When do I claim my weekly unemployment benefits in Washington ESD system?

Okay so I file on Sunday for the week that just ended Saturday? That makes sense, thank you!

exactly right. and dont wait too long - you have to file within a certain timeframe or you might lose that weeks benefits

Good to know about the 6 AM start time. I was trying to file early Sunday morning and the system wasn't letting me.

The system can be really slow on Sunday mornings because everyone tries to file at once. I usually wait until Sunday afternoon or Monday.

How much does that cost? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status.

It's worth it compared to spending hours on hold and getting disconnected. Way less stressful than the usual ESD phone nightmare.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Might have to check it out since I can never get through to ESD either.

What if I worked a full week and made more than my weekly benefit amount? Do I still file?

Yes, you still file and report all your earnings. Washington ESD needs to track your work activity even if you don't qualify for benefits that week.

How many job contacts do I need per week? I haven't been keeping good records.

It's usually 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements in your eServices account. Keep detailed records of who you contacted and when.

they can audit your job search log at any time so definitely keep good records. i got randomly selected for review and had to provide all my documentation

Same here! Sunday nights are definitely better than trying to file first thing Sunday morning.

Good tip about timing. I'll try Sunday evening next week.

Wait, you can't file late claims at all? What if you were sick or had an emergency?

There are some exceptions for good cause but you'd need to contact Washington ESD to request late filing. Better to just file on time every week.

This is exactly why having Claimyr helped me so much. When I had questions about missed weeks, I could actually talk to an ESD agent instead of guessing.

Great idea! I'll set a reminder right now.

I have mine set for Sunday at 7 AM with a backup reminder Monday morning just in case.

What does 'able and available' mean exactly? I keep seeing that phrase.

It means you're physically and mentally able to work and you're available to accept work if offered. If you're sick or on vacation, you might not be considered available.

Yeah the ESD website definitely has issues sometimes. I've learned not to panic if it doesn't work right away.

Good to know it's not just me if I run into technical problems.

How do I check my bank account info in the system?

log into your eservices account and look for payment method or direct deposit settings. you can update it there

That's exactly what was confusing me! So I'll never be filing for the current week, always the previous week.

Exactly right. You're always filing for the week that already ended.

This tripped me up too when I first started. The timing takes some getting used to.

I might have to try that. I've been calling ESD for days trying to fix an issue with my weekly claim and keep getting disconnected.

That's exactly why I used it. The regular ESD phone system is basically impossible. Claimyr actually got me connected to someone who could help.

Good point about keeping records. I hadn't thought about saving confirmation screenshots.

yeah definitely save those confirmations. i had to prove i filed a claim once when there was a system glitch

That's reassuring. I was worried it would be complicated every week.

Nah, it's mostly the same questions every week. Gets routine pretty fast.

Thanks everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about filing my weekly claims now.

Good luck with your claim! The weekly filing gets easier once you establish a routine.