When can you claim unemployment benefit through Washington ESD - eligibility timing questions

You should file your unemployment claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. Washington ESD allows you to file immediately - there's no waiting period to submit your initial application. Your benefit year starts the Sunday of the week you file, so don't delay. Even if you're still receiving final paychecks or severance, you can still file the claim.

I made the mistake of waiting 3 weeks after I got laid off because I thought I had to wait for my final paycheck to process. Big mistake - I lost those three weeks of potential benefits because your claim starts when you file, not when you became unemployed.

For the eligibility part - if you were laid off, you're generally eligible right away. If you quit, it depends on whether Washington ESD determines you had 'good cause' which is pretty specific. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties can qualify as good cause.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim timing questions but their phone lines are impossible. Has anyone found a better way to actually talk to someone there? I keep getting hung up on after waiting for hours.

Another important timing thing - make sure you understand the difference between filing your initial claim and filing your weekly claims. You file the initial claim once to establish eligibility, then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments. Don't miss those weekly filings or you'll lose benefits for those weeks.

be careful about reporting any income you get after your last day of work. this includes vacation payouts, severance, final commission checks, etc. you still report this stuff on your weekly claims even if the money is from before you were unemployed technically

I filed my claim the day after I got laid off and it took about 2 weeks for Washington ESD to process and approve it. During that time I was able to file weekly claims but didn't receive any payments until the approval came through. The waiting was nerve-wracking but I'm glad I filed right away.

The Washington ESD website has a checklist of what you need before you file - social security number, employment history for the last 18 months, reason you're no longer working, etc. Getting all that together first makes the application process much smoother.

One thing that confused me was the 'able and available' requirement. You have to be able and available for work starting immediately when you file. If you're planning a vacation or have medical issues that prevent you from working, that could affect your eligibility timing.

Also keep in mind the work search requirements start immediately in most cases. You'll need to document your job search activities for each week you claim benefits. Don't wait to start looking for work.

I've noticed Washington ESD is pretty strict about deadlines and timing. If you miss filing a weekly claim by the deadline, you basically lose that week's benefits. There's very little flexibility once you miss those windows.

The phone system is absolutely terrible for getting help with timing questions. I spent literally 40+ hours on hold over two weeks trying to get clarification on when to file. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got through to an agent the same day. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

Make sure you keep records of everything - when you filed, confirmation numbers, any correspondence from Washington ESD. If there are any issues or delays, having documentation helps resolve things faster.

If you're eligible, don't overthink the timing. File as soon as you're unemployed through no fault of your own. The longer you wait, the more potential benefits you're losing. Washington ESD doesn't backdate claims except in very rare circumstances.

just remember that even after you file, there might be identity verification steps or other requirements that can delay your first payment. but your benefit year still starts when you file, so don't let potential delays discourage you from filing immediately

For anyone reading this thread later - the key takeaway is file immediately after your last day of work, don't wait for final paychecks or severance to process. Your claim week starts when you file, not when you became unemployed. Every week you delay is a week of potential benefits lost forever.

Update for anyone still following - I filed my claim this morning right after reading this thread. The whole process took about 45 minutes and I got a confirmation number. Now I just need to wait for them to review it and let me know about my first weekly claim filing date.

One last tip - if you're still employed but you know a layoff is coming, you can't file until your actual last day of work. Washington ESD won't accept claims for future unemployment, only current unemployment. But file that same day if possible.