When should I apply for unemployment benefits - Washington ESD timing questions

Thanks! So even though I'm getting paid for this week still, I should file now?

Yes, file now. You'll report that income on your weekly claim when you get to that week. Washington ESD expects you to report all earnings during your claim period.

What counts as a good reason for backdating? I'm in a similar situation.

Medical emergency, military deployment, stuff like that. Being confused about when to file usually doesn't qualify.

That's confusing - how do I know which weeks it applies to?

Your HR department should be able to tell you which dates the vacation pay covers. If not, it's usually the weeks immediately following your last day of work.

I had this issue last year and spent forever on hold trying to get through to Washington ESD to clarify. Ended up using Claimyr.com to actually reach someone - they have this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way easier than the endless calling.

what paperwork do you actually need to file? I keep seeing different lists online

You need your SSN, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months. That's it to start. Don't wait for anything else.

From when you file your claim. That's why filing immediately matters so much.

Got it, thanks for clarifying!

You can contact Washington ESD to make corrections, but it's easier to be careful the first time. Take your time filling it out but don't delay starting the application.

Thank you, that makes me feel a bit better about moving forward.

Is that legit? I've been trying to call for days about my claim status.

Yeah it's real, check out claimyr.com. They have a video demo that explains exactly how it works. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

File now but you'll need to report the severance payments. Depending on how it's structured, it might delay your benefits but won't hurt to have your claim established.

ok thanks, i'll file this weekend then

You're right, I was probably overcomplicating it. Just filed my claim online.

Good for you! The waiting is the hardest part but at least you got the process started.

What kind of complications did you have during adjudication?

They needed to verify my work history with a previous employer. Took about 3 weeks but would've been longer if I'd delayed filing initially.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week in Washington?

It's 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc. Keep good records of everything.

And register with WorkSource Washington if you haven't already. It's required and they have good job search tools.

Did you eventually get backpay for those 5 weeks?

Yes, once it was approved I got all the backpay. That's another reason filing early matters - your benefit period starts when you file, not when you get approved.

Thanks for the HR perspective! That's really helpful to hear from someone who sees this from the employer side.

Happy to help! The system is designed for people to file immediately when they become unemployed, not weeks later.

What if you can't remember exact dates from an old job?

Do your best estimate. You can always provide corrections later if needed. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

That's frustrating! Can't you explain the situation to Washington ESD?

I tried but they said waiting in hopes of recall isn't sufficient reason for backdating. Lesson learned - file immediately and cancel later if you get called back.

This is exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helps - when you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about specific circumstances. Their service got me through to an agent who could explain my options properly.

This thread convinced me - I filed my claim this morning. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Good choice! Hope your claim processes smoothly and quickly.