any reason, there are services that can help. I used Claimyr when I needed to speak to someone about my claim status and it worked great. Way better than spending hours on hold.

The bottom line is file ASAP! Every day you wait is potentially money lost. Washington makes it pretty easy to file online, and there's no downside to filing immediately after job loss.

i wish someone had told me this when i got laid off. waited like 2 weeks thinking i needed to find another job first or something dumb like that. file immediately people!!

To summarize for the OP: File your unemployment claim immediately after being let go. No waiting period required in Washington state. Benefits are calculated from the Sunday of the week you file, so any delay costs you money. The online system at esd.wa.gov is available 24/7.

Also worth mentioning - if you have any issues with your claim or questions come up during the process, don't hesitate to call ESD. And if you can't get through on their regular lines, that Claimyr service people mentioned earlier can really help you connect with an agent when you need one.

One last tip - after you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. Don't forget about those or you'll miss payments!

Hope your claim goes smoothly OP! Most people don't have any major issues with the process. Just file right away and keep up with your weekly claims.

Glad you got your answer OP. For anyone else reading this thread later - the key takeaway is DON'T WAIT. File your unemployment claim immediately after job loss in Washington state. There's no benefit to waiting and you'll only lose money.

Update us on how it goes OP! Always good to hear success stories to help the next person who finds this thread.