When should I file for unemployment with Washington ESD - timing questions

File as soon as possible! Washington ESD has a waiting week but your claim date starts from when you actually file, not when you were laid off. The sooner you file, the sooner that waiting week starts counting down.

definitely file right away, I made the mistake of waiting 2 weeks thinking I might find work quickly and it just pushed everything back

The key thing to understand is that Washington ESD benefits are effective from your claim date, not your separation date. You can file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov anytime after your last day of work. There's a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and you must file weekly claims to maintain eligibility. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and reason for separation ready when you file.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask about timing and could never get through. Spent hours on hold every day for a week. Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual agent who explained the timing rules perfectly. Worth checking out claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

File ASAP but make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep a log. Don't wait to start looking just because you filed for unemployment.

UGH the whole system is so confusing! Why can't they just make it simple - file when you lose your job, get money when you need it. Instead there's waiting weeks and weekly claims and job search logs and a million rules about what counts as work search.

Also make sure you file even if you think you might be going back to work soon. I was told I'd be called back in a few weeks, waited to file, and then the callback never happened. Lost out on several weeks of benefits because of the timing.

quick question - does it matter what time of day you file? like is the system faster in the morning or something?

Don't overthink the timing too much. I filed on a Friday afternoon right after getting laid off and everything went smoothly. The important thing is just to get it done sooner rather than later. Washington ESD's website walks you through everything step by step.

I remember being in your exact same situation 6 months ago. Filed my claim on a Tuesday morning and had my first weekly claim approved the following week. The waiting week felt long but once it started flowing, the process was pretty straightforward.

Also worth mentioning that if you have any questions after filing, it's really hard to reach Washington ESD by phone. I tried for weeks to get clarification on something and finally gave up. The online system and website FAQ are your best bet for most questions.

File today! I wish someone had told me this when I was laid off. I waited almost a week thinking I needed to 'process' everything first. That was just anxiety talking - there's no benefit to waiting.

One thing nobody mentioned - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even during the waiting period. I missed filing one week thinking it didn't matter since I wasn't getting paid yet, and it created a whole mess I had to sort out later.

The system really isn't that complicated once you get into the routine. File initial claim ASAP, then file weekly claims every week, do your job searches, keep records. It becomes second nature pretty quickly.