When do you claim unemployment benefits in Washington - timing questions

Thanks! So I should file the claim on Monday after my last day is Friday? And then start weekly claims right away?

Exactly. File Monday, then start your weekly claims the following Sunday. The weekly claims are what trigger your payments, but you need the initial claim processed first.

Wait, so you file weekly claims even before your initial claim is approved? That seems backwards.

Yes, you file weekly claims starting the week after you file your initial application. The system processes everything together, but you need to establish the pattern immediately.

I'm getting two weeks severance. Does that mean I should wait two weeks to file my claim?

No, still file immediately. Report the severance when you file - Washington ESD will calculate how it affects your benefit timing. Don't try to time it yourself.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I got laid off. I had severance questions and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to ask. Claimyr helped me reach an agent who explained how my severance would be applied to my claim timing. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

You might be able to fix this depending on your situation. Contact Washington ESD immediately to explain what happened. Sometimes they can backdate weekly claims if you have good cause.

Same thing happened to my brother last year. He got it sorted out by calling but it took forever to get through to someone.

Good point! I'll do that this week before I get laid off.

Yes, the ID verification was a pain when I needed benefits. Took three days to get verified and I was stressing the whole time.

How many job search contacts do I need per week?

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements when you file. It might be different based on your situation or if you're in a training program.

The job search requirements are no joke. I got disqualified for not having enough documented contacts even though I was looking for work every day.

What kind of documentation should I bring?

Your layoff notice, any emails about the layoff, HR documents if you have them. Basically anything that shows the separation wasn't your fault.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. They actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent in minutes instead of hours. Really saved me when I had questions about my claim timing.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?

They handle all the calling and waiting, then connect you when they reach an agent. Super helpful when you have specific questions that need real answers.

Good point about COBRA. I hadn't thought about the timing with that.

COBRA is expensive but unemployment benefits help. Just budget for it when you're calculating your benefit amount.

So the benefit year is 52 weeks from when I file my initial claim?

Exactly. And you have a maximum benefit amount for that year based on your earnings. Each weekly claim reduces that maximum until it's exhausted or the year ends.

That's a bit cynical but not wrong. The system is complicated and they don't make it easy to navigate.

The key is just to be persistent and keep detailed records of everything you submit and when.

What triggers adjudication? I thought layoffs were pretty straightforward.

Could be anything - if your employer contests the claim, if there are questions about your work history, or sometimes just random system flags. It's frustrating but common.

When I was in adjudication for weeks with no updates, Claimyr helped me reach someone who could actually check the status of my case. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get answers.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! This is really helpful for planning my next steps.

Good luck with everything! The system is complicated but manageable if you stay on top of the requirements.