How long after losing job can you apply for unemployment in Washington

You can file immediately! There's no waiting period to apply. In fact, you should file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts the week you file, not when you lost your job. The sooner you get your claim in, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.

File ASAP! I made the mistake of waiting 3 weeks after my layoff thinking I needed some cooling off period or whatever. Lost out on those weeks of benefits completely. Washington ESD doesn't backdate claims to your separation date.

Just to clarify the process - you can apply the day after your last day of work. There IS a one-week waiting period, but that's after you file, not before. So if you file this week, your first benefit payment would be for next week assuming your claim is approved. The waiting week is unpaid but you still need to file your weekly claim for it.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to file or have questions, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Was way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

don't wait!! i thought i had to have my final paycheck or something before filing but nope, you can file right after termination. just make sure you have your social, employer info, and know your gross wages from last 18 months

The system is so confusing about timing. I filed 3 months after my layoff because nobody told me I could file right away. Thought there was some rule about trying to find work first or proving you couldn't find anything. Waste of time and money.

File online at esd.wa.gov as soon as you can. The process takes like 30 minutes max if you have your employment history ready. Don't overthink it - there's literally no benefit to waiting and you're just losing money every week you delay.

Your employer might have told you something about waiting periods but that's probably about COBRA or other benefits. For unemployment, file immediately. I've been through this 3 times unfortunately and learned to file the day after my last day of work.

PLEASE file now. I see so many people wait weeks thinking they need permission or paperwork or whatever. You're literally throwing away money. The state doesn't care how long you wait to apply - they'll approve or deny based on your separation reason, not timing.

Just went through this process last month. Filed 4 days after my layoff and my claim was approved within a week. The key is having your employment info organized before you start the application. Make a list of employers from the last 18 months with addresses and dates.

One thing to remember is that even if you file right away, it can take 1-2 weeks for your claim to be processed and approved. So don't expect money immediately, but definitely don't delay filing because that just pushes everything back further.

I had issues getting through to Washington ESD when I first filed and had questions about my claim status. Used Claimyr to get connected to someone who could actually help me. Way better than the endless busy signals and dropped calls I was getting before.

Tech layoffs are considered involuntary separation so you should be eligible as long as you meet the work history requirements. Don't stress about the timing - just file ASAP and start the process. You've already lost 2 weeks, don't lose any more.

Just file online today if possible. The sooner you get your claim in, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. There's literally no advantage to waiting and every week you delay costs you potential benefit money.

Quick note - make sure you file your weekly claims every week once your initial claim is approved, even for the waiting week. Missing a weekly claim can cause issues with your benefits later on.

If you run into any roadblocks with the online system or need to speak with someone at ESD, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr. They helped me get through when I was stuck in phone queue hell for days. The service really works - there's a demo video that shows exactly how it helps you connect.

Bottom line - file immediately, don't wait another day. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file your initial claim, so every day you wait is money you're losing. The process is pretty straightforward online and you can always get help if you run into issues.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - file TODAY if you haven't already! I made the same mistake when I got laid off from my marketing job last year. Waited almost 3 weeks because I thought I needed to "try harder" to find work first or something. Huge mistake. Lost out on nearly $2,000 in benefits that I could never get back. Washington State makes it super clear that you can't backdate claims, so every day you wait is literally money out of your pocket. The online application at esd.wa.gov is actually pretty user-friendly - took me about 45 minutes when I finally did it. Have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your last employer's info ready. Don't overthink it, just get it done!