When can I file unemployment with Washington ESD - confused about timing

You can file your initial claim immediately after your last day of work. Don't wait - there's no benefit to delaying and you might miss out on a week of benefits. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can start processing.

I made the mistake of waiting a week to file thinking I had to wait and it just delayed everything. File your initial application right away but remember you still have to wait one week before you can receive your first payment - that's the waiting week.

Just went through this whole process myself. File your initial claim ASAP on the Washington ESD website. The day of the week doesn't matter for your initial application. What matters is filing your weekly claims on time once your claim is established. I was so frustrated trying to get through to someone on the phone to ask basic questions like this. Ended up using claimyr.com to actually reach an agent who confirmed the timing rules. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

File immediately but make sure you have all your information ready - social security number, employer info for the last 18 months, reason for separation, etc. The application process is pretty straightforward but having everything organized helps.

ugh the washington esd system is such a nightmare... i filed right away but then had to wait forever for adjudication because they had questions about my separation. wish someone had warned me about that possibility

File today! I procrastinated for a few days thinking I needed to 'get my affairs in order' first and it was a mistake. Every day you wait is potentially money lost. The Washington ESD system starts your claim from when you file, not from when you actually became unemployed.

To clarify the backdating thing - yes you can request to backdate your effective date to your last day of work, but Washington ESD will want documentation of why you didn't file sooner. It's much simpler to just file immediately.

One more thing - make sure you file during business hours if possible. I filed at like 2am and had some technical issues that I couldn't get help with until the next business day.

Actually just remembered - if you do run into issues with your claim later, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is really helpful for getting through to Washington ESD. I probably would have given up trying to call without it.

Update: I filed my initial claim this afternoon and it went through smoothly! Thanks for pushing me to do it right away. Now I just wait to see if it gets approved or goes to adjudication.

glad you got it filed! just remember you have to do job search activities and report them when you file your weekly claims. dont forget about that requirement

The job search requirement is typically 3 qualifying activities per week, but check your specific requirements in your Washington ESD account as they can vary based on your situation and local job market conditions.

Just want to add that if your claim gets complicated or you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, there are services that can help you get through the phone lines. I used one called Claimyr after spending literally days trying to call. Found out about it from someone on Reddit and it was a lifesaver.

congrats on filing! now the waiting game begins... my claim took about 2 weeks to get approved but some people wait longer if it goes to adjudication

One final piece of advice - set up direct deposit in your account if you haven't already. It's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail.