What time can I file my weekly unemployment claim with Washington ESD?
I'm trying to figure out the best time to file my weekly unemployment claim. I know Sunday is the day to file but I'm not sure if there's a specific time when the system opens or if I can file it at midnight. Does anyone know when exactly I can submit my weekly claim through the Washington ESD website? I don't want to miss the deadline but also want to get it done early in the week.
114 comments


Dmitry Popov
You can file your weekly claim starting at 6 AM on Sunday through the Washington ESD website. The system is usually available 24/7 except for maintenance windows, but Sunday morning at 6 AM is when the new week officially opens for filing.
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Sofia Morales
•Perfect, thanks! So I can file it early Sunday morning and not worry about it the rest of the week.
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Ava Garcia
•I always file mine right at 6 AM Sunday just to get it out of the way
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Donna Cline
You can file your weekly claim any time after 6 AM on Sunday through 11:59 PM the following Saturday. There's no specific time requirement - just make sure you file it within that weekly window. The system is available 24/7 except for maintenance periods.
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Lucas Parker
•Thank you! So I don't have to wake up super early on Sunday morning? That's a relief.
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Donna Cline
•Nope, any time that week works. I usually file mine on Tuesday evenings just to stay consistent.
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StarSailor}
I've been filing mine on Sunday evenings and never had an issue. The system seems to be up most of the time, but yeah 6 AM is when it officially opens for the new week.
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Sofia Morales
•Good to know it works in the evening too. I'm more of a night person so that might work better for me.
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Miguel Silva
•Same here, I usually file Sunday night while watching TV
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Harper Collins
i always do mine sunday night around 8pm, never had any issues. just dont wait until the last minute on saturday night in case the system is slow
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Lucas Parker
•Good point about not waiting until the last minute. I'll probably do mine mid-week to be safe.
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Zainab Ismail
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your claim status or ask questions about filing times, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made it so much easier than trying to call repeatedly.
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Connor O'Neill
•Really? I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status. How does this service work exactly?
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Zainab Ismail
•It basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Yara Nassar
•That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Might give it a try.
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Kelsey Hawkins
The Washington ESD online system doesn't care what time you file, but I'd recommend being consistent with your timing. Some people file right after midnight on Sunday, others wait until they have all their work information ready mid-week. Just make sure you're reporting your work hours and earnings accurately for the correct week period.
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Lucas Parker
•What if I worked some hours during the week? Do I need to wait until after I finish all my work to file?
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Kelsey Hawkins
•You report work for the week that just ended, not the current week. So if you're filing on Sunday, you're reporting work from the previous Sunday through Saturday.
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Dylan Fisher
I was having the same confusion when I started! The timing thing stressed me out too. I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to ask about this but could never get through - you know how their phone lines are. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually talk to someone at ESD. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and the website is claimyr.com. Really helped me understand the weekly claim process better.
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Lucas Parker
•How does that work? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.
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Dylan Fisher
•Claimyr basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Edwards Hugo
•Is there a cost for that service? Sounds too good to be true.
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Gianna Scott
The system is usually fastest early in the morning on Sundays, but that's just my experience. Peak times can be slower, especially Monday mornings when everyone's rushing to file before work.
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Lucas Parker
•Makes sense that Monday mornings would be busy. I'll avoid those times.
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Alfredo Lugo
•I file mine at like 2 AM on Sunday because I'm a night owl anyway. System is super fast then.
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Keisha Robinson
Just make sure you file before the deadline which is Saturday night at 11:59 PM. You have the whole week to file but I always recommend doing it early to avoid any last-minute technical issues with the Washington ESD system.
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Sofia Morales
•What happens if I miss the Saturday deadline? Can I still file late?
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Keisha Robinson
•You can file late but it might affect your payment timing. It's best to file within the week to avoid any complications.
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Ava Garcia
I've noticed the Washington ESD website can be slow on Sunday mornings, probably because everyone is trying to file at the same time. If you run into issues, try again later in the day.
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GalaxyGuardian
•Yeah I've experienced that too. Sunday afternoons seem to work better for me.
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Sofia Morales
•Good tip, I'll keep that in mind if I have trouble filing early Sunday morning.
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Harper Collins
just remember you have to keep filing every week even if your claim is in adjudication or pending. learned that the hard way when my payments got delayed because i stopped filing
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Lucas Parker
•Wait, even if I'm not getting paid yet I still need to file weekly?
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Donna Cline
•Yes, you must continue filing weekly claims to maintain your place in line for benefits. If you stop filing, you could lose those weeks entirely.
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Miguel Silva
Make sure you have all your information ready before you start filing - work search activities, any earnings for the week, etc. The system will time out if you take too long.
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Sofia Morales
•How long do you have before it times out?
