Is there a waiting period for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

There's no waiting week in Washington state anymore. They eliminated it a few years ago. You can receive benefits starting with your first week of unemployment as long as your claim is approved and you meet all the eligibility requirements.

Yeah the waiting week got eliminated in 2018 I think. But just because there's no waiting week doesn't mean you'll get paid right away - your claim still has to be processed and approved by Washington ESD first.

The waiting week elimination was part of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program implementation. However, there can still be delays if your claim goes into adjudication. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file - last employer's info, wages, reason for separation, etc.

I filed my claim three weeks ago and it's been stuck in processing ever since. Can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD on the phone - the lines are always busy or I get disconnected. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

wait there's no waiting week anymore?? I thought you had to wait a week before getting benefits. when did this change? I've been telling people wrong information apparently lol

Even though there's no waiting week, you still need to file your weekly claims every week to get paid. Don't forget to do that or you'll miss out on benefits for those weeks.

The whole system is still a mess though. Even without a waiting week, you might wait weeks just to get your claim processed. I know people who waited 6-8 weeks during the pandemic.

Make sure you meet the work history requirements too. You need to have worked enough hours and earned enough wages in your base period to qualify for benefits.

Also don't forget about the job search requirement. You'll need to actively look for work and keep a log of your search activities. This starts right away, even while your claim is being processed.

The elimination of the waiting week was a significant improvement for claimants. It means you can receive benefits for your first week of unemployment, which helps with immediate financial needs. Just remember that your first payment will still be delayed by normal processing time.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'm going to file my claim today. Sounds like the sooner I get started, the better.

I remember when we had the waiting week - it was really tough for people who got laid off and needed immediate help. Glad they got rid of it.

Just a heads up - even though there's no waiting week, your first payment might still take 3-4 weeks to arrive because of processing time plus the payment schedule. Plan accordingly.

If you do run into issues getting through to Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helped me. Worth checking out if you get stuck trying to reach someone.

The key thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Don't wait thinking you might find a job quickly - you can always stop claiming benefits if you find work.

Washington is actually one of the better states for unemployment benefits. No waiting week, decent benefit amounts, and they've improved their system a lot over the years.

Don't forget you'll also need to register with WorkSourceWA for job search assistance. It's part of the requirements for receiving benefits.

I've been helping people with unemployment claims for years and the elimination of the waiting week was one of the best changes Washington made. It really helps people in their first week of unemployment when they need it most.

Remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your benefits or pay them later, but don't forget about the tax implications.

One more tip - keep all your documentation organized. If there are any questions about your claim later, having everything ready will make resolving issues much faster.

Just wanted to add that while there's no waiting week, make sure you understand the difference between when you file your claim and when you actually start receiving payments. The elimination of the waiting week means you're eligible for benefits from your first week of unemployment, but there's still the normal processing time before you see any money. I'd recommend having at least 3-4 weeks of expenses saved if possible to bridge that gap. Also, keep track of all your job search activities from day one - the requirement starts immediately even while your claim is being processed.