When to apply for unemployment benefits after job loss in Washington?

File as soon as possible! There's no benefit to waiting. The sooner you apply, the sooner your claim can be processed. Washington ESD always recommends filing the first week you're unemployed, even if you haven't received your final paycheck yet.

Thanks! I was worried I'd mess something up by filing too early. Should I wait until I get my final pay stub?

Nope, don't wait for that. You can file now and update your wage information later if needed.

yeah file asap, the waiting period starts from when you file not when you lost your job

Actually that's not quite right. The waiting period is tied to your first week of unemployment, but you still want to file immediately to get the process started.

I made the mistake of waiting two weeks to file thinking I needed to 'be sure' I wasn't going back. Big mistake - those were two weeks I could have been getting benefits processed. File now!

Did you lose those two weeks of benefits completely?

No, but it delayed everything. My first payment came much later than it should have.

The Washington ESD website says to file the first week you're unemployed but honestly their phone system is so backed up it takes forever to get through if you have questions. I spent 3 hours on hold last month just to ask about my claim status.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents faster. I used it when I was stuck in adjudication and it actually worked. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that, is it legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services.

Yeah it's real, you can check it out at claimyr.com. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you so you don't have to sit on hold.

File immediately! I learned this the hard way when I waited thinking I might get called back to work. Even if you do get called back, you can always stop filing weekly claims. But if you don't file right away, you're just delaying the whole process.

That makes sense. Better safe than sorry I guess.

DONT WAIT! The system is already slow enough without adding delays. I filed the day after I got laid off and it still took 3 weeks to see my first payment.

3 weeks? That's actually pretty fast these days. Mine took 6 weeks because they had to verify my employment history.

Ugh, 6 weeks would have killed me financially. That's why filing early is so important.

Here's the key timing info: File your initial claim as soon as you're unemployed. Then you'll need to file weekly claims every week to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work. Missing even one weekly claim can mess up your benefits.

How do the weekly claims work? Do I have to call in every week?

No, you can file them online through your eServices account on the Washington ESD website. Much easier than calling.

also make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - social security number, employer info, dates of employment, reason for separation. makes the process way faster

Good tip! I have all that stuff in my files at home.

One thing to remember - even if you file right away, there's still a one-week waiting period where you won't get paid. That's just how the system works. But filing early means you get through that waiting period sooner.

So I won't get paid for my first week of unemployment no matter what?

Right, that's the waiting week. But you still need to file a weekly claim for that week.

I wish someone had told me about the importance of filing immediately when I first got laid off. I waited almost a week thinking I needed to 'process' everything first. Completely unnecessary delay.

Same here! I think there's this misconception that you need to be 'officially' unemployed for a certain amount of time before filing.

The sooner you file, the sooner Washington ESD can start processing your claim and determining your benefit amount. Even if there are issues that need to be resolved, it's better to get the ball rolling immediately rather than waiting.

That makes total sense. I'm going to file today then.

File now! I waited because I thought I might find another job quickly and it was such a waste of time. Even if you do find work fast, there's no penalty for filing and then stopping.

exactly, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about when to file, I had good luck with Claimyr recently. They got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual hours of waiting.

I keep seeing Claimyr mentioned - is it expensive?

I'd rather pay a reasonable fee than waste entire days trying to get through myself. Time is money when you're unemployed.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU WAIT AND JUMP THROUGH HOOPS. Don't give them any more advantages by delaying your filing. Get your claim in ASAP!

This is so true. Every delay just gives them more reasons to question your claim later.

File immediately, but also be prepared for the possibility that your claim might go into adjudication if there are any questions about your separation. That can add weeks to the process, which is another reason to start early.

What causes adjudication? I was laid off due to lack of work.

Lack of work should be straightforward, but sometimes they still need to verify details with your employer. Just be patient if it happens.

Quick answer: file TODAY. Don't overthink it. The application process will walk you through everything you need to know.

Perfect, that's what I needed to hear. Thank you everyone!

Just to summarize for anyone else reading this: File your initial unemployment claim as soon as you become unemployed. Don't wait for final paychecks, don't wait to see if you'll be called back, don't wait to process the situation emotionally. File immediately and then file your weekly claims every week after that.

This should be pinned at the top of every unemployment forum. Such important info.

agreed, would save people so much stress and confusion

I filed the same day I got my layoff notice and I'm so glad I did. Even though the process took a few weeks, at least I didn't add any unnecessary delays. Every day counts when you're out of work.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm definitely filing today.

One last tip - when you do file, make sure to keep copies of everything and document all your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires proof of job searching, so it's good to start that habit immediately.

Good point! I'll start keeping track of my applications right away.

Filed mine 4 months ago and still dealing with issues, but I can't imagine how much worse it would be if I had waited to start the process. File now, deal with problems as they come up.

4 months?? What kind of issues are you having?

Long story involving identity verification and wage disputes. But at least the clock started ticking when I first filed.