How long until I can apply for unemployment benefits in Washington?

You can file your unemployment claim right away - don't wait! Washington ESD recommends filing your claim the week you become unemployed or have your hours reduced. There's no waiting period to file, and delaying could mean losing benefits since they don't backdate claims very far.

Thanks! So I should file this week then? Do I need any specific documents ready?

Yes, file this week. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your employer's info. The online system will walk you through it.

definitely dont wait i made that mistake when i got fired last year and lost like 2 weeks of benefits because i thought i had to wait or something

Oh no! Yeah I definitely don't want to lose any money. Filing today then.

The key thing to understand is that your benefit year starts when you file, not when you became unemployed. Washington ESD pays benefits for the week you file and forward, but they won't go back and pay for weeks before you filed (except in very limited circumstances). So file as soon as possible after job loss.

This is so important! I've seen people lose thousands by waiting to file thinking they needed to 'get their paperwork in order' first.

Wow I had no idea about the benefit year thing. Good thing I asked here first!

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call Washington ESD for you and connect you when they get through. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get through to them.

Wait so there's really no waiting period at all? I thought unemployment had like a week waiting period or something?

Washington eliminated the one-week waiting period back in 2019. You can receive benefits starting with your first week of unemployment as long as you're eligible and file your weekly claims.

Oh nice! That's way better than I expected.

Just to add - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing. Missing weekly claims is one of the biggest mistakes people make.

Weekly claims? What are those exactly?

After you file your initial claim, you have to file a weekly claim every week to certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work. It's like checking in with Washington ESD each week.

Exactly. And you have to do this even if your claim is stuck in adjudication or you haven't been approved yet. Keep filing those weekly claims!

The washington esd system is so confusing though!!! I filed 3 weeks ago and still dont know if im approved or denied. How long does this usually take???

could be in adjudication - that can take weeks especially if theres any issue with your separation from work

If you need to check on your claim status, that's another thing Claimyr helps with. Sometimes getting through to an actual person is the only way to find out what's holding up your claim.

I remember when I first applied it took forever to figure out the SecureAccess Washington login stuff. The website isn't very user friendly.

Is that the same as the regular Washington ESD website?

No, you need to create a SecureAccess Washington account first, then link it to your ESD account. It's an extra step but that's how the state does it now.

Don't forget about the job search requirements too. You'll need to log your job search activities starting right away.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

It depends on your situation but usually 3 job search activities per week. Check with WorkSourceWA for the exact requirements.

And keep detailed records! Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

this whole process is so stressful when youre already worried about money... at least filing right away is one less thing to stress about

Exactly! Thanks everyone for the advice. Filing my claim today.

Good luck OP! The waiting is the hardest part but at least you're getting started on the right foot by filing immediately.

Agreed. And don't get discouraged if it takes a while to process - just keep filing those weekly claims.

Has anyone else noticed that Washington ESD's phone system just hangs up on you now instead of putting you on hold? It's so frustrating!

YES! I've been dealing with this for weeks. The system just says 'call volume is high' and disconnects.

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it worked great. They handled all the calling and got me through to someone in about 20 minutes. Worth it when you're stuck.

One more tip - make sure your bank account info is correct when you file. Direct deposit is way faster than waiting for a check in the mail.

Good point! I'll make sure to set that up when I file.

And double check the routing number! I typo'd mine and it delayed my payments by 2 weeks.

washington unemployment system has gotten better over the years but still has its issues. just be patient and persistent

Better than it was during COVID for sure. At least you can usually get through the online filing process now.

Remember to report any severance pay or vacation payout too. That can affect your benefits and you don't want to get hit with an overpayment later.

I did get a small severance payout. Do I report that when I file or later?

Report it when you file your initial claim and also on your weekly claims for the weeks it covers. Better to be upfront about it.

The most important thing is just getting started. The Washington ESD system will guide you through the process step by step once you begin filing.

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate all the help and advice. Time to get this filed!