When can I file my weekly claim for unemployment with Washington ESD?

Thanks! So I file on Sunday for the week that just ended? That makes sense now.

Wait I thought you filed for the current week not the previous week? I'm so confused about this timing thing.

This is exactly right. I've been doing this for months now and it's become routine.

Perfect, so I'll set a reminder for Sunday mornings. Do I need to file at exactly 6 AM or can I do it later in the day?

You can file anytime after 6 AM on Sunday through Saturday at midnight. I usually do mine Sunday evening to avoid the early morning rush.

I had the same problem trying to reach them! Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you through to Washington ESD agents without all the hold time. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate to talk to someone about my claim status.

They basically handle the calling process for you and connect you directly to an agent when one becomes available. No more sitting on hold or getting disconnected.

Oh no, that's scary! Is there any way to recover a missed week or is it just gone forever?

You can sometimes get it backdated if you have good cause, but it's not guaranteed and requires extra paperwork. Better to just set up reminders.

If today is Wednesday January 15th, then this Sunday January 19th you would file for the week of January 6-12 (Monday through Sunday). You're always filing for the week that just ended.

OK that helps, thanks. Why can't they just make this more obvious on their website?

The Washington ESD website is pretty confusing. I bookmarked the weekly claim page so I don't have to navigate through all their menus every time.

Standby claims follow the same weekly filing schedule. Sunday through Saturday filing window for the previous week.

Good to know, thanks. The union rep wasn't clear about that part.

That's a great tip! I'll definitely try filing early Sunday morning.

i do the same thing! early bird gets the worm lol

I tried this but the website was super slow at 6 AM on Sunday. Seemed like everyone had the same idea.

That's awful! Were you able to get those weeks back eventually?

Nope, they said I filed too late and didn't have good cause. Really frustrated with the whole system.

This is exactly why I started using Claimyr when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about claim issues. Much easier than trying to get through their phone system when you have problems.

There's a mobile app? That might be more convenient for me.

Yeah, search for 'Washington ESD' in your app store. Works pretty well most of the time.

Good reminder about the job search log. I need to make sure I'm keeping track of that too.

How many job search activities do you need to report each week?

It's usually 3 job search activities per week, but check your individual requirements since it can vary based on your situation.

I agree the communication could be better, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward.

Maybe for you but I've been struggling with this system for weeks trying to get straight answers.

That's a good idea. I'm going to make myself a note and stick it somewhere I'll see it.

I set a phone reminder for every Sunday at 7 AM. Works great.

Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been super helpful.

Wish someone had explained it this clearly when I first started. Would have saved me a lot of confusion.

Same here. The Washington ESD orientation materials aren't very clear about the timing.

Usually Tuesday or Wednesday if you have direct deposit set up and file early on Sunday.

Great, thanks! I have direct deposit so that should work.

How much does something like that cost?

It was worth it for me since I needed to resolve an adjudication issue quickly. Check their website for current info.

Same! I feel much more confident about the process now.

Yeah, once you do it a few times it becomes automatic.

Good point! What's the correct website address?

The official site is esd.wa.gov - make sure you see the .gov at the end.

Yes, and always double-check the URL before entering any personal information.

No problem! We've all been there trying to figure out the Washington ESD system.

Good luck with your claims! Hope everything goes smoothly for you.