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

Thanks! I was worried I'd have to wait. Going to file tonight after I get home.

yeah dont wait around, i made that mistake and lost like 2 weeks of benefits

So I file right away but don't get paid for the first week? That's confusing but good to know.

Exactly - you file weekly claims from week 1, but payment starts week 2. Don't skip filing that first weekly claim though or it messes up your whole claim.

The waiting week is such a pain when you're already struggling financially. At least Washington eliminated it temporarily during COVID but it's back now.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and connects you when they get through. Saved me so much time and frustration. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's when I got through last week

Good point. I have my last paystub and layoff notice. Is there anything else I should gather?

Your employer's full legal name and address are important. Sometimes the name on your paystub isn't the exact legal entity name Washington ESD needs.

It's definitely not user-friendly. The key is to go slow and read each page carefully. Don't rush through or you'll make mistakes that delay your claim.

I agree it's confusing but once you get through it the first time, the weekly claims are much easier

That's perfect since I was laid off on a Friday. Filing tonight for sure.

Good advice. I worked full-time for 18 months so I should be fine, but better safe than sorry.

Same here - I was worried about qualifying but turned out I had enough work history. The worst they can do is say no.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth checking out their site for current info. For me, the time saved was worth it since I was spending entire days trying to call.

Will do. I have my banking info ready to go.

Ugh, that's frustrating. What kind of verification issue?

They needed to verify my employment dates with my former employer. Took forever because HR was slow to respond to Washington ESD.

That's common unfortunately. The adjudication process can add weeks to your claim even when there's no real issue.

You can file your weekly claim any day of the week, but most people file on Sundays since that's when the new week starts. You have to file every week to keep getting benefits.

Thanks, that makes sense. So it's not like you have to file on a specific day assigned to you?

Nope, not in Washington. Some states do that but here you can file whenever during the week.

I was definitely laid off due to budget cuts, so that should be straightforward.

That's awesome! I might have to try that too. How long did it take them to get you connected?

They called me back within a few hours once they got through. Much better than the 6+ hours I was spending on hold.

How many job applications do I need to do per week?

In Washington, you need to complete 3 job search activities per week. This can include applications, networking, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records in your WorkSourceWA account.

That's exactly what I was worried about. Filing tonight for sure.

Same thing happened to my brother. He thought he had to wait and lost a bunch of money.

It was a clear layoff with paperwork, so hopefully no issues there.

You should be fine then. Keep that layoff paperwork handy just in case Washington ESD needs it.

Overpayment issues definitely need to be handled quickly. You don't want to ignore those notices.

I'm not ignoring it, I just can't reach anyone to discuss it! It's incredibly frustrating.

I've been working full-time for the past 18 months making decent money, so I think I should be okay.

You should be fine then. The system will calculate your benefit amount automatically when you file.

How long does adjudication usually take?

It varies widely - anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the issue and Washington ESD's workload. The key is to respond to any requests for information immediately.

And if you get stuck in adjudication limbo, that's when services like Claimyr can really help you get through to someone who can move your claim along.

Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes.

We've all been there. Hope your claim processes smoothly!