How soon can you get unemployment benefits after filing in Washington?

So I won't get anything for this first week at all? That's rough but good to know. When exactly do I file the weekly claim - is there a specific time?

Correct, no payment for the waiting week. Weekly claims open Sunday morning and you have until Saturday night to file for the previous week. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way.

What causes adjudication? I was laid off due to company downsizing, seems pretty straightforward.

could be anything - they might want to verify your employment dates, wages, reason for separation. sometimes it's random

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it some kind of scam?

It's legit - they don't ask for any personal info, just helps you get connected to Washington ESD. I was skeptical too but it actually got me through when I needed to check on my adjudication status.

I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times last month. Might have to check this out if my claim runs into problems.

Good point about filing weekly even if it's pending. I'll make sure to do that this Sunday. How do I know if they need to verify something with my employer?

You'll get a notice in your SecureAccess Washington account if they need additional information. Check your online account regularly and respond to any requests immediately to avoid delays.

6 weeks?! What kind of paperwork issue? That would put me in serious financial trouble.

they wanted proof of my work authorization even though I'm a US citizen. had to send in documents multiple times before they accepted them

I did set up direct deposit when I filed. What kind of job search requirements? I was planning to start looking next week.

You need to make 3 job search contacts per week and register with WorkSourceWA. There's more flexibility now than during COVID, but you still need to document your search activities.

The job search requirement is such BS when you're already stressed about money. Like I'm not gonna look for work without them forcing me to.

That's encouraging to hear someone got it in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed mine goes that smoothly.

you're lucky... seems like most people run into some kind of delay these days

Yeah I calculated it out and it's going to be tight. Can you work part time while collecting unemployment?

Yes but you have to report any earnings and they'll reduce your benefit amount. There's a small amount you can earn without affecting benefits but not much.

How much does something like that cost? If it's expensive it might not be worth it.

They don't publish pricing upfront but it was reasonable for the time it saved me. Way cheaper than taking unpaid time off work to keep calling during business hours.

Good advice, I'll start doing that. What kind of things typically go wrong?

System glitches, missed weekly claims due to website issues, payments that don't show up when they should. Having your own records helps when you need to prove you did everything correctly.

Account locked? How does that happen? Now I'm worried about more things that could go wrong.

tried to reset my password too many times and it locked me out completely. customer service is useless

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helps - getting through to someone who can actually unlock accounts instead of just reading scripts.

That's a helpful realistic timeline. I'll plan for 2-3 weeks to be safe and hope for sooner.

Definitely plan for longer rather than shorter. The system is still dealing with backlogs from all the changes over the past few years.

So even after approval I have to keep proving I'm still unemployed and looking for work every week?

Exactly. Each weekly claim is basically certifying that you were unemployed that week, able and available for work, and actively seeking employment.

What helped you navigate it better the second time? Any specific tips?

Mainly just knowing to file the weekly claims religiously and not to panic when the first couple weeks show $0. Also having all my documents ready if they asked for verification.

Someone mentioned this earlier too. Is there a specific format for the job search log?

You can use their online tool through WorkSourceWA or keep your own records. Just make sure you have dates, company names, position titles, and how you applied.

Phone interview? I thought layoffs were pretty straightforward for unemployment eligibility.

usually they are but sometimes they want to verify details with both you and your employer, especially if the employer disputes the claim

Another situation where Claimyr can be helpful - they can help you reach someone to schedule those interviews faster than trying to call on your own.

I only had one job for the past 2 years so hopefully that keeps things simple.

That should definitely help speed things up. Single employer with steady wages is the easiest scenario for Washington ESD to process.

That's good to know about the back pay. I was worried I'd lose those weeks if the initial claim took too long.

Yep, as long as you file your weekly claims you won't lose any eligible weeks. The back pay usually comes all at once when your claim gets approved.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. Feeling much more prepared now for what to expect. Will definitely start that weekly claim this Sunday.

Good luck! Hope your claim processes smoothly and quickly.