How long is the waiting week for unemployment in Washington - still confused about timing

Oh thank god, that's such a relief! So I should get paid for this week if my claim goes through?

Yes, as long as you meet all the eligibility requirements and your claim isn't held up in adjudication.

The waiting week was eliminated effective January 1, 2023. If you filed in 2024 and experienced a delay, it was likely due to adjudication or verification issues, not a waiting week.

Hmm maybe that's what happened to me then. My claim was stuck in adjudication for like a month.

Actually yeah, I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. They basically call for you and get you connected to a real person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true honestly.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of spending hours calling myself.

Thanks for the heads up! I've been applying places but wasn't keeping track. What counts as a job contact?

Applications, interviews, networking events, even reaching out to employers directly. Just keep records of everything with dates and contact info.

The waiting week was officially eliminated in 2023. Your sister may have experienced delays due to claim processing or verification requirements, which can feel like a waiting period but isn't the same thing as the old waiting week policy.

oh okay that makes sense. she was definitely dealing with some verification stuff

Right?? I keep checking my account obsessively. Hope we both get approved quickly.

Same here. At least we know there's no waiting week to deal with on top of everything else.

Good call, I'll do that today. Every day counts when you're broke.

Exactly. Direct deposit usually hits your account within 1-2 business days of being processed.

Yeah, a lot of the information online is from pre-2023 when the waiting week was still in effect. Always check the official Washington ESD website for the most current policies.

Will do. Thanks for clarifying about the waiting week being gone.

You need to be able and available for work from day one, which includes actively seeking employment. The job search requirement starts immediately, not after a grace period.

Got it, thanks. Better start applying today then.

It can take 24-48 hours for weekly claims to process, especially if it's your first one. If it's still pending after a few days, then you might want to contact Washington ESD.

That's when Claimyr really helped me out. Instead of waiting on hold forever, I was able to talk to someone right away to check my claim status.

Ugh that's terrifying. I really hope mine goes through faster than that.

hopefully yours will be smoother. at least you don't have to deal with the waiting week anymore

Thanks for the warning. I might pick up some catering shifts while I'm looking for permanent work.

Yeah, just report all income when you file your weekly claims. They'll adjust your benefit amount accordingly.

PUA ended in 2021. If you're filing now, you'd be filing for regular unemployment insurance which doesn't have a waiting week as of 2023.

Ah okay, I was confused about the different programs. Thanks for clarifying.

Yeah, I can't imagine having to wait even longer. This is stressful enough as is.

Hang in there, it gets better once your claim is approved and you get into the routine of filing weekly.

It's a permanent change to Washington state law. The waiting week is gone for good unless the legislature decides to bring it back, which seems unlikely.

Perfect, that's what I was hoping to hear.

Good tip! I'll set a reminder for Sundays to file my weekly claim.

Smart. Consistency is key with these government systems.

What causes adjudication usually? I want to avoid that if possible.

Usually it's things like questions about why you left your job, wage verification, or identity verification. Sometimes it's random.

That's exactly what happened to me. Took forever to reach someone until I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much more confident about the process now.

You got this! The restaurant industry will bounce back and you'll find something soon.