How long after getting fired can I apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

You can actually file your unemployment claim immediately after being terminated. There's no waiting period to apply for Washington ESD benefits - the sooner you file, the better. Your benefit year will start from the week you file your claim, not from when you lost your job.

Yeah file right away but just know that even though you can apply immediately, there IS a one-week waiting period before you actually receive benefits. So your first payable week will be your second week of unemployment.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for days about my claim status and it's impossible! The phone system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - dates of employment, reason for separation, employer contact info, etc. If you were fired 'for cause' it might affect your eligibility.

ugh the washington esd system is such a mess right now, good luck getting your claim processed quickly. mine's been stuck in adjudication for over a month

Since you were just terminated yesterday, I'd recommend filing your initial claim today if possible. You'll need to file weekly claims every week going forward to continue receiving benefits. The key things to remember: file immediately, be honest about why you were terminated, and keep detailed records of your job search activities.

I got fired last year and filed the same day. Took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but that was partly because my employer contested the claim. If your termination was straightforward it should be faster.

One thing to watch out for - if you have any severance pay or vacation payout, that might delay when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers that 'wages' even though you're not working.

whatever you do dont listen to people who tell you to lie about why you got fired. washington esd WILL find out and then you'll owe back all the money plus penalties. just be honest from the start

Update: I actually tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and holy crap it worked! Got connected to a Washington ESD agent this morning after trying to call myself for literally weeks. Totally worth it just to get some actual answers about my claim.

Just a heads up that the Washington ESD website can be really slow during peak hours. I'd try filing early morning or late evening if possible to avoid the traffic.

Make sure you understand the difference between being fired and being laid off when you file. If it was a layoff due to lack of work, that's much more straightforward than being terminated for performance issues.

i filed the day after i got canned and it was fine. the hardest part is just keeping up with the weekly claims every week. set a reminder on your phone or something

To directly answer your original question - there is NO waiting period to apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits after being terminated. You can and should file immediately. The only 'waiting' is the time it takes for your claim to be processed and approved.

I had a similar situation last month - got fired on a Friday and filed my claim that same weekend. Even though I was worried about the reason for termination, I got approved within two weeks. Sometimes it works out better than you expect.

Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, write down your confirmation number and keep screenshots of everything. The Washington ESD system can be glitchy and you want proof of when you filed.

The fact that someone finally found a reliable way to reach Washington ESD is amazing. I've been telling people about that Claimyr thing too after it helped me resolve an issue with my standby claim. Game changer for dealing with their impossible phone system.

Don't stress too much about the attendance thing. I know someone who got fired for being late too many times and still got approved for unemployment. Washington ESD looks at whether it was willful misconduct, not just any policy violation.

Bottom line - file immediately, be honest about everything, and don't let anyone scare you out of applying. Even if there are complications, you can't get benefits if you don't apply in the first place.

Good luck with your claim! The Washington ESD process can be frustrating but most people do eventually get their benefits sorted out. Just be patient and persistent.