When can you file for unemployment with Washington ESD - timing questions

You can file your claim the Sunday after your last day of work. So if your last day is January 15th (Wednesday), you'd file on Sunday January 19th. Don't wait for your final paycheck - you can file as soon as you're unemployed through no fault of your own.

Actually, you should file your claim during the week you become unemployed, not wait until the Sunday after. Washington ESD processes claims based on the week you file, and you don't want to lose a week of potential benefits by waiting too long.

You should file your Washington ESD claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, even if you haven't received your final paycheck yet. The waiting period starts from when you file, not when you get approved. Don't wait for vacation payouts or final checks - you can report those earnings later when you do your weekly claims.

I had so much trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to file my claim last month. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.

You can file your claim the Sunday after your last day of work. Washington ESD processes claims weekly, so if your last day is Friday, file that Sunday. Don't file before your employment actually ends or it could cause issues with your claim.

Definitely file ASAP. I made the mistake of waiting two weeks after I got fired and it just delayed everything. Washington ESD can take forever to process claims anyway, so don't give them extra time.

There's still a one week waiting period in Washington. Your first week won't be paid even if you're eligible. So plan accordingly for that gap in income.

wait so if I got laid off on a friday do I file that same week or the next week?? this is so confusing

The key thing is that you can file for unemployment benefits the Sunday of the week you become unemployed. So if you got laid off on a Wednesday, you can file that same Sunday. Don't wait for your employer to do anything - just file online at esd.wa.gov as soon as you're eligible.

Just to clarify the timing rules for Washington ESD: You can file your initial claim as soon as you're unemployed. You don't need to wait for a specific day of the week. However, your weekly claims must be filed every Sunday for the previous week. The key is getting your initial application in during the first week you're unemployed to avoid losing any benefit weeks.

I had a similar situation and ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD to confirm my timing was right. They have this system where they call you back when an agent is available instead of you sitting on hold forever. Really helped me get clarity on when to file and what to expect. You can check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works.

wait hold up, can you file if you quit your job or only if you get fired?? i'm thinking about quitting mine but idk if i'd be eligible

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I filed last year. Spent hours on hold just to ask basic questions about my claim. Recently found out about claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual ESD agents without the endless waiting. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Wish I'd known about it sooner!

The Washington ESD system is SO frustrating. I tried to file my claim three different times and kept getting error messages on their website. Finally got through but then my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks.

About the vacation payout - make sure you understand how that affects your benefits. When you get paid for unused vacation time, you'll need to report that on your weekly claims and it might delay when you can start receiving unemployment payments.

Make sure you understand what counts as your 'last day of work.' If you get paid vacation or severance, that might affect when you can actually start collecting benefits. Washington ESD is pretty strict about this stuff.

whatever you do dont wait too long to file!!! i waited like 3 weeks thinking i might find another job and then had to backdate everything. was a huge hassle

The timing also depends on whether you quit or were laid off. Laid off is usually straightforward, but if you quit you might have to wait longer or not qualify at all depending on the reason.

Update: I filed my claim this morning online. It was actually pretty straightforward, took about 30 minutes. Now I guess I wait to see if it gets approved. Thanks everyone for the advice about filing right away!

Question about severance pay - if I'm getting severance does that affect when I can file? My company is giving me 2 weeks severance but I'm not sure if I have to wait until that runs out.

Does anyone know if there's a deadline for filing? Like what happens if you wait a month after losing your job?

The whole system is so confusing honestly. I filed three months ago and I'm still waiting for my adjudication to complete. They keep asking for more documentation and I can never get through on the phone to ask what they actually need.

I was told you have to register with WorkSource before you can file for unemployment. Is that true?

Just remember you have to file your weekly claims every week once you start, even if your claim is still being processed. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits permanently.

Just want to add - make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file. They ask for details about your last employer, wages, reasons for separation, etc. Having your pay stubs handy makes the process go much smoother.

Just to add - if you worked in multiple states recently, you might need to file in a different state depending on where you earned the most wages. Washington ESD will tell you if you need to file elsewhere.

Pro tip: keep detailed records of everything from day one. Save all your correspondence with Washington ESD, keep track of your job search activities, save your weekly claim confirmations. If anything goes wrong later, you'll be glad you have documentation.

