How long do you have to file unemployment claim in Washington - missed deadline?

Oh thank god, I thought I was completely screwed. So I just lost those 6 weeks of benefits but can start getting them now?

Exactly right. You'll start your waiting week this week, then get benefits the following week if everything processes smoothly.

That's reassuring, thanks. Do you know how long it took for his benefits to start coming in?

i think it was like 2-3 weeks total but this was last year so might be different now

Starting it right now. Do I need pay stubs or will they get that info from my employer?

Washington ESD will verify wages with your employer, but having your last pay stub handy can help speed things up if there are any questions.

Never heard of that but might be worth checking out if I run into issues. How much does something like that cost?

They focus on the value of actually reaching an agent rather than discussing pricing upfront. For me it was worth it just to get clarity on my situation instead of guessing.

That sounds too good to be true. How do you know it's legit and not some scam?

I was skeptical too but they don't ask for personal info upfront, just help you get through to the actual Washington ESD agents. You're still talking to real ESD staff, not some third party.

You still have to serve the waiting week. The waiting week starts from when you file your claim, not from when you were separated from work.

That seems kind of unfair but I guess it makes sense from a system perspective.

totally agree, my HR department didn't mention unemployment at all when I got let go

While the system could be more user-friendly, the information is available on the Washington ESD website. The responsibility is on the individual to file for benefits.

That's easy to say when you're not panicking about losing your job and trying to figure out health insurance and everything else!

Great job! Now make sure you file your weekly claims every week going forward, even if your claim is still processing.

When do I file my first weekly claim? This Sunday or next Sunday?

You'll file this Sunday for the week ending Saturday. Check your eServices account for the exact dates.

Oof, 3 months of lost benefits. That had to hurt. How long did you end up being unemployed total?

7 months total. The job market was rough. Wish I'd filed immediately and not been so proud about taking 'government handouts.

Yeah I saw that option but figured online would be faster. Have you had luck calling them?

Hit or miss. Sometimes you get right through, sometimes you're on hold forever or get disconnected.

What kind of issues cause adjudication? My layoff was pretty straightforward - company downsizing.

Simple layoffs usually don't have issues. It's more when there are questions about why you left, if you were fired for misconduct, or if there are wage discrepancies.

Right? I was expecting to get told to 'call the office' with no other help. People here actually know what they're talking about.

Good point. I've been applying places but haven't been keeping organized records. Better start now.

Exactly. Use the WorkSourceWA website to track your activities - it makes the weekly claims easier to fill out too.

That's awesome. I'm hoping for a similar timeline. Did you have any complications or was it pretty smooth?

Smooth sailing. The key is being honest on your application and responding quickly if they need any additional info.

It doesn't affect your weekly benefit amount or your maximum entitlement - those are based on your wage history. You just lose the weeks between separation and filing.

Thanks for clarifying. I was worried filing late would somehow reduce the weekly amount too.

That's the second mention of this service. Might be worth bookmarking in case I need it.

Yeah, I wish I'd known about it sooner. Would have saved me a lot of stress wondering what was happening with my claim.

Totally agree. Maybe employers should be required to provide this info during layoffs?

That would help a lot. Some do, but it shouldn't be optional when people's livelihoods are at stake.

Can you explain that more? I'm not sure I understand the difference.

Your effective date is typically the Sunday of the week you file. Benefits can only be paid from that date forward, regardless of when you were actually laid off.

I didn't get any severance, just my final paycheck. So that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Good, that simplifies things. Severance can delay benefits depending on how it's structured.

That's amazing. Wish more employers or unions did that automatically.

It really made a difference. No stress about deadlines or missing out on benefits because someone had my back.

Yeah, that's been mentioned a couple times in this thread. Definitely keeping it in mind if I need to call them.

Smart plan. Better to have options when you're dealing with government agencies.