How long after you lose your job can you file for unemployment - Washington ESD timing questions

You should file your Washington ESD claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. There's no waiting period to submit your initial application - you can literally file the day after you lose your job. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed and your waiting week can start counting.

I made the mistake of waiting two weeks after I got fired because I thought I needed to wait. Don't do what I did - file immediately. Washington ESD backdates your claim to when you file, not when you actually lost your job.

File ASAP but be prepared for the process to take time. I filed right away but my claim sat in adjudication for 3 weeks while they verified my employment. If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to check on your claim status, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me connected to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for actually reaching someone.

Just to add some important details - while you can file immediately after job loss, your benefits won't start right away. Washington ESD has a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. This waiting week serves as your unpaid waiting period, and you still need to file your weekly claim for that week even though you won't get paid for it.

Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. Washington ESD needs details about your last employer, dates of employment, reason for separation, and your wages. Having this info organized will make the application process much smoother.

I'm curious about the deadline too. Like what if someone waits months to file - is there a cutoff point where it's too late?

Does it matter if you were fired vs laid off for the timing of when you can file? I got terminated for attendance issues and I'm worried that affects when I can apply.

One thing I learned - even if you think you might not qualify for some reason, file anyway. Let Washington ESD make that determination. I almost didn't file because I was a temp worker and thought I wouldn't qualify, but I ended up getting benefits.

For anyone reading this thread later - make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed. I see people make this mistake all the time. You have to certify every week to maintain your claim.

The Washington ESD website has gotten better over the years but it can still be confusing. If you get stuck during the application process, don't give up. I had to restart my application twice because I got error messages, but it eventually went through.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once your claim is active. You'll need to make job search contacts and keep a log. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities, so keep good records from day one.

Just want to echo what others said about calling Washington ESD. The phone system is absolutely brutal. I spent literally hours on hold and got disconnected multiple times. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - I ended up trying it and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent within an hour instead of the all-day phone marathons I was doing before.

Quick question - do you need to be physically in Washington state when you file your claim? I'm temporarily staying with family in Oregon but my job was in Washington.

Another timing thing to consider - if you're filing on a Friday or over the weekend, your claim effective date will still be processed on the next business day. But like everyone said, don't wait for Monday just because it's Friday. File as soon as you can.

I see people asking about Claimyr - I used it last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication and I couldn't get answers. It's legit and actually got me through to someone who could explain what was holding up my claim. Worth it when you're desperate to talk to a real person.

One last thing - make sure your contact information is up to date when you file. Washington ESD will send important notices to your address and email, and if they can't reach you it can delay your claim. I almost missed an important adjudication letter because I forgot to update my address.

To summarize for the OP: File immediately (today), gather your employment documents first, be prepared for a waiting week, keep filing weekly claims even during processing, and don't be afraid to use services like Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Good luck!