How long after you get fired can you collect unemployment in Washington?

You can file your unemployment claim right away! Don't wait. Washington ESD processes claims faster if you file immediately after separation. There's a one-week waiting period before you receive your first payment, but you need to file weekly claims during that time too. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim gets processed.

Just to clarify - you can file immediately but there's that one week waiting period where you won't get paid. Make sure you understand the difference between when you can FILE versus when you'll actually receive money. I made that mistake thinking I'd get paid right away.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or have questions, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

Were you fired for cause or was it a layoff? Because if you were fired for misconduct that could affect your eligibility. Washington ESD will need to investigate that and it could delay your claim approval.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I got fired last month and still haven't figured out all the paperwork. Why can't they just make it simple??

Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file - dates of employment, employer contact info, reason for separation, etc. Having everything organized makes the process much smoother.

Does anyone know if the job search requirements start right away too? I heard you have to apply for a certain number of jobs each week.

Pro tip: file your weekly claims every Sunday. Set a reminder on your phone. Missing even one weekly claim can mess up your benefits.

I was in the same situation 6 months ago. Filed immediately after getting laid off and my first payment came exactly 2 weeks later. The key is don't procrastinate on filing.

Actually, going back to getting help with Washington ESD - if you run into any roadblocks or your claim gets stuck in adjudication, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really comes in handy. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get things moving.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSource too for the job search requirements. It's all connected to your unemployment claim.

honestly just file asap and don't overthink it. i waited like a week thinking i needed to get my ducks in a row first and that was just wasted time

One more thing - keep documentation of everything. Save confirmation numbers, print out your claim summary, keep records of your job search. If any issues come up later you'll be glad you have the paperwork.

The waiting period thing threw me off too when I first filed. You think you're going to get paid right away but that first week is unpaid. Budget accordingly!

Make sure your employer doesn't contest your claim. Sometimes they'll fight it to keep their unemployment insurance rates down. If they do contest it, your claim might go to adjudication.

Ugh adjudication is the worst part of this whole process. My claim was stuck there for 6 weeks last year. Couldn't get anyone on the phone to explain what was happening.

Just remember unemployment isn't forever. Use the time to really focus on your job search and maybe learn some new skills. WorkSource has free training programs too.

The most important thing is to be honest on your application. Don't try to hide anything or embellish. Washington ESD will verify everything anyway.

Hope everything works out for you! Getting laid off sucks but at least Washington's unemployment system is pretty decent compared to some other states.

Don't forget to update your contact information if you move or change phone numbers during your claim period. Missing important notices from Washington ESD can cause problems.

Last bit of advice - don't take any under the table work while collecting unemployment. It's not worth the risk of getting caught and having to pay everything back.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when my retail job got eliminated due to store closures. Here's what I learned: file your claim TODAY if you haven't already. Don't wait even one more day. The one-week waiting period everyone mentioned is real, but it only starts counting once you file your initial claim. I made the mistake of waiting a few days to "get organized" and basically just delayed my first payment by those same days. Also, keep your separation paperwork from your employer handy when you file - they'll ask for specific dates and details. Since you mentioned it was budget cuts and layoffs, your claim should be pretty straightforward. The whole process took me about 30 minutes online, and my first payment hit my account exactly 14 days after I filed. Hang in there!