How long before you can get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

So I should file today even though I just got laid off Friday? I thought I had to wait a certain amount of time.

File immediately! The waiting period is built into the system, but your claim effective date starts when you file. Don't wait or you'll lose potential benefit weeks.

What causes a claim to go into adjudication? I'm worried mine might get delayed.

Common reasons include questions about why you separated from work, if you have other income, or if there are discrepancies in your work history. Most claims process normally though.

How much does that cost? I'm already strapped for cash.

It was worth every penny for me since I was losing weeks of benefits waiting to talk to someone. Way cheaper than missing payments.

Good to know this exists if I run into problems. Hopefully my claim goes through smoothly.

What kind of documentation did they want? I want to be prepared in case they ask me for stuff.

work history verification, separation notice from employer, stuff like that. just have everything ready

Wait, I have to look for work even during the waiting week? That seems backwards.

Yes, the job search requirement applies to every week you file a claim, including the waiting week. Keep detailed records of your job search activities.

I tried the website but got confused by some of the questions. Is there help available if I mess something up?

You can call for help but expect long wait times. The online system has help text for most questions though.

Two weeks for initial processing isn't unusual, but if it's been longer than 3 weeks you should definitely try to contact them to check on the status.

I've been trying to call every day but can never get through. The system just hangs up on me after an hour on hold.

I might have to try that. This is getting ridiculous.

Never heard of this service before but sounds like it could be helpful for people having trouble getting through.

I think it's supposed to prevent fraud or something? Still sucks when you need the money right away.

Yeah I get it but timing couldn't be worse when you're already behind on bills from losing work.

That's really helpful to have it laid out like that. So realistically I'm looking at 3-4 weeks before I see any money.

Correct, unless your claim gets flagged for adjudication, then it could be longer. But most straightforward layoff cases process without issues.

What day of the week do you file the weekly claim? Is there a deadline?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. I always do mine Sunday morning to get it out of the way. Don't wait until Saturday night!

Why would they contest it if they laid me off? That doesn't make sense.

Sometimes employers contest claims to keep their unemployment insurance rates low, even for legitimate layoffs. It's not common but it happens.

That's a bit cynical but I can see why you'd feel that way after going through it.

trust me after dealing with washington esd for months you'll feel the same way

Good advice, I'll keep that in mind when I file my weekly claims.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's nice to hear from someone who made it through the process successfully.

No problem! Feel free to ask if you run into any specific issues. The system is confusing but it does work once you figure it out.

I have my last pay stub and separation notice. Is there anything else I should gather?

That should be enough to start. They might ask for additional documentation later if needed, but those are the basics.

Seems like a lot of people have had success with that service. I'll bookmark it in case I need it.

Good to have options when the regular system doesn't work. The phone situation is really bad right now.

I'm not planning to work while on unemployment, but good to know for future reference.

Even things like jury duty pay or small freelance jobs need to be reported. Better to be overly honest than face problems later.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more prepared to navigate this process now.

You're welcome! Come back and update us on how it goes. Good luck with everything.

Thanks Mason! Really appreciate the advice from someone who's been through it. I'm definitely going to file today - seems like everyone is saying the same thing about not waiting. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant, I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes total sense to stay organized from the start. It's reassuring to hear from someone who made it through successfully, especially from a major employer like Boeing. Did you run into any issues with your claim or did it go pretty smoothly?

This is such great advice! I'm a newcomer here and just lost my job at a tech company two days ago. The spreadsheet idea is genius - I'm definitely going to set that up right away. @Mason Davis did you have any trouble with the job search requirement tracking? That part seems really overwhelming on top of everything else. Also wondering if there were any specific websites or resources you found most helpful for the weekly job searches?