Washington ESD unemployment waiting week - what exactly is this?

So I still have to do all the work search stuff but get no money for it? That seems really unfair when people are already struggling financially.

Yeah it's frustrating but that's how the system works. The good news is it's only the first week, then you get paid normally after that.

You're thinking of the temporary suspension during the pandemic. The waiting week is back in effect now for regular unemployment claims filed after September 2021.

Ugh, of course they brought it back. Thanks for clarifying that.

Check your claim status in your online account. If your first week shows as 'paid' but with $0 amount, that's normal for the waiting week. If it shows 'pending' or 'under review' then there might be an issue.

Mine shows 'paid $0' so I guess that's right then. This system is so confusing for first-time users.

Is that legitimate? I'm always worried about scams when it comes to unemployment stuff.

Yeah it's real, they just help you get through the phone system. I was skeptical too but it worked and I finally got my questions answered about the waiting week.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed.

I totally get the frustration. The waiting week is supposed to encourage people to find work quickly and prevent fraud, but it definitely hurts when you're already struggling.

well its not encouraging me to find work faster its just making me more stressed about paying rent

What's standby status? Is that different from regular unemployment?

Standby is when you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same employer within a specific timeframe. Those claims often have different rules including potentially no waiting week.

Good point, I would have probably stopped filing thinking it wasn't working.

Exactly! I almost made that mistake. Keep filing every week or you'll mess up your whole claim.

No, your benefit year is still the full duration. The waiting week doesn't reduce your total number of payable weeks, you just don't get paid for that first week you claim.

That's a relief at least. Thanks for explaining that.

Correct. Your first weekly claim is the waiting week (unpaid), but starting with your second weekly claim you should receive payments if you're eligible.

Got it, thanks. At least it's only one week and not longer.

Same here! The Washington ESD website could be way clearer about this stuff.

Totally agree. They assume everyone already knows how it works.

might have to try that, been trying to call for days about my claim status

Yeah definitely check out their video demo first so you know what to expect. Way better than sitting on hold forever.

Yes, you absolutely must report all income during your waiting week. Even though you're not getting paid unemployment benefits that week, you still need to follow all the reporting requirements.

Thanks, I figured as much but wanted to double check.

I understand the frustration, but the waiting week has been standard in most states for decades. It's not a new cost-saving measure.

Doesn't make it right though. When people lose their jobs they need help immediately, not after jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

You're welcome! The unemployment system can be really confusing at first but once you understand the basics it gets easier.

Glad we could help. Just remember to keep filing every week and you should be good.

You should still file your weekly claims going forward. Missing your first weekly claim might complicate things, so you may want to contact Washington ESD to clarify how that affects your waiting week requirement.

ugh great, another thing to worry about. guess ill try calling them

If you can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier might be worth trying. They helped me reach an agent when I had a similar timing issue with my claim.

Good reminder about the job search requirements. I almost forgot about that part.

Yeah they still expect you to meet all the requirements during your waiting week. Don't skip anything or it could affect your future payments.

Good question. Generally if your claim is ultimately approved after an appeal, the waiting week would apply to your original claim date, not when the appeal was decided. But appeal situations can be complex so you'd want to verify with Washington ESD.

Makes sense. I'm hoping not to need an appeal but wanted to understand just in case.

If you're reopening an existing claim within your benefit year, there typically isn't another waiting week. But if you're filing a brand new claim in a new benefit year, then yes, you'd have another waiting week.

Got it, so it's based on whether it's a new claim or continuing an old one. Thanks!

That's what these forums are for! We've all been through the confusion of navigating unemployment for the first time.

Agreed, this has been really helpful. Nice to know other people were just as confused as I was.

Would be nice if they did. Every little bit helps when you're unemployed.

Exactly. The financial stress is already bad enough without having to wait an extra week for help.

I heard that during the pandemic some states permanently got rid of their waiting weeks after seeing how much it helped people during the crisis. Hopefully Washington considers doing the same - it really does make a difference when you're already struggling to make ends meet between jobs.