How soon can I file for unemployment after being laid off - Washington ESD timing
Got laid off yesterday from my warehouse job due to company downsizing. I know I need to file for unemployment benefits but I'm not sure about the timing. Can I file immediately or do I need to wait? Also heard something about a waiting week - does that mean I have to wait a week before filing or is that something else? Really need to get this process started ASAP since I have rent due next week. Any advice on the Washington ESD filing timeline would be appreciated.
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Rosie Harper
You can file your unemployment claim immediately through the Washington ESD website. Don't wait - the sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. The waiting week is something different - that's about when you start receiving benefits, not when you can file.
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Darren Brooks
•Thanks! So I can literally file today even though I just got laid off yesterday?
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Rosie Harper
•Yes, absolutely. File as soon as possible. Your claim effective date will be the Sunday of the week you file, so don't delay.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
File immediately but be prepared for potential delays in processing. Washington ESD is still dealing with backlogs from recent system updates. Make sure you have all your employment information ready - last employer details, wages from the past 18 months, reason for separation, etc.
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Darren Brooks
•What kind of delays are we talking about? Days or weeks?
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•Could be anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on if your claim goes into adjudication. Simple layoffs usually process faster than terminations.
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Demi Hall
•Mine took 3 weeks last month and that was just a basic layoff. The system is really slow right now.
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Mateusius Townsend
I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can't get through on the phone. If you run into issues after filing, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.
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Kara Yoshida
•How much does that cost though? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay to reach our own state agency.
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Mateusius Townsend
•I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of getting busy signals for weeks. The alternative was just sitting in limbo.
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Darren Brooks
•Good to know this exists in case I run into problems. Hopefully my claim goes through smoothly but will keep this in mind.
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Philip Cowan
Whatever you do, don't wait. I made the mistake of waiting a few days to file thinking I needed to 'process' getting laid off first. Big mistake - lost out on potential benefits for those days. File immediately, like today.
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Darren Brooks
•Wow, I almost did the same thing. Thought I needed to wait until Monday to file. Going to do it right now.
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Caesar Grant
•same thing happened to my brother, he waited almost a week and regretted it
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Rosie Harper
One more important thing - make sure you understand the difference between when you can file and when benefits start. You can file immediately, but your first payable week won't be until after the waiting week. So if you file today, you'd start receiving benefits for the week after next, assuming your claim is approved.
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Lena Schultz
•Wait, so there's still a waiting week? I thought Washington got rid of that during COVID.
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Rosie Harper
•The waiting week is back as of 2023. It was temporarily waived during the pandemic but that ended.
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Darren Brooks
•So even if I file today, I won't see any money for almost two weeks? That's rough with bills coming up.
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Gemma Andrews
File online through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) if you can. Way faster than trying to call. The website walks you through everything step by step. Just make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready.
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Darren Brooks
•Is there anything tricky about the online application? I'm not great with websites.
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Gemma Andrews
•It's pretty straightforward. Takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. Hardest part is remembering exact dates and wages from previous jobs.
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Pedro Sawyer
THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get approved and Washington ESD just keeps saying 'it's under review.' Meanwhile I'm behind on everything. File immediately but don't expect it to be quick or easy.
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Mae Bennett
•6 weeks?? That's insane. Have you tried reaching out to your state representative?
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Pedro Sawyer
•Yeah, left messages everywhere. No one calls back. This whole system is a joke.
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Mateusius Townsend
•This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get things moving.
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Beatrice Marshall
Quick question - do you need to file exactly on the day you got laid off or can you file for the whole week? I got laid off on Wednesday but wondering if I should wait until Sunday to file for a full week.
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Rosie Harper
•Don't wait until Sunday. File now. Your benefit week runs Sunday to Saturday regardless of when during the week you file. The system will sort out the dates.
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Beatrice Marshall
•Thanks, that makes sense. Better to file sooner rather than later.
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Melina Haruko
Also make sure you keep looking for work immediately. Washington requires job search activities starting right away, even during your waiting week. Keep a log of everything - applications, networking, etc.
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Darren Brooks
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I've heard different numbers.
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Melina Haruko
•It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check the requirements when you file. Could be applications, networking events, job fairs, etc.
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Dallas Villalobos
•Make sure you understand what counts as a 'job search activity' too. Not everything qualifies.
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Reina Salazar
Been through this process twice in the past few years. File immediately, have all your documents ready, and be patient. It's frustrating but most claims do eventually get processed. The key is filing ASAP and then staying on top of your weekly claims.
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Darren Brooks
•What do you mean by staying on top of weekly claims?
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Reina Salazar
•You have to file a weekly claim every week to continue receiving benefits, even if your initial claim is still processing. It's like checking in with the system.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
File today! I waited 3 days after my layoff and always wondered if that delayed my first payment. The stress of unemployment is bad enough without wondering if you're missing deadlines.
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Demi Lagos
•This is solid advice. The emotional side of job loss can make you procrastinate on practical stuff like this.
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Darren Brooks
•Yeah, I definitely was in shock yesterday and today. But reading all this is motivating me to just get it done.
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Mason Lopez
One more tip - take screenshots of everything when you file online. Save your confirmation numbers, print out pages, etc. I've heard of people having issues where the system said they never filed even though they did.
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Darren Brooks
•Good thinking. I'll definitely document everything as I go through the process.
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Vera Visnjic
•Yes! And save any emails they send you. I had to prove my filing date once and the email confirmation was what saved me.
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Jake Sinclair
Hope this helps, OP. The whole process can be overwhelming but you've got this. Most people do get their benefits eventually, it just takes patience and persistence. File today and then focus on your job search while you wait.
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Darren Brooks
•Thanks everyone! This thread has been incredibly helpful. Going to file right now and start applying for jobs this afternoon.
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Brielle Johnson
•Good luck! Come back and update us on how it goes.
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