How long after you get fired can you file for unemployment in Washington state?

You can file your Washington ESD claim immediately after being terminated - there's no waiting period to submit your initial application. In fact, you should file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were terminated. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving payments if approved.

Just make sure you understand the difference between filing your claim and when you actually start getting paid. You can file right away but there's a one-week waiting period before benefits start. So if you file today, your first payable week would be next week.

I was in your exact situation last month. Filed my claim the day after I got fired and it was approved within two weeks. The key is to file ASAP because you can't backdate your claim very far. I think you only have like 4 weeks max to file before you start losing potential benefit weeks.

Since you mentioned you were terminated, make sure you understand why you were fired. If it was for cause or misconduct, your claim might get flagged for adjudication which can delay payments for weeks. If it was just a layoff or downsizing, you should be fine. Also gather your pay stubs and any termination paperwork before you start the application.

wait i thought you had to be unemployed for a certain amount of time before you could file??? my cousin told me you have to wait 30 days

Here's what I wish someone had told me when I got fired - file your claim online TONIGHT if possible. Don't wait until Monday or next week. Every day you delay is money you're potentially losing. The system is designed to process claims quickly if you have all your info ready.

The whole Washington ESD system is a nightmare honestly. They make it so confusing with all these different deadlines and waiting periods. Just file ASAP and hope for the best. That's all any of us can do.

One more thing - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still pending. Missing a weekly claim can cause you to lose benefits for that week permanently. Set a reminder on your phone or something.

been there dude, got fired from a retail job in march and filed the same day. took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but it was backdated to cover the waiting period eventually. just be patient and keep filing those weekly claims

IMPORTANT: If you were fired, they might ask your employer why you were terminated. Make sure you have your side of the story ready and any documentation that supports your case. I got denied initially because my former employer lied about why I was fired, but I won on appeal.

If your claim gets complicated and you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, good luck getting through on the phone. I spent literally hours calling before I found Claimyr - they call for you and get you connected to an actual person. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

For what it's worth, getting fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment unless it was for gross misconduct. Attendance issues usually don't count as misconduct in Washington unless it was really egregious. You should be fine to file.

Just to echo what others said - FILE NOW. Don't overthink it, don't wait, just get the application submitted. You can always provide additional information later if they need it during the review process.

I made the mistake of waiting almost a month before filing because I thought I needed to find a new job first. Lost out on 3 weeks of benefits because of that misconception. Don't be like me - file immediately.

Pro tip: when you file online, take screenshots of every page in case there are technical issues. The system sometimes glitches and you'll want proof you submitted everything correctly.

Since you mentioned warehouse work, make sure you report all your wages correctly including any overtime or bonuses from your last quarter of work. They use that to calculate your benefit amount.

Update on my situation from earlier - I ended up needing to call Washington ESD to resolve an issue with my weekly claim and couldn't get through for days. Someone here mentioned Claimyr so I tried it and they got me connected within an hour. Definitely worth it if you get stuck.

Bottom line - file TODAY if possible. The Washington ESD system is designed to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Even if you were fired, you probably still qualify unless it was for something really serious.