When can I apply for unemployment in Washington - timing questions

You should file your claim the week you become unemployed or the week after. Don't wait too long because Washington ESD can only backdate claims for a limited time. You can file online through your SecureAccess Washington account as soon as you're no longer working.

There's usually a one-week waiting period before you get your first payment, just so you know. And make sure you have all your employment info ready - they'll ask for wages from the last 18 months.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask this same question last month and could never get through. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I recently found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an ESD agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

DO NOT wait to file!! I made that mistake and lost 2 weeks of benefits because I thought I had to wait until I got my final paycheck. File as soon as you're unemployed, even if you haven't received your last pay yet.

just file online its pretty straightforward once you get into the system

One important thing - make sure you're eligible before filing. You need to have worked and earned wages in Washington state during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). If you just moved here or haven't worked much, you might not qualify yet.

The sooner you file the better. I filed the day after my layoff and still had to wait almost 3 weeks for my first payment due to some adjudication nonsense. The Washington ESD system moves slow even when you do everything right.

I'm curious about that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. Has anyone else used it? I've been trying to reach ESD for weeks about my claim status.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to be actively looking for work and keeping a log of your search activities. They changed some of the rules recently so double-check what's current.

been there done that... just get it filed ASAP and then focus on finding work. the longer you wait the more money you lose

One more tip - keep detailed records of everything. Save confirmation numbers, print out important pages, document any phone calls. The ESD system has a habit of losing information and you'll want proof of what you submitted and when.

Wait, can you file on weekends? Or do you have to wait for business hours?

Since people are asking about Claimyr - I should mention it's not free, but honestly it was worth every penny when I needed to get through about my adjudication issue. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person and their regular phone system makes that nearly impossible.

whatever you do dont try to game the system by filing before your last day or anything like that. they audit these claims and the penalties for fraud are serious

I filed my claim on a Sunday after getting laid off Friday and had no issues. The key is just being honest about your last day of work and your reason for unemployment.

Also remember you'll need to file weekly claims to actually receive payments. The initial application is just the first step - you have to keep certifying every week that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

Just wanted to add my experience - I filed immediately after my layoff and still encountered delays due to 'identity verification' requirements. Have your ID and Social Security card ready just in case they need additional documentation.

For what it's worth, I had good luck with that Claimyr service too when I needed help with my weekly claim certification. Sometimes the ESD website glitches out and you need to talk to someone to fix it. Much better than the endless hold times on their regular number.

My advice: file early, be patient with the system, and keep applying for jobs while you wait. The whole process takes longer than you'd expect even when everything goes smoothly.

One last thing - if your employer contests your claim (which sometimes happens with layoffs), be prepared to provide documentation about your job separation. Keep any layoff notices or emails about the reduction in force.