How long after losing job can I file for unemployment in Washington?

Thanks! So I can go ahead and file today then? Do I need any specific documents?

Yes, file today. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and details about how you lost your job. The Washington ESD online system will walk you through it.

Oh no, did waiting those 2 weeks cause problems with your claim?

yeah it delayed everything and i lost out on those first 2 weeks of potential benefits. file right away trust me

Is the online system pretty straightforward? I'm not super tech-savvy.

It's designed to be user-friendly. Just take your time and have your employment info ready. If you get stuck, you can call for help, though wait times can be long.

Speaking of calling - if you do need to reach Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals when I had questions about my claim status.

Got it, filing today for sure. How long does it typically take to get approved?

Depends on your situation. Simple layoffs usually process faster than job separations that need investigation. Could be anywhere from a few days to several weeks if it goes into adjudication.

No, that's not how it works. You file immediately after job loss. The job search requirements come AFTER you file and start receiving benefits, not before.

Oh wow, I've been giving people wrong advice then. Thanks for clarifying!

That's helpful to know. I've been at my job for about 2 years so hopefully that's enough earnings history.

Two years should be plenty. The system looks at your highest-earning quarters to calculate your weekly benefit amount.

Adjudication means they're investigating something about your claim - could be the reason you lost your job, a discrepancy in your application, or they need additional information. Have you checked if there are any issues showing in your account that need your response?

checked online and don't see anything. tried calling but can never get through

That's exactly the situation where Claimyr helped me out. When you're stuck in adjudication and can't reach anyone, their service gets you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent who can explain what's holding up your claim. Worth checking out if you're getting nowhere with regular calling.

Weekly claims? I thought you just filed once?

You file your initial claim once, then you have to file weekly claims every week to get paid. Think of it as checking in to confirm you're still unemployed and eligible. You can't get benefits for weeks you don't file.

Thanks for the perspective from someone who's been through it multiple times. Any other tips for a first-timer?

Keep detailed records of everything - when you filed, confirmation numbers, any correspondence. And be patient but persistent if you run into issues. The system works but it's not always fast.

You can file for partial unemployment if your hours were significantly reduced. Washington ESD has specific rules about how much you can earn and still qualify for partial benefits.

Good to know! My hours got cut from 40 to 15 per week so maybe I should look into that.

The waiting week doesn't count against your total benefit weeks. If you're eligible for 26 weeks, you get 26 weeks of payments after the waiting week.

Perfect, that's what I hoped but wasn't sure. Thanks!

That's encouraging! Two weeks seems pretty reasonable for the first payment.

Yeah it was faster than I expected. I think because my layoff was straightforward - company downsizing with proper notice and paperwork.

Six weeks does seem excessive. Have you tried reaching out to your state representative's office? Sometimes they can help escalate cases that are stuck in the system.

Didn't know that was an option. I'll try that next. So frustrated with this whole process.

Before going the political route, you might want to try getting through to an actual Washington ESD agent first. That's where Claimyr really shines - they specialize in getting you connected when normal calling fails. Sometimes there's a simple issue that just needs clarification from a real person.

Good tip about filing late at night! I'll keep that in mind.

yeah avoid peak hours if you can, system gets overloaded during business hours

Thanks for the HR perspective! That settles it, I'm definitely filing today.

Good choice. The Washington ESD system may be slow, but it's slower if you don't get in line right away.

You should wait until after your actual last day of work. Filing before your employment officially ends could cause issues with your claim. But file the day after your last day, not weeks later.

Makes sense. Better to be safe and wait until after my last day. Thanks!

Don't feel stupid - lots of people don't know the timing rules. File now, you'll still be eligible for benefits going forward, you just missed out on that first month.

yeah that's what i figured. expensive lesson learned. filing today.

Is that something I need to do right away or can I wait until after my claim is approved?

You can register with WorkSource after you file your claim, but don't wait too long. You'll need to start meeting job search requirements once your benefits begin.

I'm definitely feeling overwhelmed by all the requirements, but everyone's advice here has been really helpful.

Take it one step at a time. File your claim first, then worry about the other stuff as it comes up. You've got this!

Great point! I just moved so I'll make sure to use my current contact info. Thanks everyone for all the help, filing my claim now!

Good luck! Come back and update us on how it goes.