How soon do you get unemployment after filing Washington ESD claim?

So even if approved immediately I'm looking at 3 weeks minimum? That's rough but good to know.

Yeah the waiting week is state law, everyone has to serve it. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during that waiting period.

It was a layoff due to lack of work, so hopefully that helps speed things up.

Even layoffs can get held up if there's any confusion about your work history or if your employer disputes something.

Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? That's usually the best time to get through.

I've tried everything - calling at 8am, calling during lunch, staying on hold for hours. Either I get disconnected or told to call back later.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. They actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 10 minutes. Check out their website at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Good point, I'll make sure to keep filing weekly even while waiting for approval.

This is super important! I missed my second week because I thought I had to wait for approval first and lost out on that payment entirely.

Was there anything specific that caused the delay for your friend?

his employer never responded to washington esd's requests for information so it just sat there forever

I get the frustration but they do have to verify eligibility. Better to wait and get legitimate benefits than have the system overwhelmed with fraud.

Meanwhile people are getting evicted and can't buy groceries. There has to be a better way.

That matches what others are saying. Crossing my fingers mine stays simple.

What counts as 'complications'? I had multiple jobs last year, does that slow things down?

Multiple W2 jobs usually aren't a problem since Washington ESD gets that info electronically. It's more like job separation issues, 1099 work, or wage disputes that cause delays.

That's encouraging! Did you have to do anything special or just wait it out?

Just filed weekly claims and waited. Made sure all my contact info was current so they could reach me if needed.

I did choose direct deposit so hopefully that helps.

The debit card option adds like an extra week for processing and mailing.

Have you tried Claimyr? I was in a similar situation and they got me connected to an actual Washington ESD representative. Cost a little bit but was totally worth it to finally get answers.

Never heard of that, is it legit? I'm at the point where I'll try anything.

Yeah it's real, check out claimyr.com. They basically call for you and get you through the phone queue. Way better than trying to get through yourself.

Good advice, I'm trying to stretch my savings as much as possible.

I always tell people to expect 4-6 weeks and be pleasantly surprised if it's faster.

Good reminder, I need to start tracking my job applications properly.

Yeah they require 3 job search activities per week. Keep detailed records of everything.

Try using Claimyr if you really need to reach someone. I was skeptical at first but they actually got me through when nothing else worked. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works.

At this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks for the suggestion.

That seems to be the consensus. I'll plan for 3-4 weeks and hope for the best.

Exactly, and if there are any issues they'll usually contact you by mail or through your online account.

How do you set that up? I want to make sure I don't miss anything important.

Log into your account and go to the notification preferences. You can get emails or texts when there are updates.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Sounds like 3-4 weeks is realistic if there are no issues.

Good luck! The waiting is the hardest part but hang in there.