When can I apply for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! So I should wait until the day after my last day of work to file online?

Exactly. File the day after your last day of work or as soon as possible after that. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed.

Wait, is there still a waiting week? I thought they got rid of that during COVID.

The waiting week was suspended during the pandemic but it's back now as of 2023. You still need to file for that first week but won't receive payment for it.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't publish pricing but it was worth it to get real answers instead of being stuck in phone hell.

I've heard of Claimyr before, my cousin used them when her claim got stuck in adjudication. She said it was a lifesaver.

What kind of employment history do they need exactly?

You need employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation for each job in the past 18 months. Also keep any documentation about why you lost your job.

What causes a claim to go into adjudication?

Lots of things - if you quit vs were fired, if there are questions about your work history, if your employer contests the claim. Pretty much any discrepancy can trigger it.

My claim went into adjudication because I had a second job that I kept working. Took 6 weeks to resolve even though I reported everything correctly.

Don't file a new claim! Contact Washington ESD to correct the information. Filing multiple claims will cause bigger problems.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. When you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD for corrections or questions, their phone system is impossible. At least with Claimyr you can actually reach an agent.

How do you file the weekly claims? Is it the same website?

Yes, same website. You log into your account and file your weekly claim every Sunday for the previous week. Don't miss filing or you could lose benefits for that week.

You can create your account ahead of time, but don't file your actual claim until after your last day of work. Having the account set up can save time when you're ready to file.

Good idea, I'll set up the account this weekend so I'm ready to go.

I feel your frustration. The system is definitely overwhelmed. Have you tried calling at different times of day?

I've tried everything - early morning, lunch time, late afternoon. Nothing works. Someone mentioned that Claimyr service earlier, might have to try that.

That's good advice. What made you think you wouldn't qualify?

I was a contract worker and thought that disqualified me, but it turns out I had enough regular employment in my base period to qualify for benefits.

You should file as soon as possible because benefits are only paid from the date you file your claim, not from when you became unemployed. So waiting costs you money.

Yeah, don't wait. I waited 2 weeks to file and lost out on those 2 weeks of benefits. They don't backdate payments to when you actually lost your job.

That makes sense. Thanks for breaking it down simply!

Exactly. The key is don't overthink it - just file as soon as you're unemployed and then stay on top of your weekly claims.

Good point. I should update my contact info before I file.

Yes, and check your email regularly. Sometimes important notices get sent to email instead of regular mail.

Yes, you should receive a confirmation email after submitting your initial claim, and Washington ESD will also send you a determination letter (usually within a week or two) that tells you if your claim is approved and what your weekly benefit amount will be. Make sure to save all these documents! Also, you'll get instructions on how to file your weekly claims. The determination letter is really important because it has your claim details and any requirements you need to meet to keep receiving benefits.

This is really helpful! I'm glad to hear the online system works well once you're organized. Quick question - when you say you filed too early and it caused delays, how long did it take to get that sorted out? I'm worried about making any mistakes that could slow down my benefits since I'll need them pretty quickly after losing my job.