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Miguel Silva
•I think it's about 20 minutes of inactivity. Just have everything ready and you'll be fine.
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Paolo Ricci
•I learned this the hard way - had to start over twice because I was looking up job search info while filing
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Connor O'Neill
Does anyone know if you can file your weekly claim from the mobile app or do you have to use the full website?
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Dmitry Popov
•I've used both and they work the same. The mobile site is just the regular Washington ESD website optimized for phones.
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Connor O'Neill
•Great, that's convenient. I'm always on my phone anyway.
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Yara Nassar
Be careful about filing too early if you worked during the week. Make sure you have all your earnings calculated correctly before submitting.
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Sofia Morales
•Good point. I don't work during the week but that's important for people who do part-time work.
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Amina Toure
•Yeah I made that mistake once and had to call Washington ESD to correct it. Not fun.
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StarSailor}
I usually file mine on Monday mornings just to spread out when people are using the system. Never had any issues with delays in payment.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•That's smart. I might try that instead of fighting with everyone else on Sunday.
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Sofia Morales
•As long as it's before Saturday night that should work fine.
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Sydney Torres
Been filing for 6 months now and I do it every Wednesday after work. Gives me time to gather any pay stubs or work info from that week. The key is consistency - pick a day and stick to it so you don't forget.
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Lucas Parker
•Wednesday sounds like a good middle-ground day. Not too early, not too late in the week.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•I do Wednesdays too! Makes it easy to remember.
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Caleb Bell
THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE ANYWAY. Doesn't matter what time you file, half the time it's down for 'maintenance' or running slow. I've been dealing with this mess for months and it never gets easier.
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Lucas Parker
•Oh no, is the system really that unreliable? Now I'm worried about missing deadlines because of technical issues.
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Donna Cline
•The system has gotten much better over the past year. There are occasional maintenance windows but they're usually announced in advance.
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Caleb Bell
•Better than it was doesn't mean good. Still crashes during peak times.
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GalaxyGuardian
The Washington ESD system goes down for maintenance sometimes on Sunday mornings. If you can't access it right at 6 AM, just wait an hour or two and try again.
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Sofia Morales
•Is there a way to know when maintenance is scheduled?
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GalaxyGuardian
•They sometimes post notices on the Washington ESD website but not always. Usually it's brief though.
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Danielle Campbell
I always file mine on Sunday mornings with my coffee. Makes it feel like less of a chore. The important thing is that you're filing within the correct week period and answering all the questions honestly.
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Lucas Parker
•That sounds like a nice routine. I should try to make it feel less stressful.
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Paolo Ricci
Pro tip: bookmark the direct link to the weekly claim filing page so you don't have to navigate through the whole Washington ESD website every time.
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Sofia Morales
•That's a great idea! Do you happen to have that link?
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Paolo Ricci
•Just log into your account and bookmark the page where you file your weekly claim. It'll save you time.
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Rhett Bowman
FYI if you miss your weekly filing deadline, you might be able to file a late claim but it's not guaranteed. Washington ESD can deny late claims if they think you don't have good cause. Better to file on time every week.
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Lucas Parker
•What counts as 'good cause' for filing late?
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Rhett Bowman
•Usually things like medical emergencies, technical problems on their end, or other situations beyond your control. But you'd have to provide documentation.
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Abigail Patel
I had to call Washington ESD about my filing schedule when I started working part-time and wasn't sure how to report my hours. Took forever to get through until someone recommended Claimyr to me. Actually got to talk to an ESD rep within minutes instead of hours on hold. Made a huge difference in understanding exactly when and how to file.
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Lucas Parker
•Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. I might need to check that out if I run into issues.
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Daniel White
•Same here - Claimyr was a lifesaver when I had questions about my claim status.
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Nolan Carter
Pro tip: set a phone reminder for the same day and time each week. I use Thursday at 2 PM and haven't missed a filing in over a year. Consistency is key with unemployment claims.
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Lucas Parker
•Great idea about the phone reminder! I'll set that up right now.
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Natalia Stone
•I do the same thing but on Tuesdays. Works perfectly.
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Amina Toure
I've been filing my weekly claims for months now and Sunday at 6 AM is definitely when it opens. I set an alarm and file it first thing so I don't forget.
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Sofia Morales
•That's dedication! I might not be that punctual but good to know the exact time.
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Natasha Volkova
•I do the same thing. Better to get it done early than stress about it all week.
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Oliver Zimmermann
If you're having trouble with the Washington ESD website, try using a different browser or clearing your cache. Sometimes that fixes loading issues.
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Sofia Morales
•I'll keep that in mind if I run into technical problems. Thanks!
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Javier Torres
•Chrome works best for me with the Washington ESD site. Firefox sometimes has issues.
