When can you file for unemployment in Washington - timing requirements?

You can file your initial claim the same week you become unemployed in Washington. Don't wait! The sooner you file, the sooner your benefit year starts. There's no waiting week in Washington state anymore - they eliminated that a few years ago.

yeah file asap but good luck getting through to anyone if you have questions. ive been trying to call washington esd for weeks about my claim

Make sure you understand the difference between filing your initial claim and filing weekly claims. You file the initial claim once when you first become unemployed, then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually receive benefits. Don't confuse the two processes.

IMPORTANT: You need to have worked enough hours in your base period to qualify. For most people that means you need to have worked at least 680 hours in your base period, which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file.

also make sure you file in the right state! if you worked in multiple states you might need to file in a different state than where you live

One more thing - when you file, you'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment information for all employers you worked for in the last 18 months. Having all that ready will make the process smoother.

Been through this process twice. File online at secure.esd.wa.gov - it's way easier than calling. The system walks you through everything step by step.

just remember you have to keep filing weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed. dont skip weeks or you might lose benefits for those weeks

Quick question - what if you're laid off but given severance pay? Does that affect when you can file?

For anyone having trouble reaching Washington ESD after filing, I mentioned Claimyr earlier but wanted to add that it's been super helpful for getting status updates on pending claims. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once you start receiving benefits. You'll need to log your job search activities.

File as soon as possible but be prepared for potential delays if your claim needs adjudication. Mine took 6 weeks to get approved because they had to verify my reason for separation.

Make sure to file for the correct week. Your claim week runs Sunday through Saturday, and you typically file for the previous week on Sunday.

anyone else having trouble with the SAW (SecureAccess Washington) login system? keeps timing out when im trying to file

One more important timing note - if you worked for the federal government or military, there might be different rules about when you can file. Those claims sometimes have special processing requirements.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything when you file online. If there are any issues later, having proof of when and what you filed can be really helpful.

The key thing is don't delay filing thinking you might find a job quickly. Even if you find work right away, having the claim in the system protects your benefit year in case you need it later.

Just to close the loop on getting help with claims - Claimyr has been mentioned a few times here and it really does work well for reaching Washington ESD when you need to speak with someone about your claim status or resolve issues.

Summary for OP: File immediately after your last day of work, file online at secure.esd.wa.gov, keep filing weekly claims even during processing, and have all your employer info ready. Good luck!

Just wanted to add one more timing tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're filing right before a holiday weekend, be aware that processing might be delayed. Washington ESD doesn't process claims on holidays, so if you can file a day or two before a long weekend, that might help avoid any delays in getting your claim started. Also, their online system sometimes gets overloaded on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims, so filing your initial claim on a weekday might be smoother.