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

You can file your initial claim immediately - don't wait! Washington ESD recommends filing as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's no waiting period to submit your application, and the sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can potentially start.

File today if you can. I made the mistake of waiting 3 days after I got terminated and I always wondered if that cost me money. The benefit year starts from when you file, not when you lost your job.

The key thing is filing immediately, but be prepared for potential delays in processing. Washington ESD has been overwhelmed lately and many claims are getting stuck in adjudication for weeks. If you have trouble getting through to them by phone, I discovered this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you connected to a real person at Washington ESD. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

WHATEVER YOU DO FILE ASAP!!! I waited almost a week because I thought I needed to 'decompress' first and it was stupid. You can't backdate benefits in Washington so every day you wait is money you lose.

I'm a workforce development specialist and I always tell people the same thing - file immediately. Washington state has no waiting week, so your benefits can start right away once approved. The only 'deadline' is that you have to file within a reasonable time after becoming unemployed, but there's no specific cutoff.

just filed mine today too after getting let go monday. the website was down for like an hour this morning but got through eventually. make sure you have all your employer info handy cause they ask for a lot of details

One more important point - even though you can file immediately, your first payable week starts the Sunday after you file your initial claim. So if you file on a Wednesday, your benefit week starts that Sunday. This is why filing quickly matters.

Been through this process twice unfortunately. File ASAP but also be prepared for them to potentially contact your employer to verify details. Sometimes this can slow things down if there are any discrepancies in the separation reason.

Quick tip - when you file, you'll get a confirmation number. WRITE IT DOWN! You'll need it if you have to call Washington ESD for any reason. Though honestly good luck getting through on the phone... the wait times are insane.

File now, worry later! I overthought everything when I first got laid off and it just caused more stress. The Washington ESD system is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started.

Make sure you have your bank account info ready too if you want direct deposit. Paper checks take forever and who wants to deal with that when you're already stressed about money?

Filing immediately is smart but just manage your expectations on timing. Even if everything goes perfectly, it usually takes 2-3 weeks to see your first payment after filing your initial claim and your first weekly claim.

i filed like 6 months after i got laid off because i was trying to find work first... BIG MISTAKE. they questioned everything and it took forever to get approved. file right away even if you think you might find work soon

The process has gotten much better since the pandemic. I filed in 2019 and it was a nightmare, but my friend filed last year and had a pretty smooth experience. Technology improvements I guess.

One final piece of advice - after you file your initial claim, you'll need to complete your weekly claim certification every week, usually on Sunday. Don't skip weeks even if you're job hunting actively. Missing weekly claims can complicate your benefits.

honestly the hardest part for me was just getting started. once you file that first claim and get into the routine of weekly certifications, it becomes pretty automatic

Just to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I know some people are skeptical about using third-party services, but when I was stuck in adjudication hell for 5 weeks, it was literally the only way I could get answers. The Washington ESD phone system is just overwhelmed most of the time.

UPDATE: I just finished filing my initial claim! Took about 40 minutes like someone mentioned earlier. The website was pretty straightforward and I got a confirmation number. Thanks everyone for pushing me to do it today instead of waiting!

Great job getting it done! The peace of mind alone is worth filing quickly. Now you can focus on job searching instead of worrying about whether you're missing out on benefits.