How long do I have to file unemployment after being fired in Washington?

You generally want to file as soon as possible after your last day of work. Washington ESD recommends filing within the first week, but you technically have longer. The key thing is your claim starts from when you file, not when you lost your job, so any delay means lost benefits.

I think you have up to a year to file but like the other person said you lose money waiting. Being fired for budget cuts shouldn't hurt your claim at all - that's not misconduct.

Actually had this exact situation last month when I got laid off. Called Washington ESD about timing and they said while there's no hard deadline, every week you delay costs you money. I tried calling their main number like 50 times and kept getting busy signals or hung up on. Super frustrating when you need answers fast.

Washington ESD is so backed up right now it's insane. File online ASAP but don't expect to talk to anyone by phone anytime soon.

The sooner you file the better. I made the mistake of waiting 3 weeks thinking I might find another job quickly and lost out on almost $2000 in benefits. Even if you find work right away, at least you'll have filed and can stop the claim.

Just to clarify the technical side - you can file a claim up to 12 months after your separation date, but your benefit year always starts the Sunday of the week you file. So if you're terminated on Wednesday and file that Friday, your claim starts the Sunday before your termination. But if you wait 2 weeks to file, you lose those first 2 weeks permanently.

Budget cuts definitely won't disqualify you but Washington ESD might still contact your employer to verify the reason. Standard procedure.

File now! I waited thinking I needed to have all my paperwork perfect and it was a huge mistake. You can always provide additional documentation later if needed.

The Washington ESD website says to file 'immediately' but doesn't give a specific deadline which is super confusing. I think they just want to avoid paying people who wait too long.

Another thing to consider - if you have any questions about your specific situation after filing, good luck reaching Washington ESD by phone. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier has been a lifesaver for actually getting through to speak with someone about claim issues.

Just file already! Every day you wait is money lost. The worst case scenario is you file and don't qualify - but if you do qualify, delaying just hurts you.

Make sure you have your final pay stub and any separation paperwork when you file. Washington ESD will want those details and having them handy makes the process smoother.

Being fired vs laid off for budget reasons are treated the same for unemployment purposes. Both are involuntary separations. You should be fine eligibility-wise.

honestly the Washington ESD system is so slow right now anyway that filing immediately vs waiting a couple days probably won't make much difference in when you actually see money

OP - also remember you'll need to do weekly claims every week once you file your initial claim. Missing those weekly deadlines can really mess things up.

If you do run into any issues with your claim or need to speak with Washington ESD about something, definitely check out that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The regular phone lines are basically unusable right now.

File immediately and don't look back. I've been through this process twice and waiting never helps anyone.

Budget cuts are definitely not misconduct so you should qualify assuming you meet the wage requirements. Good luck with your claim!