When should you apply for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD?

File as soon as possible! There's a one-week waiting period anyway, so delaying just pushes everything back. The sooner you get your claim in the system, the sooner Washington ESD can start processing it.

The general rule is to apply for unemployment benefits during your first week of unemployment. In Washington, you can file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov or by phone. The key thing to remember is that benefits are paid for weeks of unemployment, not partial weeks, so if you were laid off on Friday, that entire week counts as your first week of unemployment.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for three days to ask about my claim timing and can't get through. Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. This is so frustrating when you're already stressed about losing your job.

Wait, I thought you had to wait until you'd been unemployed for a full week before applying? My supervisor told me that when I got my layoff notice.

The Washington ESD website says to file within one week of becoming unemployed for best results. I filed mine on Monday after getting laid off the previous Friday and had no issues.

DONT WAIT!!! I waited 2 weeks because I thought I might get called back to work and it was a nightmare trying to get my claim backdated. File immediately even if you think your layoff might be temporary.

just file online its easier than calling anyway. the website walks you through everything step by step

I was in your exact situation last month - warehouse layoff on a Friday. Filed my claim that same weekend online and it went smoothly. The key is having all your employment information ready (dates, wages, reason for separation).

There's really no downside to filing early, but there can be downsides to filing late. Washington ESD can only backdate claims in certain circumstances, so it's always better to file sooner rather than later.

File now! I learned this the hard way. Also remember you have to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits, even if your initial claim is still being processed.

One thing to keep in mind - if you're on any kind of temporary layoff or seasonal work situation, the timing might be different. But for a regular permanent layoff like yours, file immediately.

The worst part about waiting is that you might forget important details about your employment. File while everything is fresh in your memory.

I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times last week and never got through. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got connected to an agent in about 10 minutes. Worth it when you need to actually talk to someone about your claim.

File your claim this weekend if you can. Don't overthink it - the system is designed for people to file right away when they become unemployed.

just make sure you have a good internet connection when you file online, sometimes the website times out if your connection is slow

The sooner you file, the sooner you can start the job search requirements too. Washington ESD requires you to make job contacts each week, so getting started early gives you more time to figure out the system.

File immediately and then focus on your job search. The unemployment benefits are there to help you while you look for work, not as a vacation. Good luck!