How long can I wait to file for unemployment benefits in Washington?
I got laid off from my job about 2 weeks ago and I've been hesitating to file for unemployment benefits. I keep thinking maybe I'll find something quickly and won't need it, but now I'm starting to worry I'm missing out on money I could be getting. Is there a deadline for how long I can wait to file my initial claim with Washington ESD? Will I lose benefits if I don't file right away? I'm also wondering if the longer I wait, the longer it takes to get approved. Any advice would be helpful - this is my first time dealing with unemployment.
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Isabella Costa
You should file as soon as possible! Washington ESD benefits start from the date you file your claim, NOT from when you lost your job. So every week you wait is money you're losing. There's no deadline per se, but you're basically giving up free money by waiting.
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NeonNebula
•Oh no, I had no idea it worked that way! I thought it would backdate to when I got laid off. So I've already lost 2 weeks of benefits?
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Isabella Costa
•Unfortunately yes, those 2 weeks are gone. But file TODAY to stop losing more. The process takes time anyway so you want to get started.
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Ravi Malhotra
Actually there are some exceptions for backdating but they're very limited. You'd need a really good reason like being hospitalized or something. For most people, yeah you lose those weeks if you don't file right away.
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Freya Christensen
•What counts as a good reason for backdating? I waited 3 weeks because I was dealing with a family emergency.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Medical emergencies, military deployment, stuff like that. Family emergency might qualify depending on the situation. You'd have to provide documentation though.
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Omar Farouk
I made this same mistake last year - waited almost a month thinking I'd find work quickly. Lost out on over $1200 in benefits. Don't be like me, just file the claim even if you think you might find work soon. You can always stop claiming if you get a job.
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NeonNebula
•Wow that's a lot of money to lose! I'm definitely filing today. How long did it take for your claim to get approved?
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Omar Farouk
•It took about 3 weeks for mine to process, but this was during COVID when everything was backed up. Might be faster now.
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Chloe Davis
The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely brutal to get through though. I've been trying to call for days about my claim and can't reach anyone. If you need to talk to someone urgently, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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AstroAlpha
•How much does Claimyr cost? I'm already tight on money being unemployed.
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Chloe Davis
•I'd rather not discuss pricing here but it was worth it for me to actually reach someone at Washington ESD. Way cheaper than losing weeks of benefits like OP almost did.
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Diego Chavez
just file online its not that hard. i did mine in like 20 minutes
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NeonNebula
•Did you have any issues with the online system? I've heard mixed things about the Washington ESD website.
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Diego Chavez
•nah it was fine. just have your employment info ready and it goes pretty smooth
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Ravi Malhotra
One thing to keep in mind - even after you file, there's usually a waiting week where you don't get paid. So your first payment would be for your second week of unemployment, not your first. This is separate from the weeks you lose by not filing promptly.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•Wait there's a waiting week? Nobody told me about that when I filed last month.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Yeah it's built into the system. The first week you claim is unpaid - it's like a deductible. You should still file weekly claims though.
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NeonNebula
•This is getting confusing. So I lose the 2 weeks I already waited PLUS there's a waiting week?
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Ravi Malhotra
•Exactly. That's why it's crucial to file as soon as you become unemployed.
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Sean O'Brien
The whole system is designed to screw over working people. They make it complicated on purpose so people don't claim what they're entitled to.
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Zara Shah
•I don't think it's intentionally malicious, just bureaucratic inefficiency.
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Sean O'Brien
•Keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile they're sitting on millions in unclaimed benefits.
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Isabella Costa
To directly answer your question OP - technically you can file for unemployment up to a year after becoming unemployed, but you only get benefits from the date you file forward. So waiting costs you money every single week.
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NeonNebula
•A whole year? I didn't know there was any deadline at all. Good to know in case anyone else is in this situation.
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Luca Bianchi
Same thing happened to my brother - he waited 6 weeks thinking his layoff was temporary. Company ended up closing permanently and he lost all that money. File now!
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NeonNebula
•That's exactly what I'm worried about. My company said it was just a temporary layoff but now I'm not so sure.
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Luca Bianchi
•Even if it is temporary, you can still claim benefits while you're not working. Better safe than sorry.
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GalacticGuardian
Pro tip: when you do file, make sure you have all your employment history for the last 18 months ready. Employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. It'll speed up the process.
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NeonNebula
•18 months?! I've had like 3 different jobs in that time. This is going to take forever to gather all that info.
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GalacticGuardian
•It's worth taking the time to get it right. Incomplete applications just delay everything even more.
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Nia Harris
I'm in week 4 of waiting for my claim to be processed. Still says 'pending' with no explanation. The anxiety is killing me.
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Chloe Davis
•This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. When my claim was stuck in adjudication, they helped me get through to someone who could explain what was happening.
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Nia Harris
•I might have to try that. The not knowing is the worst part.
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Mateo Gonzalez
Don't forget you have to do job search activities too once you start claiming. It's not just free money - there are requirements you have to meet.
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NeonNebula
•What kind of job search requirements? How many applications do I need to submit?
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Mateo Gonzalez
•It varies but generally 3 job search activities per week. Applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records.
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Aisha Ali
The Washington ESD website has all this information if people would just read it instead of asking on forums.
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NeonNebula
•I did try to read the website but it's honestly pretty confusing. Sometimes it helps to hear from real people who've been through it.
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Ethan Moore
•Yeah the website is terrible. Half the links don't work and the info is scattered everywhere.
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Yuki Nakamura
Filed my claim 6 months after I lost my job and still got benefits, so it's never too late. But yeah, you lose all those months of payments.
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NeonNebula
•6 months?! How much money did you lose by waiting that long?
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Yuki Nakamura
•Probably around $6000. I was too proud to file at first, thought I'd find work quickly. Stupid mistake.
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StarSurfer
UPDATE: Just filed my claim online and it was actually pretty straightforward. Thanks everyone for pushing me to do it today instead of waiting longer!
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Isabella Costa
•Great job! Now make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your main claim is still processing.
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StarSurfer
•Will do. Hopefully I hear back soon about whether I'm approved.
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Carmen Reyes
•Keep us posted on how long it takes! I'm in a similar situation and curious about processing times.
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