When do I start receiving unemployment benefits in Washington - timeline confusion

Thank you! So I need to start filing weekly claims even though the first one won't get paid?

Exactly. You have to establish the pattern of filing every week or you could lose benefits. Don't skip that first weekly claim even though it's unpaid.

Oh no, how do I know if mine is in adjudication? My eServices account just shows 'claim under review

that sounds like adjudication to me. check if you have any 'to do' items in your account that need attention

This is super helpful, thank you! Did you have any issues getting through to Washington ESD when you had questions?

Oh yeah, calling Washington ESD is a nightmare. I probably spent 6 hours on hold total across multiple days trying to get answers.

I found this service called Claimyr that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Saved me so much time and frustration. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for me when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Wait, what happens if you miss filing a weekly claim?

They close your claim! You can reopen it but there might be delays and you lose those weeks permanently.

You can actually backdate missed weeks if you have good cause, but it's a hassle and requires documentation. Better to just file every week like clockwork.

Same experience here. The website makes it sound simple but there are so many hidden requirements.

That's exactly how I feel right now. Like there's information I'm missing but I don't know what.

Good to know! I was worried about filing weekly claims before knowing if I'm approved.

Yeah this is key advice. I stopped filing weekly claims when my claim went into adjudication and lost 2 weeks of benefits when I finally got approved.

I think I set up direct deposit when I applied but I'll double check. Thanks!

The debit card took forever to arrive for me, like 2 weeks. Direct deposit was definitely the way to go.

Where do I log the job search activities? Is that part of the weekly claim?

Yes, there's a section in your weekly claim filing where you report your job search activities. Keep detailed records.

You can also use WorkSourceWA.com to track some of your job search activities. It integrates with the Washington ESD system.

What kind of documentation did they ask for? Maybe others here have dealt with the same request.

They want a detailed statement about why I left my job even though I already explained it was a layoff. Makes no sense.

This is another situation where Claimyr really helped me. I was able to get through to an agent who explained exactly what documentation they needed and how to submit it properly. Check out claimyr.com if you're tired of the phone runaround.

That's interesting, I wouldn't have thought the time of day mattered.

I think it's just because fewer people are filing early Sunday morning so there's less system load.

Good point, I'll keep that in mind when I see my first payment amount.

Wait, I thought the waiting week never gets paid back? When would it get paid?

There are some federal programs that can waive the waiting week, but it's not common. Most people don't get that first week paid.

Have you tried contacting your state representative's office? Sometimes they can help with Washington ESD issues that are dragging on too long.

didnt know that was an option, ill look into it

Before you go that route, definitely try getting through to an actual Washington ESD agent first. Claimyr made that possible for me when I couldn't get through on my own. Sometimes these delays are just miscommunications that can be cleared up quickly with the right person.

How did you know you had put the wrong date? Did they tell you or did you figure it out?

They sent me a letter asking for clarification about the dates, then I realized my mistake. Always double check your initial application before submitting.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences!

Agreed, wish I had found info like this when I was first filing. Would have saved me a lot of stress and confusion.

That gives me hope! Fingers crossed mine goes as smoothly as yours did.

Just stay on top of the weekly claims and you should be fine. Good luck!