When can I file for unemployment with Washington ESD - timing questions

That's helpful! Do you know what counts as 'significantly reduced'? My hours are going from 35-40 per week down to maybe 10-15.

That definitely qualifies. A reduction from full-time to part-time like that should make you eligible for partial benefits.

What if I worked somewhere else before this job? Does that count toward the requirement too?

Yes, all your covered employment during the base period counts. Washington ESD will look at wages from all employers during that timeframe.

Just make sure those previous employers were paying into the unemployment system - some jobs like independent contractor work might not count.

Oh no, that sounds frustrating. Is there a better time to call or use the website?

I had better luck calling right when they opened at 8am, but even then it was hit or miss. The website seemed to work better late at night.

So I should wait until the Monday after my last day? Or can I file that same week?

You can file during the week you lose your job. If you're laid off Friday, you can file that weekend or the following Monday.

How long did you wait? I'm worried about missing some deadline.

like 3 weeks because i thought i might find something quick. big mistake

That sounds too good to be true. How much does something like that cost?

It's worth it compared to spending entire days trying to get through. The main thing is it actually works - I got connected to an agent within an hour instead of giving up after calling all day.

I'll definitely look into that if I have trouble getting through. Thanks for the tip!

What counts as a reasonable time? Is there an actual deadline?

There's no hard deadline, but generally within 2-4 weeks is recommended. The longer you wait, the more questions they might have about the delay.

I had to explain why I waited 6 weeks to file and it held up my claim for extra review.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked great for me. Put in my info and they called me back when they had an agent on the line. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Interesting, might have to try that if I run into issues with my claim.

Good point, I don't want to mess up the timing and have to deal with an appeal process.

Actually, you file for the Sunday through Saturday week that includes the day your hours were reduced. So if your hours got cut on a Wednesday, you'd file for that entire week.

Do I need to search for full-time jobs or can I look for part-time since I'm still working some hours?

You should be looking for work that would replace your lost wages, so probably full-time positions. But document everything in your job search log just in case.

Register with WorkSourceWA too - that's Washington's job matching system and using it counts toward your job search requirements.

tell me about it. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment because they kept asking for more documentation

That's exactly why I ended up using that Claimyr service - at least I could talk to a real person and get my questions answered instead of guessing.

What if I don't have exact dates for previous employers? Will they reject my claim?

Do your best with approximate dates. You can always provide corrections later if needed. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

Washington ESD is pretty reasonable about minor date discrepancies as long as you're not way off.

Correct, the waiting week requirement was suspended and hasn't been reinstated. You can receive benefits for your first week of unemployment.

That's a relief! I was worried about going a week without any income.

How soon after filing the initial claim do I need to start the weekly claims?

Usually within a week or two after your initial claim is processed. Washington ESD will send you instructions.

yeah they email you when its time to start filing weekly. just don't ignore those emails

It depends on when exactly you started and what the calendar quarters were. Quarters are Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, and Oct-Dec. If you worked across at least two of those periods, you should be fine.

I started in March so I've definitely worked in multiple quarters. That should be okay then.

I am getting two weeks severance. Does that mean I have to wait two weeks to file?

No, file right away but report the severance. Washington ESD will determine how it affects your benefit timing.

Exactly right. Always file promptly and report all income accurately. Let Washington ESD make the determinations about timing and eligibility.

I feel you on that. The system is definitely not user-friendly.

At least this thread has been helpful. Sounds like I should file right after my last day and not overthink it.

Good thinking! I'll definitely do that.

Also save any confirmation numbers or emails they send you. I needed mine when I had to call about an issue.

How do they calculate how much you get with partial benefits?

It's your weekly benefit amount minus your gross earnings, plus $5. So if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $100 that week, you'd get $305 in unemployment benefits.

Just remember that's gross earnings, not take-home pay. Include everything before taxes and deductions.

That makes sense. Better to have the claim active and not need it than to need it and not have it started.

exactly, and the first week is usually a waiting week anyway where you don't get paid, so starting early doesn't hurt

That's the second mention of Claimyr. Seems like it might be worth checking out if I run into problems.

Yeah I've heard good things about it too. Nice to have options when the normal phone system is so frustrating.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much better about the process now.

Good luck with your claim! Hope everything goes smoothly.

keep us posted on how it goes!

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or do they help with other stuff too?

They handle the calling part - you give them your info and they keep trying the Washington ESD number until they get through, then they connect you to speak with an agent directly. Takes the frustration out of trying to reach someone.

Good reminder! I should gather all that paperwork before I try to file online.

Yeah, and if you have pay stubs or tax forms, bring those too. Washington ESD might ask for wage verification if there are any discrepancies.

That's a good idea. I'll look into what resources are available locally while I wait for unemployment to kick in.

Food banks don't ask questions and can really help stretch your budget during lean times. No shame in using available resources when you need them.

How long did it take for you to start receiving benefits?

About 3 weeks from when I filed, but that included the waiting week. Could have been faster if I hadn't made a mistake on my initial application that required correction.

That's actually pretty fast compared to some stories I've heard. Getting help from Claimyr to talk to someone at Washington ESD definitely sped up my process when I had questions.