Washington ESD weekly claims - is unemployment weekly biweekly filing schedule?

Washington ESD requires weekly claim filing. You file every week for the previous week, not biweekly. Each Sunday you can file for the week that just ended (Sunday through Saturday). Don't skip weeks or you won't get paid for those weeks.

The confusion comes from the payment schedule - Washington ESD pays biweekly but you still have to file weekly claims. So you file week 1, then file week 2, then get paid for both weeks together. That's probably why you're seeing both mentioned.

I had the same confusion when I started! The key thing is to file every single week even if you don't get paid every week. I missed filing one week thinking I could catch up later and lost that week's benefits completely. Washington ESD doesn't let you backdate missed weeks unless you have a really good reason.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD about questions like this, I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a system that calls for you and gets you connected. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

Just to be crystal clear - Washington ESD weekly claims are filed every week, usually on Sunday for the previous week (Sunday-Saturday). The system opens Sunday morning and you have until the following Saturday to file that week's claim. Don't wait until the last minute though.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing why cant they just make it simple like other states

Make sure you're also keeping track of your job search activities if you're required to do them. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week for most claimants, and you need to log them when you file your weekly claim.

Another thing to watch out for - if you work any hours during a week, even just a few, you need to report it on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits but you might still get partial unemployment.

I've been filing weekly claims for 6 months now and it becomes routine. Just remember: file every week, report any work or income, log your job searches, and answer all the questions honestly. Washington ESD's system works fine once you understand the weekly schedule.

One more tip - if you ever have issues with filing your weekly claim online, you can call the automated system. But honestly, I'd recommend using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier if you need to talk to a real person about claim issues. The regular phone lines are impossible to get through.

Just want to confirm what others said - Washington ESD is definitely weekly filing, not biweekly. I think some people get confused because unemployment benefits in some other states are biweekly, but Washington is weekly all the way.

WEEKLY!!! Not biweekly!!! File every Sunday!!! How hard is this to understand people keep asking the same question over and over

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr twice when I had adjudication issues and they got me through to Washington ESD agents both times. Really worth it when you're stuck and need actual help with your claim rather than just filing weekly claims.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Makes getting your unemployment payments much faster than waiting for a check in the mail. You can set it up through your Washington ESD account online.

Wait I thought you could file your weekly claim any day of the week? I usually file mine on Wednesdays because that's when I remember. Am I doing something wrong?

Summary for anyone still confused: Washington ESD unemployment claims are filed WEEKLY (every week), usually on Sunday for the previous week. Payments might be weekly or biweekly depending on your situation, but you always file weekly regardless. Don't skip weeks or you lose those benefits.