Is the ESD waiting week only for the first week of my claim? No payment confusion
I just filed my unemployment claim after being laid off from construction work. Someone at the job site told me there's a 'waiting week' where I won't get paid. Is this true? Is it literally just the first week after I file that I don't get paid for? Do I still need to file a weekly claim for that week even though I won't get paid? This is my first time on unemployment and I'm trying to budget carefully since I've got rent due in 3 weeks. Thanks for any help!
15 comments
Join the conversation
Nolan Carter
Yes, the waiting week is real! It's the first week of your claim that meets all eligibility requirements. You WON'T receive benefits for this week, but you MUST file a weekly claim for it. Think of it as an unpaid deductible week before benefits start flowing. And yes, absolutely file that weekly claim even though you won't get paid - it's required to establish your claim properly.
0 coins
Daniel White
•Thanks for confirming! So just to be 100% clear - I file this week, don't get paid, but then next week I'll start getting payments if I keep filing? Does the waiting week ever reset if I find temporary work and then need UI again?
0 coins
Natalia Stone
When I applied last January, I couldn't get through to ESD for THREE WEEKS trying to ask about the waiting week! Their phone system is a complete nightmare. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an actual human at ESD who explained everything. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Totally worth it because the agent also helped me fix some issues with my job search documentation that would have caused problems later.
0 coins
Tasia Synder
•did that clmyr thing actually work? i've been on hold 4ever trying to ask about my waiting week too
0 coins
Natalia Stone
•Yes, it definitely worked for me! Instead of spending hours redialing, I got through to an agent who explained that the waiting week only applies once per benefit year (the 12-month period starting when you first file). So if you find work and then need UI again within that same benefit year, you don't serve another waiting week.
0 coins
Selena Bautista
JUST SO YOU KNOW they made a big change to the waiting week during covid where they waived it completely but now it's BACK in full force. I got super confused because my first time on unemployment was during 2020 and I got paid for all weeks but this time around in 2025 I didn't get the first week. Called and yep, waiting week is back. The system is designed to save the state money at our expense!!!!!
0 coins
Mohamed Anderson
•That's correct about the COVID waiver ending, but I wouldn't characterize the waiting week as designed to "save the state money at our expense." It's actually a standard feature in most state unemployment systems and has been around for decades. It serves multiple purposes, including allowing time for initial claim processing and verification. Just wanted to clarify that point.
0 coins
Ellie Perry
i think it depends on your situation? when i filed last month i didn't have a waiting week because i was on standby status from my seasonal job. but my roommate had to serve a waiting week because he was laid off permanently. maybe check if you qualify for standby?
0 coins
Mohamed Anderson
•This is actually incorrect. Standby status doesn't exempt you from the waiting week requirement. The waiting week applies to all claimants, including those on standby status. There are very few exceptions to this rule in Washington state. Your roommate and you should have both served waiting weeks unless there was some other factor at play or perhaps you misunderstood the timing of your payments.
0 coins
Landon Morgan
Quick question related to this - does the waiting week count toward the total weeks of benefits we're eligible for? Like if I'm approved for 26 weeks of benefits, does that include the waiting week or is it 26 paid weeks plus the waiting week?
0 coins
Nolan Carter
•Great question! The waiting week does NOT count against your total benefit entitlement. If you qualify for 26 weeks of benefits, you'll actually receive payments for 26 weeks plus you'll serve the one unpaid waiting week. So your claim potentially spans 27 weeks total, with the first being unpaid.
0 coins
Tasia Synder
my cousin said if u work part time during ur waiting week u can actually get it paid? anyone know if thats true?? seems weird
0 coins
Mohamed Anderson
•No, that's not accurate. Working part-time during your waiting week doesn't eliminate the waiting week requirement. You still won't receive benefits for that week regardless of whether you work part-time or not. Your cousin might be confusing this with how part-time earnings are handled in regular benefit weeks (after the waiting week), where you can receive partial benefits if your earnings are below a certain threshold.
0 coins
Teresa Boyd
When I had my waiting week last year I still did my three job search activities even though I wouldn't get paid and the ESD representative told me later that was the right thing to do because they still check those even for the waiting week. Just a heads up!
0 coins
Daniel White
•That's really good to know, thanks! I'll make sure to do my job search activities during the waiting week too and document everything properly.
0 coins