Washington ESD waiting week for unemployment - do I still have to serve it?

So even if I file this week, I won't get paid until the week after next? That's brutal when you're already struggling financially.

Unfortunately yes, that's how it works. The waiting week applies to your first payable week, not your first week of filing. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims though or you'll lose benefits.

It was only suspended temporarily. The waiting week requirement was reinstated in 2023. If your friend filed during the suspension period, they wouldn't have had to serve it.

Oh that makes sense now. Thanks for clearing that up!

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without all the waiting and disconnections. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. I used it last month when I had questions about my job search requirements and got through in like 20 minutes instead of spending all day trying to call.

I totally agree! It made sense maybe decades ago but with how expensive everything is now, that extra week without income can be devastating.

It's supposed to prevent fraud or something but really it just hurts people who legitimately need help.

That's good to know at least. So if I find a job and then lose it again within the same benefit year, I wouldn't have to serve another waiting week?

Correct, as long as you're still within the same benefit year and haven't exhausted your total benefit amount.

Good question! The waiting week doesn't count against your total weeks of benefits. If you're eligible for 26 weeks, you'll still get 26 paid weeks - the waiting week is in addition to that.

Oh that's a relief! I was worried I'd lose a week of benefits entirely.

Payments usually process on Tuesday/Wednesday after you file your weekly claim on Sunday. If you filed this past Sunday and it's only Tuesday, give it another day. If it's later in the week and still nothing, that could indicate an issue with your claim.

It's Thursday and still nothing. I'm starting to panic that something went wrong with my claim.

This is exactly why I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. When my payments were delayed I needed to talk to someone immediately, not spend days trying to get through on the phone.

This is super helpful, thank you! I wish Washington ESD explained this timeline more clearly on their website.

Yeah their communication could definitely be better. A lot of people get confused and think they did something wrong when their first week doesn't pay out.

Good point! I almost made that mistake thinking the job search stuff didn't matter during the waiting week.

Yep, all the regular requirements still apply - job searches, being available for work, etc. The only difference is you don't get paid for that first week.

Same here! I filed in 2021 and was so grateful not to have that extra week of no income. Going back to the old system feels like a step backward.

Exactly! They proved it wasn't necessary during the pandemic but went back to it anyway. It's all about making the system more difficult for people who need help.

What kind of issues typically cause adjudication during the waiting week?

Things like reporting work or earnings incorrectly, issues with your separation from your last job, or problems with your work search activities. Even small mistakes can trigger a review.

Great, something else to worry about. This whole system is so complicated and stressful.

I've tried calling at 8am when they open and the lines are still jammed. Honestly that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier might be worth looking into if you really need to talk to someone.

Yeah I'm starting to think that might be my only option. The regular phone system is just impossible.

That doesn't make it any less frustrating when you're the one trying to pay rent with no income!

Oh absolutely, I'm not defending it at all. Just pointing out it's a widespread policy issue, not just Washington being difficult.

Yes! This is crucial. Missing even one weekly claim can disqualify you from benefits entirely, even if it's during the unpaid waiting week.

Good to know. I'll make sure to keep filing every week no matter what. This whole system is confusing but I can't afford to make mistakes.