How long before you can file unemployment with Washington ESD?

You can file your initial claim immediately after losing your job - no waiting period to submit the application itself. Washington ESD recommends filing within the first week after you become unemployed. The 'waiting week' is different - that's about when you'll receive your first payment, not when you can apply.

Filed mine three days after getting fired and had zero issues. The Washington ESD website walks you through everything step by step. Just make sure you have all your employer information ready - names, addresses, dates of employment, etc.

Definitely file ASAP. I waited almost two weeks thinking I needed to job search first and that was a mistake - you can't backdate your claim start date. Washington ESD processes claims based on when you file, not when you lost your job.

Just a heads up - even though you can file right away, actually getting through to Washington ESD by phone if you need help can be brutal. I spent hours trying to call them when I had questions about my claim. Ended up finding this service called Claimyr that basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com if you run into phone issues.

The sooner the better honestly. I made the mistake of waiting almost a month because I thought I'd find another job quickly. Big regret because you lose all those weeks of potential benefits.

One more thing - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed. A lot of first-time filers miss this step and then have gaps in their payments.

Washington ESD system is actually pretty user friendly compared to other states. The whole process took me maybe 30 minutes to complete the initial application.

Make sure you answer all the questions accurately about why you left your job. If you put down the wrong reason it can delay your claim processing.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSource too if you haven't already. It's part of the job search requirements.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything when you file. If there are any issues later, having proof of what you submitted can save you headaches.

The waiting week thing confused me too when I first filed. You still have to file your weekly claim for that first week, you just don't get paid for it. It's like a one-week penalty basically.

Just double check that your employer actually reported your wages correctly. Sometimes there are discrepancies that can slow down approval.

I had to call Washington ESD during my claim process and it was a nightmare trying to get through. Seriously consider that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier if you need to reach them. Saved me so much frustration.

Make sure you have a good email address on file. Washington ESD sends important notifications by email and if you miss them it can affect your benefits.

The key is just getting that initial claim filed. Everything else can be sorted out later if needed. Don't overthink it - the system will guide you through the process.

Good luck! The hardest part is just getting started. Once you have your claim number and account set up, everything else is pretty routine.