When do I certify for unemployment Washington ESD weekly claims?
I just got approved for unemployment benefits last week and I'm confused about when I'm supposed to certify. My Washington ESD account shows I have a claim but I don't see anywhere to file my weekly claim yet. Do I wait for them to tell me when to certify or is there a specific day I should be looking for? I don't want to miss my certification window and lose benefits.
60 comments


Sofia Martinez
You'll get your first weekly claim filing date in your UI Online account usually within a few days of approval. Check your messages in the system - they'll tell you exactly when your first certification is due.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Thanks! I've been checking every day but no messages yet. How long did it take for yours to show up?
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Sofia Martinez
•Mine took about 3-4 days after I got the approval notice. Keep checking your secure messages.
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Dmitry Volkov
Weekly claims are usually filed every two weeks, not weekly despite the name. You'll certify for two weeks at a time on Sundays typically.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Wait, so it's bi-weekly? That's confusing with the name being 'weekly claims'.
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Ava Thompson
•Yeah the terminology is weird but you certify every two weeks for the previous two week period.
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CyberSiren
I had the same issue when I first got approved. Couldn't figure out when to file and was worried I'd miss it. I ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD who explained the whole process. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get answers fast instead of waiting on hold forever.
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Miguel Alvarez
•How much does that service cost? I'm already strapped for cash waiting for benefits.
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CyberSiren
•It's worth it when you need to talk to someone urgently. Way better than trying to call yourself and getting disconnected.
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Dylan Mitchell
•I might try that if I don't hear anything soon. Getting really anxious about missing something important.
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Ava Thompson
The certification schedule depends on the last digit of your Social Security Number. Washington ESD assigns different filing days based on that. Once you get your first filing instructions, you'll know your regular schedule going forward.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Oh interesting, I didn't know they used SSN digits for scheduling. Makes sense to spread out the load on their system.
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Zainab Yusuf
•My last digit is 3 and I always file on Sundays. Been doing it for 8 weeks now.
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Connor O'Reilly
dont stress about it too much, they give you plenty of time to file once the window opens. i think you have like 4 days or something to get it done
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Dylan Mitchell
•That's reassuring, thank you! I was imagining missing it by a few hours and losing everything.
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Sofia Martinez
•Actually it's usually a 7-day window, so even more time than that.
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Yara Khoury
Make sure you have all your job search activities logged before you certify. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they'll ask about it during certification.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Wait, I need to be job searching already? I thought I had time to figure things out first.
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Yara Khoury
•Job search requirements start immediately unless you're on standby or have a specific exemption. Better to start logging activities now.
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Ava Thompson
•You can use WorkSourceWA to track your job search activities. It integrates with your UI claim.
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Miguel Alvarez
The whole system is so confusing for new people. Why can't they just send an email or text when it's time to certify?
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Connor O'Reilly
•they do send alerts if you sign up for them in your account settings
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Miguel Alvarez
•Oh really? I'll have to look for that option. Would make this so much easier.
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CyberSiren
Just to follow up on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I used them again last week when I had questions about my job search log. Got through to an Washington ESD rep in under 10 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. Really saved me from worrying all weekend.
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Keisha Taylor
•I'm getting desperate enough to try anything. Been trying to call for days about my pending adjudication.
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CyberSiren
•Definitely worth it for adjudication issues. Those can drag on forever without direct contact.
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StardustSeeker
Once you get into the rhythm it becomes automatic. I've been certifying every other Sunday for months now. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly - they do audit claims randomly.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Good to know about the audits. What kind of things do they check for?
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StardustSeeker
•Mainly work activity, job search compliance, and availability for work. Keep good records of everything.
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Paolo Marino
PROTIP: Set a recurring reminder on your phone for your certification day. I forgot once and had to go through a whole process to reopen my claim. Not fun.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Oh no! How long did it take to reopen your claim?
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Paolo Marino
•About 2 weeks and I had to provide a bunch of documentation. Definitely don't miss your filing deadline.
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Zainab Yusuf
•This happened to my cousin too. Washington ESD doesn't mess around with late filings.
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Amina Bah
The UI Online system usually updates on Saturday nights/Sunday mornings with your new certification. I always check first thing Sunday morning and it's there.
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Dylan Mitchell
•So it sounds like most people certify on Sundays? That seems to be the common theme here.
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Amina Bah
•Sunday is the most common day but it varies based on your SSN like someone mentioned earlier.
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Oliver Becker
I'm dealing with a similar situation but my claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now. Still no word on when I can start certifying. This system is broken.
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Ava Thompson
•Adjudication delays are unfortunately common right now. You might want to try calling to check on the status.
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CyberSiren
•This is exactly the type of situation where Claimyr helps. Adjudication issues need direct contact with a specialist.
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Oliver Becker
•I've tried calling dozens of times. Always busy or I get disconnected. So frustrating.
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Natasha Petrova
Don't forget that your first payment might be delayed even after you certify. Mine took an extra week because of some verification process.
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Dylan Mitchell
•How long did your first payment take total from when you first certified?
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Natasha Petrova
•About 10 days from certification to money in my account. After that it was regular 2-3 day processing.
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Javier Hernandez
everyone saying call Washington ESD but good luck getting through lol. I gave up after a month of trying and just waited it out
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Keisha Taylor
•That's why services like Claimyr exist. Some of us can't afford to just wait it out.
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Javier Hernandez
•fair point, bills dont stop coming just because washington esd is slow
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Emma Davis
Make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' vs being on standby. It affects when and how you certify. I was confused about this for weeks.
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Dylan Mitchell
•I don't even know what standby means in this context. Is that different from regular unemployment?
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Emma Davis
•Standby is when you have a definite return-to-work date with your employer. Different rules apply for job search requirements.
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Ava Thompson
•Regular UI requires active job search. Standby typically doesn't, but you still need to certify your availability.
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LunarLegend
The whole certification process seems designed to make you mess up and lose benefits. So many hoops to jump through every two weeks.
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Zainab Yusuf
•It's really not that bad once you get used to it. Takes me like 5 minutes every other Sunday.
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LunarLegend
•Maybe for you, but some of us have more complicated situations with part-time work and varying schedules.
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Malik Jackson
Check your payment method too. I had to update my direct deposit info before my first certification and it delayed everything.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Good point! I should double-check that my bank info is correct in the system.
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Malik Jackson
•Yeah, and if you need to change it, do it ASAP. Takes a few days to process and verify.
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Isabella Oliveira
Last thing - keep screenshots of your completed certifications. If there's ever a dispute about whether you filed on time, you'll have proof.
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Dylan Mitchell
•That's smart. I'll start doing that once I get my first certification window.
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StardustSeeker
•Screenshots saved me once when they claimed I didn't file. Always keep digital records.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Exactly. Washington ESD's system isn't perfect and sometimes things get lost in the shuffle.
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