When do I file my weekly unemployment claim with Washington ESD?

Thanks! I found it - my day is Tuesday. So I file every Tuesday for the previous week that ended Monday?

Exactly! And you have until 11:59 PM on your designated day to file without it being considered late.

This is so true! I missed filing once and spent 3 days trying to get through on the phone.

Actually I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I had filing issues. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made it way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

Perfect, that explains why mine is Tuesday. What if I worked a few hours during the week? Do I still file?

Yes, absolutely file! Just report the hours you worked and gross earnings. Washington ESD will calculate if you still qualify for partial benefits that week.

Be super careful about reporting earnings correctly. I made a mistake once and ended up with an overpayment notice months later.

The assigned days help spread out the server load so the system doesn't crash when everyone tries to file at once.

I guess that makes sense but it's still annoying when you forget what day you're supposed to file

What's standby status? Is that different from regular unemployment?

Standby is when your employer temporarily laid you off but expects to call you back within a specific timeframe. You don't have to do job searches but you still file weekly claims.

That's correct. If you file more than 7 days late, Washington ESD requires you to explain why and they decide whether to accept the late filing.

There's a mobile app? I've been using the website this whole time

Yeah it's just called Washington ESD. Same questions as the website but sometimes faster.

I totally get that anxiety! The questions are pretty straightforward though. Just read them carefully.

Same here! I screenshot my confirmation page every week just in case.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, interviews, creating profiles on job sites, career counseling sessions. There's a full list on the Washington ESD website.

If the system is down due to technical issues on Washington ESD's end, they usually extend the filing deadline. Keep trying throughout your designated day.

When that happened to me I used Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD to report the issue. They noted it on my account so I wouldn't get penalized for late filing.

Yes, file for that week and report any earnings from the days you worked. You might still qualify for partial benefits depending on how much you earned.

Got it, thanks! Better to file and let them calculate it than to skip filing altogether.

You're filing for the week that ended the day before your filing day. So if you file on Tuesday, you're filing for the week that ended Monday (Sunday through Monday).

That makes sense now. So I'm always filing for the most recently completed week.

That would be so helpful! I've gotten into the habit of filing first thing in the morning on my day so I don't forget.

You can't file early, but you can file late with an explanation. Travel isn't usually considered a valid reason for late filing unless it was an emergency, so try to file remotely if possible.

Good to know. I'll make sure to plan ahead for any trips.

I hope you find something soon! The routine does make it easier to remember though.

This is where Claimyr really helps. Instead of spending all day trying to reach Washington ESD, they can get you connected to an agent who can fix filing errors quickly.

Never heard of that but sounds useful. I'll check it out if I need to call again.

Smart idea! I'm definitely going to start doing this.

Also save the confirmation email if you have email notifications turned on. Double backup never hurts.

That's reassuring. I was worried they would be different every week and I'd have to figure out new stuff.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about filing my weekly claims now.

You're welcome! Just remember - file every week on your designated day for the week that just ended. You've got this!