How quickly does Washington ESD unemployment kick in after filing?

There's a one-week waiting period before any payments start, but that's only after your claim is approved. The approval process itself can take 1-3 weeks depending on if there are any issues that need adjudication.

File your claim immediately - like today if possible. The sooner you file, the sooner that waiting period clock starts ticking. Even if it takes them a few weeks to process, your benefit week will be backdated to when you first filed.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for two weeks to check on my claim status and it's impossible. The phone lines are always busy and I can't get a straight answer about when my benefits will actually start. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

The timeline depends on whether your claim goes into adjudication. If Washington ESD needs to verify your work history or if there's any question about why you lost your job, it can take 4-6 weeks. Straightforward claims usually process faster.

Mine took 3 weeks to get approved and then another week for the waiting period. So first payment came at week 4. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval!

been waiting 5 weeks now and still nothing from Washington ESD. this system is broken

Pro tip: even though there's a waiting period, you should apply for other assistance programs immediately. Food stamps, utility assistance, etc. don't wait for unemployment to kick in to get help with basic needs.

The one week waiting period is such BS. Like we're not already stressed enough about losing our jobs, now we have to wait an extra week for benefits we already paid into through taxes.

Just to clarify - the waiting period is one week after your claim is approved, not one week from when you file. So if your claim takes 2 weeks to get approved, you're looking at 3 weeks total before your first payment.

I got lucky and my claim was approved in 10 days, then had to wait the one week period. First payment came exactly 2.5 weeks after I filed. But I know people who waited 6+ weeks because of adjudication issues.

Make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file - previous employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Missing info can slow down the process.

The Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier actually worked for me too. Got through to Washington ESD in like 20 minutes instead of calling for days. Worth trying if you're stuck.

Don't forget you also need to register with WorkSource and start your job search activities right away. They track this stuff and you can get disqualified if you don't follow the requirements.

I'm still confused about when the waiting period starts. Is it from when I file or when they approve my claim?

Just wanted to add that even if your claim is taking forever, keep filing those weekly claims! I almost missed out on 2 weeks of benefits because I stopped filing while waiting for approval.

The whole system is designed to discourage people from filing. Between the waiting period, the job search requirements, and the impossible phone system, it's like they want you to give up.

Update: I used that Claimyr service and finally got through to an agent. Turns out my claim was stuck because they needed to verify my last employer. Agent was able to expedite it and I should have approval within a few days.

For OP: realistically plan for 3-4 weeks before your first payment. Some get lucky with faster processing, but better to plan for the longer timeline and be pleasantly surprised if it's quicker.

One last tip: if you had any other income in the weeks before filing (like vacation pay or severance), make sure to report it accurately. Errors there can cause delays and overpayment issues later.

Hope everything works out for you OP. The waiting is the hardest part but hang in there. File today and keep up with the weekly claims.