What happens if you miss a week of unemployment - Washington ESD consequences?

Thank you! I'm logging in right now to check. Do I need to explain why I missed it or just file normally?

Just file it normally. The system will ask the same questions as usual - whether you worked, looked for work, etc. Answer honestly for that week.

That's reassuring! Were you able to get paid for both weeks normally?

Yes, both payments came through about 3 days after I filed the missed claims. Just took a little longer than usual.

Is that service legit? Seems too good to be true with how hard it is to reach Washington ESD.

Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got connected to an actual ESD agent instead of getting the busy signal or being hung up on.

Good to know there's an option if I run into problems with the missed week. Hopefully I won't need it though.

Same! I file mine first thing Sunday morning at 7am every week. Can't risk forgetting.

Setting reminders is smart, but don't stress too much. Washington ESD gives you some grace period for missed filings as long as you catch up quickly.

True, they're pretty strict about work search requirements and other stuff but missing one week isn't the end of the world.

Yeah I've been super careful about documenting my job searches every week. This is just the first time I spaced on the actual filing.

That's not accurate. You have up to 4 weeks to file most missed weekly claims. After that it becomes more complicated but your claim doesn't automatically close.

Oh good, whoever told me that was wrong then. Thanks for clarifying!

Did that delay your payment at all or did it process normally once you verified?

Nope, payment came through on the normal schedule. The verification was just a quick security check.

Wait really?? I thought it had to be filed on Sunday! This changes everything for me.

Yep! The 'week ending' date is what matters, not when you actually file it during that week. You just can't file for a future week.

That's actually really helpful to know. I was stressing about Sunday deadlines but having the whole week makes it much more manageable.

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements for that week when you file the missed claim. The requirements don't change just because you filed late.

That makes sense. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't off the hook for that week's job searching.

Good to know it doesn't mess up the partial benefit calculations. I don't work part-time but that's useful info for others.

Yeah their website could be clearer about the exact timeframes for missed filings. Typical government website - vague when you need specifics!

That's good to hear they're reasonable about legitimate emergencies. Hope you're doing better now!

Thanks! Much better now. The key was explaining the situation when I filed the missed claim.

That's why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it's literally the only way I've been able to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD recently.

I'll have to check that out. I've given up trying to call them directly because it's such a waste of time.

Great! You should see the payment in your account within a few days. Glad it worked out!

So relieved for you! I would have been panicking all week if that happened to me.

This whole thread has been educational. Good to know missing one week isn't a disaster.

The website being down is so frustrating! At least they don't penalize you for their technical problems.

Exactly. They seem to understand that technical issues and occasional forgetfulness happen to everyone.

Agreed! I was so worried for nothing. Glad I asked here instead of just panicking.

Same! I bookmarked this thread in case I ever need the info later.

Welcome to the community! I totally get that anxiety about missing filings - I think we all feel that way at first. This thread has been super reassuring for me too. One thing I learned from reading everyone's experiences is that setting up a routine really helps. I used to stress about it every week, but now I just file mine every Tuesday morning with my coffee and it's become second nature. The 4-week grace period is definitely a huge relief to know about as a safety net. Hope your unemployment journey goes smoothly!

Setting multiple reminders is definitely the way to go! I use both my phone and my calendar app to make sure I never miss it. Also, I learned from this thread that you can file anytime during the week (Sunday 6am to Saturday midnight), not just on Sunday like I originally thought. That flexibility makes it so much less stressful. The community here is really great for getting real-world advice that you just can't find on the official websites.