Washington ESD how and when to file for unemployment - timing questions

Thanks! Do I need to wait until my last day of work or can I file before that?

You can file on or after your last day of work. Don't wait weeks - the benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job.

What if you don't remember exact dates? I got laid off 6 months ago and had to guess some of the employment dates.

Try to be as accurate as possible but they understand you might not remember everything perfectly. They can verify with employers if needed.

What counts as a job contact? Just applying online or do I need to actually talk to someone?

Online applications count, but you need to keep detailed records. Save confirmation emails, write down job titles and company names, dates applied, etc. Washington ESD can audit your job search log.

I learned this the hard way - keep everything documented from day one!

That sounds helpful! Is it expensive to use?

I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of calling 50 times a day. They handle the calling for you.

Interesting, never heard of this before. Did they actually get you through to ESD?

Yeah, got connected within a couple hours instead of spending days trying to call myself.

What if I only worked at this job for 8 months? Will that affect my benefits?

They look at all your employment in the base period, so if you had other jobs in the past year and a half, those wages count too.

What kind of verification are they asking for? Sometimes it's just identity verification or wage verification from your employer.

they want my ID and social security card which i already uploaded twice

Try calling them directly or use that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. Sometimes the documents don't upload properly.

That's good to know. I was worried they'd think I wasn't trying hard enough to find work if I filed right away.

Nope, the opposite actually. They want you to file quickly and then actively look for work while receiving benefits.

What would cause adjudication? I was definitely laid off, not fired.

Sometimes it's random, sometimes your employer contests the claim. Since you were laid off due to reduced orders, you should be fine, but it's good to be prepared just in case.

Adjudication is the worst part of the whole process. Had to wait 6 weeks for mine to clear even though it was obviously a legitimate layoff.

Good advice! What time would you recommend logging in?

I always had better luck between 6-8 AM. Afternoons and evenings the site gets really slow.

Is that something I need to do right away or can I wait until after I file the initial claim?

You can wait, but I'd recommend doing it soon after filing your claim so you don't forget. They'll remind you about it anyway.

Same experience here. The phone lines are impossible. I spent literally 4 hours one day just redialing.

It's ridiculous. How are people supposed to get help when they make it impossible to talk to anyone?

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. Got tired of the endless busy signals and hangups.

What happens if I forget to file one week?

You can't go back and file for previous weeks. Each weekly claim has to be filed during its specific time period.

This is so important! I missed one week early on and lost $400+ that I can never get back.

What if I just do a few hours of freelance work here and there?

Report everything, even small amounts. It's better to be over-cautious than risk an overpayment demand later.

What if a previous employer went out of business? I worked at a restaurant that closed down last year.

Just put down whatever information you have. Washington ESD understands that businesses close. They can work with incomplete info if necessary.

How long should I expect before getting my first payment?

if everything goes smoothly maybe 2-3 weeks. if they need to verify anything or investigate, could be 4-6 weeks or more

That's about right. Mine took 3 weeks with no complications, but I know people who waited 2+ months.

Thank you everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to file first thing tomorrow morning.

Good luck! Remember it's your right to collect unemployment if you lost your job through no fault of your own. Don't feel bad about using the system - that's what it's there for.