When should you file unemployment with Washington ESD - timing questions

File your claim the week you become unemployed, not before. If your last day of work is Friday, you can file that weekend or the following Monday. Don't wait longer than that though - you want to get your claim in as soon as possible after your employment ends.

I made the mistake of filing too early once and had to restart the whole process. Washington ESD is pretty strict about this - your claim date has to be on or after your last day of work.

Here's what I learned from my experience - file your initial claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, but be aware that your first weekly claim will be for the week AFTER your last day of work. So if you're laid off Friday, you'd file your first weekly claim the following Sunday for that week.

I struggled with getting through to Washington ESD when I had timing questions about my claim. Kept getting busy signals and hung up on. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.

FILE ASAP AFTER YOUR LAST DAY!!! I waited two weeks thinking I needed to 'settle in' to being unemployed and it just delayed everything. There's no benefit to waiting.

Also make sure you have all your employment information ready - dates of employment, reason for separation, employer contact info. Washington ESD will need to verify everything with your employer before approving your claim.

Don't forget about the job search requirements too. You'll need to start looking for work immediately and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

I filed on a Sunday night and it went through fine. The website is usually less busy on weekends so it might actually be better than trying during business hours.

Question - if you get severance pay, does that affect when you can file? I'm getting 2 weeks severance and I'm not sure if I have to wait until that runs out.

Make sure you know your employer's FEIN number too. Washington ESD asks for it and if you don't have it, you might have to call them to get your claim processed.

I remember being so nervous about filing. Turns out it's pretty straightforward once you get started. The hardest part is just getting through if you need to call them with questions.

One thing to remember - even if you file right away, there's usually a waiting period before you get your first payment. Don't expect money immediately.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything when you file. The system sometimes glitches and you'll want proof of what you submitted.

If you worked in multiple states in the last 18 months, make sure you file in the right state. Washington ESD might not be the right place if most of your wages were earned elsewhere.

Don't overthink it. File as soon as you're unemployed and answer all the questions honestly. The system is designed to help people who qualify.

Update us after you file! I'm curious how it goes since I might be in a similar situation soon.

If you run into any issues during the application process, don't give up. Sometimes the website is slow or you get error messages, but keep trying.

Last thought - start thinking about your job search strategy now. Washington ESD will require you to be actively looking for work, so having a plan helps.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about the process now. I'll file this weekend and start my job search right away.