How long do I have to apply for unemployment after being fired in Washington ESD?
Got terminated from my job at a manufacturing plant last Wednesday and I'm trying to figure out the timing for filing my unemployment claim. I've heard different things about deadlines - some people say you have to file immediately, others say you have weeks. What's the actual timeframe in Washington? I don't want to miss any deadlines and lose out on benefits. Also wondering if there's a waiting period before payments start or if it's backdated to when you file?
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Ravi Kapoor
You should file as soon as possible, but there isn't a strict deadline like 'must file within X days.' The key thing is that your claim week starts from when you file, not when you were fired. So if you wait too long, you're basically losing potential benefit weeks. Washington ESD recommends filing within the first week of unemployment.
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Isabella Oliveira
•So if I file today (about a week after being fired), I won't get benefits for that first week I was unemployed?
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Ravi Kapoor
•Exactly. You can only get benefits for weeks after you file your initial claim. That's why filing quickly matters - it's not about missing a deadline, it's about maximizing your benefit period.
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Freya Larsen
File ASAP! I made the mistake of waiting 3 weeks after I got laid off thinking I'd find something quick. Lost out on those 3 weeks of benefits completely. The system doesn't backdate to your last day of work.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Ugh, that's exactly what I was worried about. Filing today then.
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GalacticGladiator
•Same thing happened to my brother. He waited a month and missed out on like $1,400 in benefits.
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Omar Zaki
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to file (their phone lines are always busy), you might want to check out claimyr.com. They have a service that helps people get through to ESD agents. I used them when I couldn't get my claim filed online and it worked great. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Chloe Taylor
•Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at ESD.
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Omar Zaki
•Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but desperate after trying to call for 3 days straight. They got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes.
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Diego Flores
There's also no waiting week in Washington anymore, so you can get benefits starting from your first eligible week. Just make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Good to know about no waiting week. How do I file weekly claims if my main claim isn't approved yet?
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Diego Flores
•You can still file weekly claims through the eServices portal. Just keep filing them even if your claim shows pending - they'll process the payments once your claim is approved.
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Anastasia Ivanova
been unemployed for 2 months now still haven't filed because the website is confusing as hell... probably too late now right?
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Ravi Kapoor
•It's never too late to file! You won't get those 2 months of benefits you missed, but you can still file for future weeks. Don't wait any longer.
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Freya Larsen
•Dude file TODAY. You're losing money every day you wait.
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Sean Murphy
Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file. They'll need your employer's info, your wages, and reason for separation. If you were fired, be honest about it - Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway to verify.
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Isabella Oliveira
•What if I was fired for attendance issues? Will that disqualify me?
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Sean Murphy
•Not necessarily. Washington ESD looks at whether it was misconduct or not. Attendance issues can be tricky - depends on the circumstances. They'll do an adjudication to determine eligibility.
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StarStrider
The whole system is backwards if you ask me. Why can't they just backdate to your last day of work? Makes no sense that people lose benefits just because they didn't know to file immediately.
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Zara Malik
•I think it's to prevent fraud or people claiming they were unemployed when they weren't actually looking for work.
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StarStrider
•Still seems unfair to people who genuinely don't know the system.
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Luca Marino
FYI - if you're having issues with the online application, you can also call the claims center. Though good luck getting through. I've been trying for days to get help with my claim that's stuck in adjudication.
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Omar Zaki
•That's exactly when I used Claimyr - when my claim was stuck in adjudication for weeks. They helped me get through to someone who could actually explain what was happening.
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Luca Marino
•How much did that cost? I'm getting desperate here.
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Omar Zaki
•It was worth it to finally get answers. Check out their site for details.
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Nia Davis
Word of advice - when you file, make sure you select the right reason for separation. 'Discharged' is different from 'Laid off' and it affects how they process your claim.
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Isabella Oliveira
•What's the difference exactly? I was fired but it wasn't for misconduct, just company downsizing.
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Nia Davis
•If it was downsizing, that's more like a layoff. Discharged usually means fired for cause. Be accurate because your employer will see what you put.
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Mateo Perez
I waited 3 days to file after getting fired and I was fine. Don't stress too much about the exact timing, just don't wait weeks like some people do.
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Aisha Rahman
•3 days is still pretty quick. The real problem is people who wait weeks or months.
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CosmicCrusader
Also remember you need to be actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. Start your job search log right away even if your claim is still processing.
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Isabella Oliveira
•How many job contacts do I need to make per week in Washington?
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CosmicCrusader
•It's 3 job contacts per week, and they need to be documented in your job search log.
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Ethan Brown
JUST FILE THE CLAIM ALREADY. Every day you wait is money you're not getting. The system sucks but you still need to work within it.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Yeah you're right, filing today. Thanks everyone for the help.
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Yuki Yamamoto
One more thing - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept a denial, especially if you think it's wrong.
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Carmen Ortiz
•How long do you have to appeal a denial?
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Yuki Yamamoto
•30 days from the date of the determination letter.
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Andre Rousseau
Good luck with your claim! Most people who file right away and weren't fired for misconduct get approved pretty quickly. Just be patient during the adjudication process if it comes to that.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Thanks! Hopefully it goes smoothly.
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FireflyDreams
Just wanted to add - make sure you have your Social Security card, ID, and any pay stubs handy when you file. The system will ask for your SSN multiple times and having your recent pay info makes the wage verification process smoother. Also, if you're filing online and the site crashes or times out (which happens a lot), don't start over completely - your partial application usually saves and you can continue where you left off.
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