When can I file weekly unemployment claim with Washington ESD?
I'm new to this whole unemployment thing and I'm confused about when I'm supposed to file my weekly claims. I got approved for benefits last week but I don't want to mess up the timing. Do I file every Sunday? Can I file early or do I have to wait until a specific day? I've been looking at the Washington ESD website but it's not super clear to me. Also worried about missing a deadline and losing my benefits.
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ApolloJackson
You can file your weekly claim starting Sunday morning at 6 AM through the following Saturday at 11:59 PM. Most people file on Sunday or Monday to get it out of the way. The claim is for the previous week (Sunday through Saturday). So if you're filing this Sunday, you're claiming for last week.
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Grace Patel
•Thank you! So I don't have to wait until the end of the week to file? I can file Sunday morning for the week that just ended?
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ApolloJackson
•Exactly! You file Sunday morning for the week that ended Saturday night. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly about any work you did or money you earned that week.
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Isabella Russo
I always file mine on Sunday morning right when I wake up. Set an alarm for 6:05 AM lol. The system can be slow later in the week so I like getting it done early. Plus then I don't have to worry about forgetting.
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Grace Patel
•That's smart! I'm definitely going to set a reminder. How long does it usually take to complete?
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Isabella Russo
•Maybe 5-10 minutes if you don't have any complications. It's pretty straightforward once you get used to it.
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Rajiv Kumar
One important thing - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your weekly claims, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a human agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than trying to call yourself and getting hung up on.
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Grace Patel
•Oh interesting, I hadn't heard of that. Have you used it yourself?
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Rajiv Kumar
•Yeah, I used it when I had an issue with my job search log requirements. Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending all day redialing.
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Aria Washington
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if you really need to talk to someone.
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Liam O'Reilly
Don't stress too much about the exact timing. As long as you file sometime during that Sunday-Saturday window you're good. I've filed on Tuesday, Wednesday, whenever I remembered. Never had an issue.
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Grace Patel
•Good to know! I was worried I had to file at exactly the right time or something.
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Chloe Delgado
•Yeah the system is pretty forgiving as long as you don't miss the weekly deadline completely.
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Ava Harris
Make sure you're ready to answer questions about any work you did, even if it was just a few hours. And if you did any job searching that week. Washington ESD requires you to do at least 3 job search activities per week usually.
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Grace Patel
•Wait, 3 job search activities every week? What counts as a job search activity?
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Ava Harris
•Applying for jobs, networking events, job interviews, updating your resume, going to WorkSource appointments. They have a list on the website.
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Jacob Lee
•I think it's actually 3 per week unless you're in a training program or have some kind of waiver. But definitely check your specific requirements.
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Aria Washington
One thing that confused me at first - when you're answering the questions about work, make sure you report ANY money you earned, even if it's just like $50 from a side gig. They'll adjust your benefits accordingly but hiding it can get you in trouble.
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Grace Patel
•Good point. I did some freelance work last week, should I report that even though it wasn't a regular job?
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Aria Washington
•Yes definitely report it. Better to be upfront about everything. They'll just reduce your benefits for that week based on how much you earned.
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Chloe Delgado
The Washington ESD website has a pretty good section about weekly claims if you want to read through it. I bookmarked it when I first started filing. Explains all the questions and what they mean.
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Grace Patel
•I'll definitely check that out. I want to make sure I understand everything before I file my first one.
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Emily Thompson
•Smart approach. It's worth taking the time to understand it properly the first time.
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Jacob Lee
If you miss filing your weekly claim for a week, you can still file it late but you might have to call Washington ESD to explain why. Try not to miss any weeks if you can help it.
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Grace Patel
•What happens if you miss multiple weeks?
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Jacob Lee
•You can still file for back weeks but it gets more complicated. They might ask for documentation about why you missed filing. Best to just stay on top of it.
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Sophie Hernandez
Pro tip - you can file online through the Washington ESD website or by phone. Online is usually faster and easier unless you have complicated circumstances.
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Grace Patel
•Is the online system pretty user-friendly?
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Sophie Hernandez
•Yeah it's not too bad. Just have your SSN and PIN ready and you can get through it pretty quick.
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Daniela Rossi
I've been filing weekly claims for about 6 months now and honestly it becomes second nature after a few weeks. Don't overthink it too much.
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Grace Patel
•That's reassuring. I'm probably worrying about it more than I need to.
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Ryan Kim
•Yeah everyone's nervous their first time but it really is pretty straightforward once you do it a couple times.
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Zoe Walker
If you have any complicated situations come up - like if you move to a different state or have questions about partial unemployment - that's when you might need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier could be helpful for those situations since getting through normally is such a pain.
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Grace Patel
•I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully I won't need to call but good to know there are options.
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Elijah Brown
•I used Claimyr when I had an adjudication issue and it was so much easier than trying to call myself. Definitely worth checking out if you need to reach an agent.
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Maria Gonzalez
Don't forget you have to keep filing every week even if you're waiting for your benefits to be approved or if there's some kind of hold on your account. Missing weeks can complicate things later.
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Grace Patel
•Good to know! I wasn't sure about that.
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Natalie Chen
•Yeah definitely keep filing. Even if you're not getting paid yet, you need to maintain your claim.
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Santiago Martinez
The system usually processes your weekly claim pretty quickly. I usually see the payment in my account within 1-2 business days after filing.
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Grace Patel
•That's faster than I expected. Do they direct deposit or send a check?
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Santiago Martinez
•You can choose direct deposit or they'll send you a debit card. Direct deposit is definitely faster and more convenient.
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Samantha Johnson
Make sure you keep records of your job search activities. They don't always ask for details but if they do an audit you want to have everything documented.
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Grace Patel
•What kind of records should I keep?
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Samantha Johnson
•Company names, dates, how you searched (online, in person, etc.), contact info if you have it. Just basic stuff to show you're actively looking.
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Nick Kravitz
One last thing - if you're working part-time while collecting unemployment, make sure you understand how that affects your benefits. It's not dollar-for-dollar reduction but there is a formula they use.
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Grace Patel
•I'm not working right now but good to know for the future if I pick up some part-time work.
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Hannah White
•Yeah it's actually not too bad. You can earn a little bit before it starts affecting your unemployment benefits.
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