How long do you have to file for unemployment with Washington ESD?

So if I file today versus filing next week, I could lose a week's worth of benefits?

Exactly. Your benefit year starts from the Sunday of the week you file your initial claim, not from when you lost your job.

Thanks! So I should file today then? I was worried I needed to wait a certain amount of time or something.

Yes, file today if you can. The system is pretty straightforward once you get started.

Oh no, three weeks? What's holding up your claim?

They're reviewing my separation reason. Apparently my employer contested it or something. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks but can never get through.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it at claimyr.com when I was having the same issue. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That's a relief about the waiting week! How do the weekly claims work exactly?

You log into your account every week and answer questions about your job search activities and any work you did. Miss a week and you don't get paid for that week.

Wait, I thought they got rid of the waiting week during COVID? Is that back now?

You're right - Washington did eliminate the waiting week permanently in 2021. So you can get paid for that first week now if you file on time.

That's what I was worried about. Better to file and not need it than need it and have waited too long.

Exactly this happened to me too. I kept putting it off thinking it was too complicated but then realized I was just throwing money away.

Is this legit? I've never heard of paying someone to help with unemployment claims.

It's legitimate - they don't handle your claim for you, they just help you get through to an actual Washington ESD agent when the phone lines are busy. Sometimes that's the only way to get answers quickly.

Wow, that's expensive lesson! How far back can you backdate if needed?

I think it's only like 1-2 weeks max, and you need a good reason. Don't risk it - just file right away.

Actually, Washington ESD can backdate up to one year in certain circumstances, but it's at their discretion and requires documentation of why you didn't file sooner.

Yes, the online system should work 24/7, but they do maintenance sometimes. If it's down, try again in a few hours.

ok thanks. been trying since this morning but kept getting errors

Did you have any issues with the website? I tried earlier and it seemed slow.

yeah it can be slow especially monday mornings when everyone is filing their weekly claims, try later in the day

What kind of circumstances would qualify for that exception?

Things like being hospitalized, natural disasters, or major system outages. It's pretty rare and you'd need documentation to prove it.

That's confusing. So if I file today (Thursday), my benefit year started last Sunday?

Exactly. And you'll need to file weekly claims for each week in your benefit year, starting with that first partial week.

Yeah I've been reading their FAQ and it's not super clear about the timing.

The FAQ section is terrible. I spent hours trying to figure out job search requirements from their website.

Don't overthink it! The initial application walks you through everything step by step. You can always correct information later if needed.

But what about the job search requirements? I heard you need to apply to like 3 jobs per week?

You need to make 3 job search activities per week and register with WorkSource. But you can start that process after you file your initial claim.

That's a good point about paying into the system. I've been working and paying taxes for years.

Exactly! Unemployment insurance is something you earn through working, not a handout.

That's great news! How much did the Claimyr service cost?

It was worth it to finally get answers. The agent said my first payment should come within a few days.

Glad it worked out! Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to sort these things out.

What if you were fired versus laid off? Does that change the timeline?

The timeline to file is the same regardless of how you lost your job. Whether you qualify is a separate question that gets decided during adjudication.

How did you get it corrected? Did you have to call or was there an online option?

Had to call. Took forever to get through. Make sure you have all your employment dates and employer contact info ready before you start the application.

How much does something like that cost?

I don't remember the exact amount but it was reasonable for the time it saved me. Plus I actually got to talk to a real person at Washington ESD.

3 weeks?! That's crazy. Did you have to do anything special or just wait?

Just had to wait. My claim went into adjudication because of some issue with my previous employer. Eventually got approved though.

Okay that settles it, I'm filing today. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Good call! Better to have it filed and processing than to keep waiting.

Is that something I do at the same time as filing, or separately?

You can do it separately but don't wait too long. You'll need to show job search activities when you file your weekly claims.

Is it just for getting through on the phone or do they help with other stuff too?

Just getting through to agents as far as I know. But sometimes that's exactly what you need when you're stuck.

Twice? Did you have issues the first time?

First time was just regular layoff, second time was a temporary furlough that became permanent. Filed immediately both times and it made the process much smoother.

Good point, I should gather my pay stubs and termination letter before I start.

Yeah and if you worked for multiple employers in the last 18 months, you'll need info for all of them.

When do the weekly claims start? Right away or after the initial claim is approved?

You can start filing weekly claims right away, but you won't get paid until your initial claim is approved. Better to keep filing them though so you don't miss any weeks.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm convinced - filing today for sure.

Good luck! The process seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine it's not too bad.

I was laid off due to downsizing, so that shouldn't be an issue for me, right?

Correct, a layoff due to lack of work is typically not disqualifying. You should be fine.

18 months? I've only been at my current job for 8 months. Do I need info from before that?

Yes, they use your earnings from multiple quarters to calculate your benefit amount. Include all employment, even part-time or temporary jobs.

Really? That's encouraging. I've been psyching myself out about how complicated it would be.

yeah just have your info ready and follow the prompts. not rocket science

This is really helpful. I'm going to file today. Thanks everyone for all the advice!

Good luck! Remember to keep track of your job search activities from day one.

The phone system is even more backed up than the website. Online is definitely the way to go unless you absolutely have to call.

yeah thats what i figured. website it is then

Two weeks sounds reasonable. What kind of additional documentation did they ask for?

They wanted a copy of my layoff notice to verify my separation reason. Had it uploaded within a day and the claim processed normally.

That's great! I'm definitely going to bookmark that service just in case I run into issues.

Congrats! How long was your total wait time from filing to first payment?

About 4 weeks total, but 3 of those were due to the adjudication delay. Should have been much faster if I'd gotten help sooner.

That's exactly what I was worried about. Filing today for sure.

Smart move. I wish I'd asked for advice here sooner instead of trying to figure it out on my own.

Perfect summary! Thanks to everyone who helped. I feel much more confident about the process now.

This thread was super helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was completely lost before reading this.

Happy to help! That's what this community is for.

Good to know! I'll watch for that. How long after approval does the card usually arrive?

Mine came about a week after my claim was approved. It's in a plain white envelope so it's easy to miss.

It's really not that bad once you get started. The hardest part is often just taking that first step.

yeah exactly. thanks for all the help everyone