How soon should I apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits after losing my job?
Just got laid off yesterday from my manufacturing job and I'm wondering when I should file for unemployment. Should I wait a few days or apply right away? I've never done this before and don't want to mess anything up. Also not sure if there's a waiting period or if benefits start immediately. Any advice would be helpful!
45 comments
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Tate Jensen
File immediately! There's no benefit to waiting and you could be losing money. Washington ESD processes claims based on the date you file, not when you lost your job. The sooner you get in the system, the better.
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Marcelle Drum
•Thanks! I'll start the application today then. Do I need any specific documents ready?
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Tate Jensen
•Have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months. That should cover the basics.
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Adaline Wong
Apply ASAP - like today if possible. Washington ESD has a one week waiting period for benefits, but that clock doesn't start until you file your initial claim. Plus if there are any issues with your claim that need adjudication, those delays add up quickly.
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Gabriel Ruiz
•What kind of issues cause adjudication? I'm worried about delays.
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Adaline Wong
•Common ones are if you quit vs were laid off, if you had any disciplinary issues, or if your employer contests the claim. Most claims go through fine though.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
I waited like 2 weeks to apply thinking I might find something quick and it was a huge mistake. You can always cancel the claim if you find work fast, but you can't get back those weeks of potential benefits. File now!
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Marcelle Drum
•That makes sense, better safe than sorry. Did you have trouble reaching Washington ESD when you finally applied?
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Oh yeah, calling them is a nightmare. I actually used this service called Claimyr that helped me get through. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Peyton Clarke
File right away but be prepared for the process to take time. My claim took 3 weeks to get approved and that was without any complications. The waiting period is just the first week - after that you should get paid for every week you're eligible and file your weekly claims.
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Vince Eh
•3 weeks seems fast! Mine took over a month because they had to verify my employment history.
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Peyton Clarke
•Yeah I think I got lucky. The key is making sure all your info is accurate when you first apply.
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Sophia Gabriel
Just to be clear - you file once for the initial claim, then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually get paid. Don't miss those weekly filings or you'll lose benefits for that week.
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Marcelle Drum
•Good to know! When do the weekly claims start?
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Sophia Gabriel
•Usually the Sunday after your first full week of unemployment. Washington ESD will send you instructions once your initial claim is processed.
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Tobias Lancaster
Apply today! I made the mistake of thinking I needed to wait until I was officially unemployed for a full week. That's not how it works - you apply as soon as you lose your job.
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Ezra Beard
•Same here, I thought there was some minimum time you had to be unemployed first.
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Tobias Lancaster
•Nope, that's a common misconception. The waiting period is built into the system, not something you create by waiting to apply.
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Statiia Aarssizan
File immediately and make sure you keep track of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires you to be actively looking for work and you need to log your job search contacts.
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Marcelle Drum
•How many job contacts do I need per week?
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Statiia Aarssizan
•It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Can be applications, networking, interviews, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records.
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Reginald Blackwell
Don't overthink it - just apply. The worst that happens is they ask for more documentation. I applied the same day I got my layoff notice and had no problems.
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Aria Khan
•Did you apply online or over the phone?
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Reginald Blackwell
•Online is definitely easier. The phone lines are constantly busy and the website works fine most of the time.
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Everett Tutum
Applied same day I got laid off and it was the right choice. Your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you became unemployed. Every day you wait is potentially money lost.
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Sunny Wang
•How much can you typically get in Washington?
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Everett Tutum
•Depends on your previous earnings. Maximum is around $999/week but most people get less. There's a calculator on the Washington ESD website.
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Hugh Intensity
File today! I hesitated for a week thinking I might get called back and ended up unemployed for 4 months. That first week of benefits I lost was $400 I'll never see again.
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Marcelle Drum
•That's exactly what I was worried about. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Hugh Intensity
•No problem! Learn from my mistake. Even if you get called back quickly, you can always stop filing weekly claims.
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Effie Alexander
The system is designed for you to apply immediately. There's literally no downside to filing right away and lots of potential downsides to waiting.
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Melissa Lin
•This is good advice. I always tell people to file the day they lose their job.
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Lydia Santiago
Been through this twice - apply immediately both times and had benefits start as soon as legally possible. The Washington ESD system has enough delays built in already without you adding more.
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Marcelle Drum
•What kind of delays should I expect?
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Lydia Santiago
•Usually 1-2 weeks for processing if everything goes smoothly. Could be longer if they need to verify information or if your employer contests the claim.
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Romeo Quest
Apply ASAP! Also be prepared for potential issues reaching them if you need help. The phone system is overloaded. I ended up using Claimyr when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status - really saved me time and frustration.
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Val Rossi
•What's Claimyr? Never heard of it.
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Romeo Quest
•It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phones are jammed. Check their demo video to see how it works.
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Eve Freeman
File immediately and don't second-guess yourself. I waited 3 days thinking I needed to 'cool off' after getting fired and it was completely unnecessary. Those 3 days didn't help anything.
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Clarissa Flair
•I can relate to wanting to process the job loss first, but you're right that it doesn't help the claim process.
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Caden Turner
The golden rule is file the same day or next business day at the latest. Washington ESD doesn't pay you for time before you filed, even if you were unemployed during that time.
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Marcelle Drum
•Got it, I'm convinced! Filing today for sure.
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Caden Turner
•Smart choice! Good luck with everything and don't forget about those weekly claims once your initial claim is approved.
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McKenzie Shade
Last thing - make sure you have your direct deposit info ready when you apply. It speeds up getting your payments once everything is approved. And seriously, don't wait!
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Marcelle Drum
•Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. Going to start my application right now.
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