How often do you get unemployment checks from Washington ESD?

Thanks! So I need to file every week to get paid every week? What happens if I miss filing one week?

Yes you have to file every single week. If you miss a week you can usually file late but there might be delays or you could lose that week's payment depending on why you missed it.

wait you can file starting sunday? i thought it was monday

Nope, Sunday after midnight. A lot of people don't know that and end up filing late.

What kind of adjudication issue? I'm worried about running into problems.

They questioned my job separation circumstances. Had to provide additional documentation and it took forever to resolve. Couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to check on the status.

That's exactly what happened to me! I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Finally got my adjudication issue resolved after weeks of trying on my own.

yeah that confused me at first too. you file for last week not this week

So if I file my first weekly claim this Sunday, when would I actually get paid?

Usually Tuesday or Wednesday of that same week, but you're getting paid for the week before. The first payment might take longer because they have to process everything initially.

How many job applications do you have to do per week?

3 per week minimum but you gotta log them in WorkSourceWA or whatever. pain in the butt but necessary

What's standby status? I've never heard of that.

It's when you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same employer within a specific timeframe. Different rules apply for job search requirements.

How long did your first payment take?

like 2 weeks from when i filed my first claim. but after that its been regular

Months?? That's insane. How do people survive waiting that long?

Most people don't have a choice. The system is overwhelmed and understaffed. That's why services like Claimyr have become popular - helps people actually reach Washington ESD agents when they need to resolve issues.

lol same here. the anxiety is real

Is there a deadline for filing the weekly claim or just as long as it's that week?

You have until Saturday night technically but don't risk it. File as early as possible on Sunday.

What kind of backup plan do you mean?

Emergency fund if possible, or at least know what resources are available if your payments get delayed. Food banks, utility assistance programs, that kind of thing.

What kind of mistakes delay payments?

Reporting earnings wrong, saying you weren't available for work when you were, not reporting job refusals. Anything that triggers a review.

Do you keep physical records or just digital ones?

Both. Screenshot everything and keep a paper folder too. You never know when you'll need to prove something.

How does that work exactly?

They basically handle the calling process for you and get you connected to an actual agent. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. Sounds like Sunday filing and Tuesday/Wednesday payments is the normal pattern.

Yeah just stick to the routine and you'll be fine. And keep records of everything just in case.