When to apply for unemployment - Washington ESD timing questions

So I should wait until Monday after my last day on Friday? Or can I file on Saturday/Sunday?

You can file over the weekend once you're unemployed. Just make sure your last day of work has passed.

Good to know about the waiting period. Is there a specific day of the week that's better to file or does it not matter?

Day of the week doesn't affect your claim start date, but filing early in the week might mean less website traffic if you run into technical issues.

That might work sometimes but it's not recommended. Better to follow the official guidelines to avoid any delays or complications with your claim.

yeah probably safer to wait, just sharing what happened to me

How much did waiting 2 weeks set you back? I'm in a similar situation and nervous about timing.

it didn't affect my overall benefits but I could have started the process sooner, just added stress I didn't need

That's really helpful! So there's no penalty for filing the same day vs a few days later as long as it's the same week?

Exactly right. The only real advantage to filing immediately is getting through the initial application process sooner, which can take some time if there are any issues.

This is great info - I wish I had known this when I filed last year. I stressed about getting everything perfect before submitting.

That's helpful, thanks. So the vacation pay might delay my benefits for a week or two depending on the amount?

Exactly. If you get paid for 2 weeks of vacation, that might cover 2 weeks of your claim period, delaying when you start receiving UI benefits.

Try calling right when they open at 8am, that's usually the best time to get through to someone at Washington ESD.

I've tried that multiple times and still get busy signals or stuck on hold for hours before getting disconnected.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to reach someone about my claim.

Is that legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point but don't want to get scammed.

Never heard of that but the phone situation with Washington ESD is definitely terrible. Might be worth checking out.

Thanks for the tip! I'll probably need to call them about the vacation pay calculation anyway.

sounds like another service trying to make money off people's desperation with unemployment

I was skeptical too but it actually worked for me when nothing else did. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

Perfect, that clears up my confusion about the waiting week timing. So I should file next Saturday and then do my first weekly claim the following week?

Correct. File your initial application, then file your first weekly claim for the week you were unemployed. That first week will be your waiting week.

You can't file until you're actually unemployed, so you'll need to wait until your actual last day. But as soon as you know that date, file immediately.

That makes sense. I'll keep my application info ready to go so I can file as soon as I get the official notice.

Oh wow, good to know. How far back can you backdate claims?

You can request to backdate up to one year, but you need good cause and it requires additional review. Better to file on time.

They allocate vacation pay based on your normal work schedule. If you normally work 3 days a week, 3 weeks of vacation might be spread over 6 weeks of claims.

ah that makes more sense now, wish they had explained it better at the time

Good point! I should probably get my pay stubs organized. Do they need exact dates or just approximate?

They want exact dates and wages for each employer. Having your tax documents handy helps too since they cross-reference everything.

Also make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready - the online system is picky about having all the right documents.

In Washington, you need to be actively searching for work to receive benefits, but the specific requirements kick in after your waiting week. You should start job searching right away though.

Thanks! I want to make sure I'm doing everything right from the beginning.

This is terrible advice. The system doesn't 'figure things out' - you need to report everything correctly or you'll have problems later.

i mean report things correctly but dont stress about filing a day early or late, they adjust for that stuff

Wait, so I have to file weekly claims even if I'm not getting paid during the waiting week?

Yes, you must file weekly claims continuously to maintain your eligibility. Missing even one week can cause issues with your claim.

This is so confusing - why make people file for a week they won't get paid? The whole system seems designed to trip people up.

You should file ASAP if you were laid off two weeks ago. You're losing time and potentially benefits by waiting.

Filing today, thanks for the push I needed

I'm not getting severance, just my final paycheck. But good to know for others who might be reading this.

Yeah, severance can be tricky. Sometimes it's considered wages and sometimes it's not, depending on how your employer structures it.

Great advice! I'll definitely do that. Better safe than sorry.

Yes! I learned this the hard way when my application got stuck and I had no way to reference it without those numbers.

Good point! So filing on Saturday after my Friday layoff should work perfectly then.

Exactly, that timing should work well for you.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money if I'm about to be unemployed.

It's definitely worth it when you're stuck - think about the time and stress it saves. Check their website for current info.

I mean, some of the rules make sense though. The waiting week helps prevent fraud and makes sure people are actually unemployed.

sure but they could make the whole process way more user friendly instead of this maze of confusing rules

At least Washington's system works better than some other states I've heard about

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about the timing now.

Good luck with your claim! The process can be confusing but it gets easier once you get started.

How much does something like that cost though?

honestly dont remember the exact cost but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of calling 50 times a day

Great reminder, I should gather all that paperwork this week before I file.

Also keep copies of everything for your records. You might need to reference it later if there are any questions about your claim.

Yeah but you can still look for work during the waiting week and it counts toward your job search requirements.

true, might as well use that time productively

Yes, weekly claims open every Sunday for the previous week. So if you file your initial claim on Saturday, you'd file your first weekly claim the next Sunday for that week you were unemployed.

Perfect, thanks for clarifying that timing!

Same here, would have saved me a lot of stress and confusion

Really glad I asked! Everyone's been so helpful with explaining the timing and process.

This is good advice. The system isn't perfect but it's designed to help people who legitimately need unemployment benefits.

Thanks for that reassurance. I was definitely overthinking some of this stuff.

Good to hear another positive experience with that service. The phone situation with Washington ESD really is frustrating.

I'm definitely keeping that option in mind if I run into issues with my vacation pay calculation.

Perfect summary! I'm feeling much more confident about filing my claim this weekend. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

What would you consider off-peak hours? Late evening or early morning?

I've had good luck with mid-morning on weekdays, avoiding Monday mornings and Friday afternoons when traffic is heaviest.

This thread has been so helpful! I feel much more confident about the timing now.

Good luck with everything! The process is less scary once you get started.

Good to know! I'll try to file during business hours just to avoid any potential technical issues.

I agree the system could be more user-friendly, but the basic rule is simple: file as soon as you're unemployed and keep filing weekly. Everything else can be sorted out later.

True, but it's still intimidating when you've never done it before. I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences.

Perfect summary! Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel ready to tackle this now.

This thread should be pinned - it covers all the basics that new filers need to know about timing.