How long after leaving a job can you apply for unemployment in Washington?

You can apply for unemployment benefits immediately after losing your job in Washington. There's no waiting period to file your initial claim with Washington ESD. The sooner you apply, the better because your benefits are dated from when you file, not when you lost your job.

File as soon as possible but understand there IS a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. This means your first payable week will be your second week of unemployment. You still need to file weekly claims for that first week though.

I made the mistake of waiting two weeks after I got fired thinking I needed to 'cool off' or something. Lost two weeks of potential benefits because of it. File immediately!

The Washington ESD website says you should file your claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment. Don't wait! I spent 3 hours on hold trying to get through to ask this same question when I could have just filed online.

just file online its way easier than calling. took me like 20 minutes to complete the whole application

Make sure you understand the difference between when you can FILE and when you can get PAID. You can file immediately but there's still that waiting week before payments start.

I was in the same situation last month. Got laid off on a Friday and filed my claim that same weekend. The key thing is to file during your first week of unemployment, not after it. Your benefit year starts from when you file.

DO NOT WAIT!! I cannot stress this enough. Every day you wait is potentially money lost. File your claim immediately and start doing your weekly claims right away.

The Washington ESD online system is available 24/7 so you can file whenever. Don't feel like you have to wait for business hours or anything.

Just remember you'll need to be actively looking for work starting immediately. Washington has job search requirements you have to meet each week.

I had issues with my claim getting stuck in adjudication because I waited too long to file. When I finally needed to talk to someone about it, regular calling was impossible. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked - got connected to an agent in like 15 minutes instead of waiting hours.

the system is so broken, they make you wait a week for money but expect you to file immediately. makes no sense

File online at secure.esd.wa.gov - it's way faster than trying to call. Have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and bank info ready if you want direct deposit.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you were laid off, make sure your employer correctly reports it as a layoff and not a quit or termination for cause. That can affect your eligibility.

I've been through this process twice now. File immediately, keep detailed records of everything, and don't panic if your claim takes a few days to process. The system works but it's not instant.

Pro tip: set up your online account and file electronically. Paper applications take forever to process and you can't track the status as easily.

Make sure you understand that filing for unemployment isn't admitting defeat or anything. You paid into this system through your taxes - it's there for exactly this situation.

If you run into any issues with your claim or need to speak with Washington ESD, definitely check out Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but it really does work. They handle the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit on hold for hours.

Bottom line: file today, file online, keep good records, and start your job search immediately. Don't overthink it.