How long do I have to be unemployed to get unemployment benefits in Washington?

You can apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits immediately after losing your job! There's no waiting period to file your initial claim. The sooner you apply, the better because your benefits are effective from the week you file, not from when you lost your job. Just go to the Washington ESD website and file your claim online.

There IS a waiting week though - you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment. So you'll file weekly claims but the first one won't result in a payment. After that, as long as you meet all the requirements, you should start getting payments.

The waiting week was suspended and hasn't been reinstated. You should get paid starting from your first week of unemployment as long as your claim is approved. But you definitely need to file ASAP - don't wait. Also make sure you have your employment history for the last 18 months ready when you apply.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim that's stuck in adjudication. The phone system is absolutely impossible. I've called hundreds of times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. It's so frustrating when you need help and can't reach anyone!

dont wait to apply but also dont expect to get approved right away... my claim has been pending for 3 weeks now with no explanation. the system is backed up badly

To be eligible for unemployment in Washington, you need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period (which is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters). You also need to have earned at least $3,250 total during your base period. Since you worked full time for 2 years, you should easily meet these requirements.

Make sure you understand you have to actively look for work and report your job search activities every week when you file your weekly claim. Washington requires specific job search activities - you can't just say you looked online.

I was laid off last month and my experience was pretty smooth once I figured out the system. Filed my claim online on a Tuesday, got approved within a week, and started receiving payments. The key is having all your documentation ready and being completely honest about everything.

One thing to watch out for - if you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily, you might not be eligible. Washington ESD will investigate the circumstances of your job separation, especially if your employer contests your claim.

Does anyone know if the maximum benefit amount changed for 2025? I'm trying to figure out what I might be eligible for but the calculators online seem outdated.

MAKE SURE YOU FILE YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS EVERY WEEK EVEN IF YOUR INITIAL CLAIM IS STILL PENDING! I made the mistake of not filing weekly claims while waiting for approval and lost out on weeks of benefits. They don't backdate those missed weeks.

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from my restaurant job last week. The online application was pretty straightforward but I'm worried about the job search requirements since restaurant work is so different from office jobs.

If you run into problems reaching Washington ESD by phone (which you probably will), I had success with Claimyr. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual person. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.

also keep track of every interaction you have with ESD - dates, times, who you talked to, what was discussed. if something goes wrong later youll want that documentation for appeals

One more tip - if you have any side gig income or part-time work while unemployed, make sure you report it accurately on your weekly claims. Even small amounts need to be reported or you could face overpayment issues later.

The bottom line is don't wait - file your claim today if possible. The system has its quirks but most people who are legitimately unemployed through no fault of their own get approved eventually. Just be patient with the process and keep filing those weekly claims.