When does unemployment start paying after I file my Washington ESD claim?

There's typically a one-week waiting period for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. So even after your claim is approved, you won't get paid for that first week you claim. After that, if everything goes smoothly, payments usually come within 2-3 business days of filing your weekly claim.

The real issue is getting your claim approved in the first place. Mine sat in adjudication for almost 6 weeks before I got any payments. Have you checked if your claim needs any additional verification?

I had the same question when I filed. If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

depends on your situation honestly. if you quit your job you might not get anything at all. if you were laid off it should be pretty straightforward once approved

The typical timeline for Washington ESD unemployment payments is: 1) File initial claim, 2) Wait for approval (can be immediate or take weeks if adjudication is needed), 3) Serve your one-week waiting period, 4) File weekly claims starting the second week, 5) Receive payments 2-3 business days after filing weekly claims. Make sure you're meeting job search requirements too.

THE WAITING PERIOD IS THE WORST PART! You're already stressed about money and then they make you wait even longer. I understand why it exists but it really hurts when you're already struggling.

Make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't been approved yet. I made the mistake of waiting and it delayed everything by another week.

I'm in the same boat - filed 2 weeks ago and still waiting. The uncertainty is killing me. Did you get any confirmation email or anything when you filed?

One thing to remember is that Washington ESD pays for the week AFTER you file your weekly claim. So if you file your weekly claim on Sunday for the previous week, you'll get paid Tuesday/Wednesday for that week you already completed. It's not advance payment.

If your claim gets stuck somewhere you might want to try reaching out through claimyr.com - I used them when my claim was in limbo and they helped me get connected to someone who could actually explain what was happening. Way better than the endless phone tree.

Just want to echo what others said about keeping up with your weekly claims. Even if you haven't been approved yet, file them every week. I learned this the hard way.

The whole system is so confusing for first timers. I remember being lost when I first filed. Just hang in there and keep following up if things seem delayed.

Update: I actually tried that Claimyr thing again this week to check on a different issue and it worked great. Got through to Washington ESD in about 10 minutes instead of spending hours trying to call. Definitely recommend if you need to actually speak to someone.

Don't forget about the tax implications either. The unemployment payments are taxable income so you might want to have them withhold taxes or set some aside.

been there before. the waiting is the hardest part especially when bills are due. just try to stay patient and keep checking your account

Final advice: Keep detailed records of everything - when you filed, confirmation numbers, any correspondence. If issues come up later, having documentation will save you headaches. Also make sure your direct deposit info is correct so payments don't get delayed once they start.

Hope everything works out for you OP. The unemployment system isn't perfect but it does help when you need it most.

One last thing - if you do have to call Washington ESD directly, try calling right when they open or during lunch hours. Those seem to be the best times to actually get through.

Good luck with your claim! The process gets easier once you understand the system. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you run into issues.