What day do I file my unemployment claim with Washington ESD?

You should file your initial claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. Don't wait - there's no benefit to waiting until Sunday or any specific day. Washington ESD processes claims based on when you became unemployed, not when you filed. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed.

I made the mistake of waiting a week to file thinking I needed to wait. Big mistake - just delayed everything. File ASAP and then you'll get instructions about when to file your weekly claims.

Here's what you need to know: File your initial claim immediately. After that, you'll file weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week. So if you file your initial claim today, you'll start filing weekly claims this coming Sunday. The key is getting that initial claim in the system ASAP.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to file (their phone system can be brutal), I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful for me.

wait so theres no waiting week anymore? i thought you had to wait a week before benefits start

I filed mine on a Tuesday and it was fine. Day of the week doesn't matter for the initial claim. What matters is getting it filed quickly after your separation date. Washington ESD will backdate to your last day of work anyway.

Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - social security number, employer addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. Having everything organized will make the process go smoother.

The Washington ESD website is actually pretty good for filing online if you can't get through by phone. I filed mine at like 2 AM when I couldn't sleep and it went through fine.

Just to clarify for anyone reading this - you file your INITIAL claim any day, but your WEEKLY claims are always filed on Sundays. Don't confuse the two like I did at first.

Pro tip: if you're filing online, do it during off-peak hours. The system gets overloaded during lunch breaks and evenings when everyone's trying to file.

I was in the same situation last month. Filed on a Wednesday and everything worked out fine. The main thing is just getting it filed - don't stress about the specific day.

Make sure you keep track of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires you to be actively looking for work and you'll need to report those activities on your weekly claims.

If you run into any issues with Washington ESD not responding or your claim getting stuck, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is actually pretty helpful. I used it when my claim went into adjudication and I couldn't get answers.

One more thing - make sure you're honest about your reason for separation. If you were laid off, say laid off. If you quit, say quit. Being dishonest will just cause problems later.

Washington ESD has gotten much better with their online system over the past few years. I remember when it was nearly impossible to file online, but now it's pretty smooth.

Remember that even if you file today, there's still a waiting week before benefits start. But that waiting week counts from your last day of work, not from when you file, so don't delay filing thinking you need to wait.

If you need help navigating the Washington ESD website, they have pretty good tutorials on their site. Helped me when I was filing for the first time.

Just want to echo what others have said - file ASAP, don't wait for any particular day. I filed on a Friday afternoon and it went through fine. The system processes claims continuously, not just on certain days.

Update us on how it goes! Always helpful to hear about other people's experiences with the filing process.

One last tip - after you file, you'll get a confirmation number. Write that down and keep it safe. You might need it later if there are any issues with your claim.