How long until you can file for unemployment with Washington ESD after job loss?

You can file your claim immediately! There's no waiting period to actually submit your application to Washington ESD. The sooner you file, the better because your benefit year starts the week you file, not when you lost your job. Go to esd.wa.gov and start the process today if possible.

The waiting period your supervisor mentioned is probably the one-week waiting period that used to exist, but that was eliminated during COVID and hasn't returned. You can file the same day you lose your job. Being laid off vs fired can matter for eligibility, but layoffs due to lack of work are typically approved without issues.

I just went through this process last month and filing right away was the right call. However, be prepared that it might take a while to actually get through to Washington ESD if you need to talk to someone. I spent hours trying to call them when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you through to an actual agent - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

manufacturing layoffs are pretty common right now unfortunately. Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - dates of employment, reason for separation, your employer's info. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employer anyway but having it ready speeds things up

Don't forget you'll need to do weekly claims every week to actually get paid, even if your initial claim is still being processed. I made that mistake my first time filing.

i filed the day after i got laid off and it took 3 weeks to get my first payment but that was because of some verification issue. hopefully yours goes faster since manufacturing layoffs are pretty straightforward usually

Make sure you start looking for work right away too. Washington ESD requires job search activities and you need to keep track of them. I think it's 3 job search activities per week but double check that.

The Washington ESD system has been much more stable lately compared to 2020-2021 when it was a total mess. Filing online should be pretty straightforward now.

One thing to watch out for - if you have any vacation pay or severance coming, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD will want to know about any money you're getting from your employer after your last day of work.

I was in manufacturing too when I got laid off. The good news is Washington ESD is pretty familiar with manufacturing layoffs and they usually process them without too many questions since it's clearly lack of work, not misconduct.

Word of advice - if you do run into problems reaching Washington ESD by phone (and you probably will), don't give up. I spent literally days trying to get through until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Worked like magic when I needed to resolve an issue with my claim status.

Just wanted to add - don't stress too much about the process. I know losing your job is scary but Washington's unemployment system is pretty good once you get through the initial filing. Most manufacturing layoffs get approved without issues.

One last tip - when you file, make sure you have a quiet place and good internet connection. The application takes about 30-45 minutes and you don't want to get kicked out halfway through and have to start over.

The fact that you're asking these questions shows you're being responsible about it. File today if you can, start your job search, and keep good records. You'll be fine!