What day do I certify for unemployment Washington ESD weekly claims?
I just got approved for UI benefits and I'm confused about when exactly I'm supposed to file my weekly claim certification. My claim was processed last Tuesday but I haven't received any clear info about what day of the week I need to certify. Do I do it the same day every week? Is it based on when my claim was approved or is there a standard day for everyone? I don't want to mess this up and miss a payment.
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Sofia Torres
You'll certify every Sunday for the previous week. Washington ESD processes weekly claims on Sundays, and you can file anytime after 12:01 AM Sunday through 11:59 PM the following Saturday. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way.
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Dylan Wright
•Perfect, so this Sunday I'll file for last week. Thanks for clearing that up!
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GalacticGuardian
•yeah but make sure you have all your job search activities logged before you certify or they might flag your claim
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Dmitry Smirnov
I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my certification questions and can never get through on the phone. Their website says one thing but then when I try to certify it's different. Anyone else having issues getting through to them?
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Ava Rodriguez
•I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - they actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent in like 10 minutes. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Miguel Diaz
The certification window is Sunday through Saturday but you really want to file on Sunday if possible. I made the mistake of waiting until Friday once and the system was super slow, almost couldn't get it submitted in time.
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Dylan Wright
•Good to know! I'll definitely do it Sunday mornings then.
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Zainab Ahmed
•omg yes the system gets so laggy later in the week, learned that the hard way too
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Connor Gallagher
Wait, I thought you had to certify on the exact same day each week? Like if you filed your first one on Tuesday you always do Tuesday? That's what someone at WorkSource told me.
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Sofia Torres
•No, that's not correct. The certification window is the same for everyone - Sunday through Saturday. You can file any day during that week, but you're filing for the previous week's eligibility.
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AstroAlpha
Just a heads up - if you worked any hours during the week you're certifying for, make sure you report them accurately. Even if it's just a few hours. Washington ESD will find out eventually and you don't want an overpayment notice.
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Dylan Wright
•Thanks, I'll make sure to report everything correctly. Better safe than sorry.
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Yara Khoury
•Yeah I got hit with an overpayment for not reporting 3 hours of work. Had to appeal and everything.
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Keisha Taylor
Does anyone know if there's a grace period if you forget to certify? Like what happens if you miss the Saturday deadline?
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Sofia Torres
•You can file a late claim but you'll need to explain why it was late. Washington ESD may or may not accept the reason. It's best to just set a reminder on your phone for every Sunday.
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Paolo Longo
THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING! Why can't they just send you an email reminder or something? I've missed two weeks already because I forgot and now I'm behind on payments.
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Amina Bah
•You can actually sign up for text reminders on your SAW account. Go to notifications and turn on weekly claim reminders.
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Oliver Becker
I always do mine Sunday around 8 AM with my coffee. Makes it routine so I don't forget. Plus the system is usually fastest then.
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CosmicCowboy
•That's smart. I should make it part of my Sunday routine too.
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Natasha Orlova
•same here, sunday morning with coffee is the way to go
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Javier Cruz
Quick question - do you certify for the week that just ended or the week you're about to start? I'm always confused about the timing.
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Sofia Torres
•You certify for the week that just ended. So on Sunday you're reporting whether you were available for work, searched for jobs, etc. during the previous Sunday through Saturday period.
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Emma Thompson
I wish they would let you certify multiple weeks at once if you forget. Having to do them one by one when you get behind is such a pain.
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Malik Jackson
•Right? Other states let you do that but Washington ESD makes you file each week separately.
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Isabella Costa
•at least the process is pretty quick once you get used to it, takes me like 2 minutes now
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StarSurfer
Pro tip: Screenshot your confirmation page after you certify each week. I had an issue where they said I didn't file but I had proof I did. Saved me a lot of hassle.
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Dylan Wright
•That's really smart advice. I'll start doing that too.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Yes! Always keep records. The Washington ESD system glitches sometimes and you need proof.
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Freya Christensen
I had trouble reaching Washington ESD about my certification schedule too until someone recommended Claimyr. They got me connected to an actual person who walked me through the whole weekly filing process. Game changer honestly.
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Omar Hassan
•How much does something like that cost though? I'm already broke waiting for my benefits.
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Freya Christensen
•It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold. Plus they actually get results.
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Chloe Robinson
Make sure you're logging into the right website too. I was trying to certify on the old site for like a month before realizing they moved everything to the SAW portal.
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Diego Chavez
•OMG same thing happened to me! Why do they have so many different websites?
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Dylan Wright
•Which site should I be using? I want to make sure I'm on the right one.
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Chloe Robinson
•Use the SecureAccess Washington (SAW) portal. That's the current one for all Washington ESD services.
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NeonNebula
Does the day you certify affect when you get paid? Like if I file Sunday vs Friday will I get my money at different times?
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Sofia Torres
•No, payment timing is based on your benefit year and payment method, not when during the week you certify. As long as you file within the Sunday-Saturday window, you're good.
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Anastasia Kozlov
I've been on unemployment for 6 months now and I still set a calendar reminder every week. It's too important to risk forgetting and missing a payment.
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Sean Kelly
•Smart approach. Missing even one week can really mess up your budget.
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Dylan Wright
•Yeah I'm definitely going to set up reminders. Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone!
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