What is waiting week unemployment - Washington ESD made me wait before getting benefits?

So I literally get nothing for that first week? That seems really unfair when people are already struggling financially.

It is unfair but that's how the system works unfortunately. Most states have some version of this policy.

Did you ever get that waiting week paid back to you later or is it just lost forever?

Nope, it's gone forever. Once you serve your waiting week, that's it. You don't get retroactive payment for it.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed.

It's actually pretty reasonable considering how much time and stress it saves. Way better than spending days trying to get through yourself.

So I still have to do the weekly claim filing even though I won't get paid for it?

Correct. You must continue filing your weekly claims during the waiting week to keep your claim active and establish your benefit year.

This is exactly the kind of bureaucratic nonsense that makes the whole system so frustrating to deal with.

No, the waiting week is still served even if you win an appeal later. The waiting week and disqualification are separate issues.

that makes no sense but ok thanks

Yeah their website is pretty confusing about this stuff. Did you ever find good resources for understanding the whole process?

Honestly the best resource was talking to an actual ESD worker, but good luck getting through on the phone normally.

Oh great, so I could be looking at even longer without any money if there are problems with my claim?

Unfortunately yes. The waiting week only counts once your claim is approved and you're actively filing weekly claims.

This happened to me last year. Took 3 weeks for adjudication then had to serve my waiting week on top of that. Nearly lost my apartment.

Yes, the waiting week applies to standby claims as well. It's part of the regular UI program structure in Washington.

Ugh, even when it's temporary? That seems extra unfair for people who know they're going back to work.

Wait, so you can work part-time during the waiting week and it still counts?

Yep, as long as you report the earnings correctly. The waiting week is separate from work reporting requirements.

I mean I get that it costs money to run the program but making people wait when they're already struggling just seems cruel.

EXACTLY! It's not like people choose to be unemployed. Most of us would rather be working than dealing with this bureaucracy.

Your waiting week starts with your first claimed week, which begins on the Sunday of the week you became unemployed, not necessarily when you filed the claim.

ok that makes more sense, thanks

Did any states permanently eliminate their waiting weeks or did they all bring them back?

I think a few states made it permanent but most brought them back. Would have to research which ones specifically.

Good point, I wasn't sure if the job search requirements kicked in immediately or after the waiting week.

They start right away. You need to be actively seeking work from day one of your claim, even during the unpaid waiting week.

That's interesting about the one-day gap. Do you know if there's a minimum time you have to be employed before the waiting week resets?

I don't know the exact timeframe but it has something to do with your benefit year and when you last collected benefits.

Right? You don't think about any of this stuff until you're suddenly unemployed and then you have to figure it all out while stressed about money.

exactly, and then you find out about all these random rules like waiting weeks that nobody ever told you about

That's smart advice. Better to have too much documentation than not enough I guess.

Definitely. Washington ESD can ask for verification of your activities at any time, so it's good to be prepared.

Thanks everyone for all this info! This thread has been super helpful. I'm still frustrated about losing that first week of pay, but at least now I understand what to expect. Sounds like the key is to keep filing weekly claims, document everything, and just accept that the waiting week is part of the process. Really wish Washington ESD made this stuff clearer upfront though.

@Noah Torres Yeah, it s'definitely one of those things they should explain better when you first file. I went through the same confusion when I started my claim a few months ago. The waiting week is frustrating but at least now you know what to expect going forward. Make sure you keep filing those weekly claims even during the waiting period - that s'crucial for keeping your claim active.

@Noah Torres Yeah, definitely keep all your records organized from day one. I learned this the hard way when ESD asked me to verify my job search activities from weeks earlier and I had to scramble to find everything. Also, even though the waiting week feels unfair and (it is ,)try to think of it as just part of the process you have to get through. Focus on what you can control - filing your weekly claims on time, documenting your job search, and staying on top of any correspondence from ESD. The system is frustrating but once you get through that first week, payments should start flowing more regularly.

