When do you start receiving unemployment benefits after filing with Washington ESD?

The waiting week starts from when you file your claim, not when you became unemployed. So if you filed last Thursday, that would be your first week. You'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep your claim active. Your first payment would typically come 2-3 weeks after filing if everything processes smoothly.

been waiting 3 weeks for my first payment, still says pending adjudication. this system is so slow

I had the same issue trying to get through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. Spent hours calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to agents faster. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Here's the typical Washington ESD timeline: Week 1 is your waiting week (no payment), Week 2 you file your first weekly claim, Week 3 you might see your first payment if there are no issues. BUT this assumes no adjudication delays, no missing documentation, and you file everything correctly and on time. Many people have delays due to verification requirements or adjudication processes.

The whole system is designed to make you give up. I waited 6 weeks for my first payment last year, had to appeal twice, then they said I was overpaid and wanted money back. It's ridiculous.

Pro tip: Set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Paper checks add another week to the process. Also, file your weekly claims on Sunday mornings when the system is less busy - I've had claims time out during peak hours.

Just be patient and keep filing weekly. Mine took exactly 3 weeks to get the first payment. Make sure you're available for work and actively seeking employment because they can audit your job search log anytime.

Washington ESD has been SO backed up lately. My cousin filed 4 weeks ago and still hasn't gotten anything. She tried calling for weeks with no luck until she used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Finally got through to an agent who told her there was a simple verification issue holding up her claim.

Check your account every day for messages or alerts. Sometimes they request additional info and if you don't respond quickly it delays everything. Also make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount.

Filed mine on a Tuesday, got first payment exactly 3 weeks later on a Tuesday. No issues, no adjudication, just the standard waiting week plus processing time. Keep filing weekly even if you don't see payments yet!

whatever you do dont miss filing a weekly claim. i missed one week thinking i could file it late and they made me start over with a whole new claim. lost 2 months of benefits

The key is staying on top of everything. File weekly, respond to any requests immediately, keep detailed records of job searches. I got my first payment in week 3 and it was smooth sailing after that. Don't let the horror stories scare you - most claims process normally if you follow the rules.

Had to use Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck in some weird limbo status. The regular customer service lines were useless but the agent I reached through their service knew exactly what was wrong and fixed it in 10 minutes. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who knows the system.

Just remember that even after you start receiving benefits, you need to keep filing weekly and meeting all the requirements. It's not set-it-and-forget-it. You have to stay actively engaged with the process the entire time you're collecting.

My experience was 3 weeks exactly from filing to first payment. Week 1 waiting period, Week 2 first weekly claim filed, Week 3 got paid. But I know people who waited much longer due to various issues. Just stay patient and persistent.