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Tasia Synder
If you're working part-time while on unemployment, make sure you understand how to report those hours correctly. The timing of when you file doesn't matter as much as making sure you're reporting everything accurately.
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Lucas Parker
•I'm not working right now but good to know for the future. Is there anything tricky about reporting part-time work?
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Tasia Synder
•Just make sure you report gross earnings before taxes and the exact number of hours worked. Washington ESD will calculate your partial benefit amount.
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Selena Bautista
been filing for 8 weeks now, always do it sunday evening while watching tv. super easy once you get the hang of it. the questions are basically the same every week
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Lucas Parker
•That's reassuring to hear it gets easier. The first time feels so intimidating.
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Mohamed Anderson
Make sure you keep records of when you file each week. I take a screenshot of the confirmation page just in case there are ever any questions about whether I filed on time.
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Lucas Parker
•Smart idea about the screenshots. I'll start doing that too.
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Ellie Perry
•I print mine out and keep them in a folder. Old school but it works.
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Landon Morgan
I was so confused about this when I started too! Thought I had to file at exactly 6 AM on Sunday or something. Turns out you have the whole week window. Don't stress about the timing - just make sure you file every single week.
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Lucas Parker
•Thank you! Everyone here has been so helpful. I feel much better about the process now.
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Teresa Boyd
One more thing - if you're ever having trouble getting through to Washington ESD with questions, that Claimyr service others mentioned really works. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of calling. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you're curious.
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Lucas Parker
•I'll definitely bookmark that for future reference. Thanks for all the help everyone!
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Lourdes Fox
Welcome to the unemployment process! It seems overwhelming at first but you'll get into a rhythm. Just remember: file every week within the window, report everything accurately, and keep good records. You've got this!
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Lucas Parker
•Really appreciate all the encouragement and advice from everyone. This forum is awesome.
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Natasha Volkova
The most important thing is just to file it sometime during the week. Don't stress too much about the exact time on Sunday morning.
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Sofia Morales
•True, I'm probably overthinking it. Just wanted to make sure I understand the process.
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Emma Davis
•Better to ask questions and get it right than to mess up your claim!
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Javier Torres
I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked. Got through to a Washington ESD agent in about 10 minutes instead of spending hours calling. Definitely worth it if you need to talk to someone about your claim.
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Connor O'Neill
•Really? I'm still considering trying it. Did they help you with your weekly claim questions?
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Javier Torres
•Yeah, they connected me to an agent who answered all my questions about filing times and claim status. Much easier than the normal calling process.
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Emma Davis
Just remember that even though you can file starting Sunday at 6 AM, your payment timing depends on when Washington ESD processes everything. Filing early doesn't necessarily mean you get paid faster.
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Sofia Morales
•Good to know. I was wondering if filing early would speed up the payment process.
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CosmicCaptain
•Yeah, the payment schedule is pretty fixed regardless of when you file during the week.
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CosmicCaptain
Make sure you're logging into the right Washington ESD website - secure.esd.wa.gov. There are some fake sites out there that look similar.
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Sofia Morales
•Thanks for the warning! I'll make sure I'm on the official site.
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Malik Johnson
•Yeah, always double-check the URL. The official Washington ESD site is the only safe place to file your claim.
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Malik Johnson
If you're new to filing weekly claims, the process is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. The Washington ESD website walks you through each step.
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Sofia Morales
•That's reassuring. I'm still getting used to the whole unemployment process.
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Isabella Ferreira
•It gets easier each week. Just take your time the first few times and you'll be fine.
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Isabella Ferreira
One thing to watch out for - if you're getting any kind of pension or retirement income, make sure you report that on your weekly claim. Washington ESD takes that stuff seriously.
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Sofia Morales
•I don't have any pension income but good to know for future reference.
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Ravi Sharma
•Yeah, any income needs to be reported. Better to be honest and avoid problems later.
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Ravi Sharma
Bottom line - you can file your weekly claim starting Sunday at 6 AM through Saturday at 11:59 PM. The earlier in the week you file, the less likely you are to run into technical issues or forget. Good luck with your claim!
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Sofia Morales
•Perfect summary, thank you! I feel much more confident about filing my weekly claim now.
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Zainab Ismail
•And remember, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim, services like Claimyr can save you a lot of time and frustration trying to get through on the phone.
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Sofia Morales
•I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any issues. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
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Keisha Jackson
I've been filing my weekly claims for about 3 months now and I typically do mine on Tuesday mornings around 9 AM. The system is usually pretty quick then since most people file on Sundays or Mondays. As others have mentioned, you have the entire week from Sunday 6 AM to Saturday 11:59 PM, so there's really no rush. The key is just being consistent - pick a day that works for your schedule and stick with it. I set a recurring calendar reminder so I never forget!
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