@Noah Torres I just went through this exact same situation a couple months ago! The waiting week really does suck when you re'already stressed about money. One thing that helped me was reaching out to local food banks and community assistance programs during that first week - many of them specifically help people who are between jobs. Also, if you have any gig work options like delivery driving or freelance stuff, that income can help bridge the gap without affecting your unemployment eligibility just (make sure to report it properly .)Hang in there - once you get past this bureaucratic hurdle, the regular payments should start coming through.

@Noah Torres I feel your pain - just went through this myself a few weeks ago. The waiting week is such a gut punch when you re'already dealing with job loss stress. What really helped me was setting up a budget immediately to stretch whatever savings I had, and I also checked with my utility companies about hardship programs since many will defer payments if you re'unemployed. The documentation advice here is spot on too - I used a simple spreadsheet to track everything from day one. It s'annoying bureaucracy but you ll'get through it!

@Noah Torres I m'in a similar boat - just filed my first claim too and was shocked to learn about the waiting week. It s'frustrating that they don t'make this more obvious when you re'going through the application process. I ve'been reading through all these responses and it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1 You) still have to file weekly claims during the waiting week, 2 Keep) documenting everything including job searches, 3 The) waiting week applies even if you work part-time, and 4 There) s'no way to get that week paid retroactively. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than the ESD website!

@Noah Torres I just went through this same situation last month and I completely understand your frustration! The waiting week policy really caught me off guard too. What helped me was calling my landlord as soon as I realized what was happening and explaining the situation - many are understanding about unemployment delays if you re'proactive about communicating. Also, some local churches and community centers have emergency assistance funds specifically for people dealing with unemployment waiting periods. The whole system feels designed to make things harder when you re'already struggling, but at least once you get past this first hurdle, the process becomes more predictable. Definitely keep filing those weekly claims even though you won t'get paid for the first one!

@Noah Torres I totally get your frustration - I just started my unemployment claim too and had no idea about the waiting week until I saw your post! Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening. It s'crazy that Washington ESD doesn t'explain this better upfront when you re'already stressed about losing your job. The fact that you still have to file weekly claims but don t'get paid for that first week seems like such an unnecessary burden. I m'dreading having to deal with their phone system based on what everyone s'saying here. At least now I know what to expect going in. Thanks for asking this question - saved me from being blindsided!

@Noah Torres @Emma Thompson This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I m actually'in the process of filing my first unemployment claim right now and had no clue about this waiting week policy. It s honestly'shocking that Washington ESD doesn t make'this crystal clear upfront - seems like they re intentionally'burying this information so people don t know'what to expect. The fact that you still have to jump through all the hoops of filing weekly claims but get zero compensation for that first week feels deliberately punitive. I m going'to have to figure out how to cover my bills during that gap week now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I won t be'caught completely off guard like you all were!

@Noah Torres @Emma Thompson I m dealing'with this exact same situation right now! Just filed my claim last week and was completely blindsided when I called to ask about my payment timeline. The ESD representative barely explained it and seemed annoyed that I was asking basic questions about their own policies. What s really'frustrating is that they could easily add a big warning box about the waiting week during the online application process, but they don t. It'feels intentionally hidden. I m having'to scramble to figure out how to pay my car payment this week since I was counting on that first unemployment check. This policy seems especially cruel given that most people filing unemployment are already in a financially precarious situation. Thanks for starting this discussion though - it s been'way more informative than anything on the official ESD website!

@Noah Torres The waiting week really is a harsh policy, especially when you re'already dealing with the stress of job loss. I just went through this myself a couple months ago and it definitely caught me off guard too. One thing that helped me was immediately reaching out to my bank about overdraft protection and asking my utility companies about payment extensions - most have hardship programs for people dealing with unemployment. Also, don t'forget that even though you re'not getting paid for the waiting week, you still need to file that weekly claim and document your job search activities. The whole system feels unnecessarily punitive, but once you get past this bureaucratic hurdle, the payments should start flowing more regularly. Hang in there!