When can you file for unemployment in Washington - timing and eligibility rules?

So I should file right after my last day of work? I thought there might be some kind of mandatory waiting period before you could even apply.

Exactly - file as soon as you're unemployed. The waiting period is built into the system, not something you have to do manually. Your first payable week will be the week after your waiting week.

Oh no! So those weeks are just lost forever? That's exactly what I was worried about.

Yep, those weeks are gone. Washington ESD can't backdate your claim to before you actually filed it. That's why everyone says file immediately.

What exactly is the base period? I keep seeing that term but I'm not sure what it means for when I can file.

Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through September 2024. You need wages from at least two of those quarters to qualify.

Is that service legit? I'm worried about giving my information to third parties when it comes to unemployment stuff.

Yeah it's legitimate - they don't ask for your personal info, just help you get connected to the actual Washington ESD phone system when call volume is high. Saved me a lot of frustration.

Wait, you can get unemployment if you still have a job but fewer hours? How does that work?

Yes, it's called partial unemployment. If your hours or wages are reduced through no fault of your own, you might qualify for partial benefits. You still have to do job search activities though.

What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim? Can you make it up later?

You can sometimes get missed weeks reinstated but it's a huge hassle and requires calling Washington ESD to explain why you missed it. Much easier to just file every week on time.

It's actually within 5 business days for most claimants, not 21 days. And you have to start doing job search activities right away, usually 3 job contacts per week minimum.

Thanks for the correction! I was thinking of some other deadline. Definitely don't wait on the WorkSource registration.

I was laid off, so I should be good there. Just want to make sure I don't mess up the timing part.

Perfect, layoffs usually qualify. Just file as soon as your last day hits and you'll be all set.

Unless the website is down or having issues, which seems to happen at the worst times. That's when calling becomes necessary.

True, the system can be glitchy sometimes. But still worth trying online first before dealing with the phone lines.

This is super helpful, thank you! So file right after my last day of work, then start filing weekly claims, and expect the first payment after the waiting week. Got it.

And don't forget to keep records of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD can audit your claim at any time and ask for proof.

That's reassuring. I was worried about filing too early or too late and messing something up.

As long as you're actually unemployed when you file, the timing within that week shouldn't matter much.

What causes a claim to go into adjudication? Is there anything you can do to avoid it?

Lots of things can trigger it - conflicting info between you and your employer, certain types of job separations, wage discrepancies. Not much you can do to avoid it if it happens.

How much does something like that cost? I'm about to be unemployed so trying to watch expenses.

It's worth checking out their website to see current options. For me it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of calling for days with no luck.

Yeah, I'm definitely not going to wait now. Sounds like filing right away is the way to go.

Smart move. Those first few weeks of benefits can really help with the transition while you're job hunting.

Good point, I should gather all that info before I actually file. Don't want to get halfway through and realize I'm missing something important.

Exactly. And make sure the info matches what your employer will report to Washington ESD, otherwise it could cause delays.

How long does it typically take to get the first payment after filing?

If everything goes smoothly, usually 2-3 weeks after filing due to the waiting week and processing time. Longer if there are any issues with your claim.

Definitely will do direct deposit. Thanks everyone for all the advice - feeling much more confident about the process now!

Good luck with your claim! And remember if you run into any issues reaching Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does help cut through the call volume problems.

Thank you! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel like I actually understand the process now instead of just guessing.

That's what this community is for. We've all been through the unemployment process and know how confusing it can be at first.