How long is the waiting period for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

So I still have to do the weekly claim filing even though I won't get paid for that first week?

Yes, you absolutely must file your weekly claim for the waiting period week. If you don't file it, it can delay your benefits and mess up your claim timeline.

The waiting period was waived for pandemic-related programs like PUA and PEUC, but those programs ended. Regular UI benefits still have the one-week waiting period as of 2025.

oh that makes sense, thanks for clarifying

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed lol

It's worth checking out their site for pricing info. For me it was worth it just to avoid the endless busy signals and disconnects when calling Washington ESD directly.

I feel you but at least it's only one week. Some states have longer waiting periods.

One week can feel like forever when you're worried about rent and groceries though

This is really helpful, thank you! So I filed on Tuesday, which means my benefit year started the Sunday before, and I need to file my first weekly claim for that Sunday-Saturday period?

Exactly right. And remember, even though you won't get paid for that first week, filing that weekly claim is required to establish your claim properly.

I know it seems overwhelming at first, but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes second nature. The important thing is not to miss any deadlines.

yeah i guess you're right, just stressed about everything right now

Yes, standby status still has the one-week waiting period. The waiting period applies to all regular unemployment benefits regardless of whether you're actively seeking work or on standby.

good to know, thanks!

Oh no, how did that affect your claim?

It delayed everything by a week because I had to call Washington ESD to explain what happened. That's when I learned about filing weekly claims even during the waiting period.

That week is not paid - it's a permanent waiting period. You don't get retroactive payment for it later. It's essentially a one-week deductible for unemployment benefits.

That's what I figured but wanted to confirm. Thanks for the clear answer.

The phone situation is definitely frustrating. I've had better luck using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I really needed to talk to someone.

I might have to look into that if I can't get through on my own

How many job contacts do you need to make per week in Washington?

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but it can vary based on your situation. Check your account or call Washington ESD to confirm your specific requirements.

If you've filed for 3 weeks and haven't received payment, there might be an issue with your claim beyond just the waiting period. Check your account for any pending issues or adjudication holds.

it just says 'claim under review' but no other details. should i be worried?

You should definitely try to contact Washington ESD to get more information about what's being reviewed. That's longer than a normal waiting period.

Same here! I was counting on that first week's payment and had to scramble when I realized it wasn't coming.

Exactly. At least now we know for future reference, though hopefully we won't need to use unemployment again anytime soon.

This is a good point that often confuses people. The benefit year always starts on a Sunday regardless of when you actually file during the week.

The waiting period is the same for partial unemployment benefits. One week waiting period applies whether you're fully unemployed or working reduced hours and claiming partial benefits.

Thanks, that's what I thought but wanted to double check.

How quickly were you able to get through to someone?

Way faster than trying to call directly. They handle all the waiting and callback stuff so you don't have to sit on hold for hours.

Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding the whole process.

Glad it helped! The unemployment system can be confusing but once you understand the basics it gets easier.

If you filed your weekly claim correctly for the waiting period week, it should be counted automatically. You can check your claim history in your Washington ESD account to see if it shows up.

I'll check that, thanks for the tip!

I get your frustration but at least Washington's waiting period is only one week. Could be worse.

I guess, but any waiting period feels too long when you've got bills to pay

Good advice! I wish I had thought of that before filing. Will definitely keep this in mind for the future.

Yeah, unemployment is stressful enough without financial surprises. Planning ahead when possible definitely helps reduce some of that stress.

This is such a helpful breakdown, thank you! The calendar reminder system is a great idea - I'm definitely going to set that up. I was feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the different deadlines and requirements, but organizing it visually like that makes it seem much more doable. Really appreciate you sharing your experience!

Thanks for sharing your experience! This is exactly the kind of real-world insight that's so valuable. I almost made the same mistake of thinking I could skip that first week since there's no payment. It's frustrating that the system isn't more intuitive about this - like why not just automatically file that waiting week claim when you submit your initial application? Seems like a lot of people get tripped up by this same issue. Did you have to call Washington ESD to fix the delay, or were you able to resolve it online?

Oh wow, I'm so glad I read this before making the same mistake! I was literally about to skip filing for that first week thinking it would save me some hassle. Thank you for the warning - sounds like it would have just created more problems down the road. This whole process is already stressful enough without adding delays on top of it. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, it's way more helpful than trying to decode the official Washington ESD website.

This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through it recently! I was starting to worry that maybe I'd done something wrong since I haven't gotten paid yet, but it sounds like this is just how the system works. Your tip about checking eServices regularly is great - I'll make sure to stay on top of that. And thanks for the heads up about calling times, I was planning to try calling Monday morning but I'll definitely avoid that now. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already stressed about being unemployed, but at least knowing what to expect helps a lot.