The Washington ESD website says you can file starting the Sunday of the week you become unemployed, but practically speaking, file as soon as you know you're losing your job. Even if it's a Friday afternoon, just file. Don't overthink the timing.

If you worked in multiple states recently, that can complicate things too. You might need to file in a different state depending on where you earned the most wages.

The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible. I've been trying to get through for days to ask about my claim status. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - has anyone actually used them successfully?

does anyone know if you can file if you're on medical leave? i've been out for 6 weeks and my short term disability is ending but i'm not cleared to return to work yet

I've been through this process twice now and my advice is always the same - file immediately, don't wait for anything. The unemployment system moves slowly enough without you adding delays on your end.

The worst part is that even after you file, you can't just sit back and wait. You have to do the weekly claims, the job search requirements, respond to any requests for information... it's like a part-time job just to get unemployment benefits.

For job search requirements, you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This can include applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, etc. Washington ESD has specific guidelines on their website about what counts.

One more thing - if you have any issues with your claim getting stuck or delayed, don't just wait around hoping it resolves itself. Be proactive about getting help, whether that's calling Washington ESD directly or using a service like Claimyr from claimyr.com to actually get through to someone who can help.

The timing thing really threw me off too when I first filed. I thought I had to wait until my final paycheck cleared or something. Turns out you can file right away and just report the final pay when you get it. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.

been there, done that. file immediately, keep good records, don't miss any weekly claims, and be prepared for the process to take longer than you want. that's unemployment in a nutshell.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - file as soon as possible. I waited a week because I thought I needed to get some paperwork from HR first and it was just a waste of time. Washington ESD doesn't need anything from your employer to start processing your claim.

For anyone reading this later - the answer is file as soon as you become unemployed, don't wait for anything from your employer, keep detailed records, and be prepared for the process to take time. That covers like 90% of the timing questions people have.

quick question - if you quit your job can you still file for unemployment or is it only for people who get laid off?

I filed my claim two weeks ago and it's still showing as pending. Is this normal or should I be worried?

For anyone reading this thread - PLEASE file your claim as soon as possible after losing your job. I waited 3 weeks thinking I'd find something quickly and ended up losing out on benefits for those weeks. You can always stop claiming if you find work, but you can't get those lost weeks back.

Does it matter what time of day you file your claim? The Washington ESD website seems to run slower at certain times.

Just successfully filed my claim after reading this thread. The process was pretty straightforward once I had all my info ready. Thanks everyone for the helpful tips!

One thing to keep in mind - if you're filing near the end of the year, make sure you understand how the benefit year works. Your claim is good for 52 weeks from when you file, not the calendar year.

One more thing - have your Social Security card and driver's license ready when you file. Washington ESD's identity verification is pretty thorough now. Also helps to have your employer's info handy including their unemployment account number if you know it.

Also worth noting - if your claim gets held up in adjudication for any reason, that's when services like Claimyr really come in handy. Getting through to ESD to check on claim status or resolve issues is nearly impossible otherwise.

the esd website crashes all the time on sundays when everyone tries to file their weekly claims. if it happens just keep trying or wait until monday

Make sure you start your job search activities right away too. Washington has pretty strict job search requirements - I think it's 3 job contacts per week minimum.

I filed my claim online through secure.esd.wa.gov and it was pretty straightforward. Takes about 30 minutes if you have all your info ready. Way easier than trying to call.

Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on your initial claim. You can always provide additional information later if ESD needs it. The important thing is to get the process started.

Quick question - if I get called back to work before my benefits start, do I need to do anything special to cancel my claim?

One last tip - save confirmation numbers and screenshots of everything when you file online. The ESD system can be glitchy and it helps to have proof of what you submitted.

The whole system is honestly pretty user-friendly once you get used to it. Just follow the prompts and read everything carefully. Most people who have problems rushed through without reading the instructions.

Just to circle back on the Claimyr thing mentioned earlier - I ended up using them when my claim got stuck and it was totally worth it. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person at ESD and this was the only way to make that happen.

The key thing is just don't panic if things seem slow at first. The system handles thousands of claims and sometimes there are delays, but you'll get your benefits if you're eligible.

oh and one more thing - if you have any 1099 work or side gigs you need to report that income too when you file your weekly claims. dont try to hide it because they will find out eventually