Washington ESD unemployment waiting week - still required in 2025?

The waiting week was actually eliminated in Washington back in 2021! You don't have to serve an unpaid waiting week anymore. As long as your claim is approved and you meet all the weekly requirements, you should get paid for your first eligible week. Just make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time.

wait really?? I could have sworn there was still a waiting week when I filed last year. Maybe I'm thinking of something else but I remember not getting paid for my first week

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I was confused about this same thing. Spent hours on hold trying to talk to someone who could explain it clearly. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's even a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made the whole process so much easier.

The waiting week elimination was part of SB 5061 if you want to look it up. It was originally a temporary COVID measure but became permanent in 2021. Before that, claimants had to serve one unpaid week before receiving benefits, which was really hard on people who needed immediate help.

Just be prepared that even without the waiting week, it can still take time for your claim to process, especially if it goes into adjudication. Mine took 3 weeks to get approved because they had to verify my separation reason.

I filed in January and got my first payment within 2 weeks, no waiting week needed. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is processing. Don't skip any weeks!

The Washington ESD website is pretty clear about this now, but it used to be confusing. They updated their FAQ section to specifically address the waiting week question since so many people were asking about it.

Does anyone know if the waiting week thing varies by state? I have a friend in another state who said they still have to do it.

I'm still confused about something - if there's no waiting week, why did my neighbor say she didn't get paid for her first week? She filed in December.

Just want to emphasize what others have said - file your weekly claims religiously, even if your initial claim is still processing. I made the mistake of not filing for two weeks while waiting for approval and lost those weeks forever.

The whole system is still confusing even without the waiting week. I spent so much time trying to understand all the requirements and deadlines. When I finally got frustrated enough, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it was honestly a lifesaver. Got connected to an actual Washington ESD person who explained everything clearly.

For anyone reading this thread later - here's the key points: 1) No waiting week in Washington since 2021, 2) File weekly claims immediately and consistently, 3) Meet job search requirements, 4) Be patient if your claim goes to adjudication. The system isn't perfect but it's better than it used to be.

One thing to add - even though there's no waiting week, your first payment might still be delayed if you file your initial claim late in the week. Washington ESD processes claims on specific schedules, so timing can affect when you see your first payment.

This is such a relief to read! I was dreading having to wait an extra week without pay. Thanks everyone for the clear explanations - this community is so helpful for navigating all the Washington ESD stuff.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I filed a claim last month - the no waiting week thing is definitely real! I got my first payment exactly 7 days after filing my weekly claim, once my initial application was approved. The whole process was way smoother than I expected based on horror stories I'd heard. My advice is to have all your employment history and documentation ready when you file, and don't panic if it takes a few days to hear back. The system really has improved from what it used to be.