How long do you need to be unemployed to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

So I can file right away? What exactly is a waiting week?

Yes file immediately. The waiting week is the first week of your claim where you meet all requirements but don't get paid. It's basically a one-week delay built into the system.

Good to know, thanks! Did you have any issues with your application?

nah it was pretty straightforward, just make sure you have all your employment info ready

What if I haven't worked long enough in those quarters? I just started this job 8 months ago.

8 months should be fine if you worked full time. Washington ESD looks at your total earnings, not just the length of employment. You'll need to meet the minimum wage requirements which are pretty reasonable.

I was in a similar situation and qualified with just 6 months of work history. The wage requirements aren't that high if you were making decent money.

Never heard of Claimyr. Is it legit? How much does it cost?

Yeah it's totally legitimate, they just help you get through to Washington ESD faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked and I got my questions answered in like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours.

I might try this, been trying to call Washington ESD for a week with no luck

Wow okay, definitely filing today then. Thanks for the emphasis!

same thing happened to me, wish someone had told me to file right away

Your friend is mixing up the waiting week with something else. There's only one waiting week and it happens after you file, not before. You don't wait to file.

Oh that makes more sense. So file first, then wait one week for first payment?

Exactly. You file immediately, complete your waiting week, then start receiving payments if you're eligible and continue filing weekly claims.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. Adjudication issues are perfect for getting an actual agent on the phone to explain what's going on with your specific claim.

Yeah I might have to try that. This is ridiculous, been 3 weeks with no communication.

Adjudication can take forever if they need to verify something. Definitely worth getting an agent to tell you what they're waiting for.

What counts as 'actively seeking employment'? Do I need proof right away?

You'll need to complete 3 job search activities per week and maintain a log. This starts immediately when you begin filing weekly claims, not during the waiting week.

The job search requirements are actually pretty flexible. Can include online applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

That's good advice. Better to get accurate info than guess wrong.

exactly, and with services like Claimyr available there's no reason to stay confused about Washington ESD processes

So if I was last employed on Friday, when do I file my first weekly claim?

You would file your initial claim right away, then file your first weekly claim for the week that includes your last Friday, but only after that Saturday has passed.

This timing stuff is confusing but important to get right. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the weekly filing schedule.

I didn't know there was a time limit on the whole benefit year. How long do you get?

Your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you file your initial claim. You can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits during that year, but if you wait months to file, you're shortening the window where those benefits are available.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Filing today!

Good luck with your claim! The process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

Standby status has slightly different rules. You still file immediately, but you don't need to do job search activities since you have a specific return-to-work date. Same waiting week applies though.

That's helpful, thanks! My employer said I might be called back in a few weeks so wasn't sure if I should bother filing.

Definitely file. Even if you get called back quickly, you'll have established your claim in case you need it again during the benefit year.

Yeah I looked at their website and got more confused. That's why I asked here.

The website is terrible for finding simple answers. That's probably why services like Claimyr exist - people need human explanations of this stuff.

How long did it take before you felt like you understood the process?

Probably about 3-4 weeks. The first weekly claim was confusing but after that it clicked. Having an agent explain things would have sped that up for sure.