When to claim unemployment benefits in Washington - timing questions

File immediately! Don't wait. You can apply for unemployment benefits the same day you lose your job in Washington. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. Even if your employer might call you back, you should still file - you can always stop claiming if you get rehired.

The rule is you can file the Sunday after your last day of work. So if you worked Friday, you can file this Sunday. But honestly, I'd file right now if I were you. The Washington ESD system takes time to process everything.

File your initial claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Here's what you need to know about timing: 1) You can file your initial application immediately after job loss 2) Your first payable week starts the Sunday after you file 3) You must file weekly claims every week to get paid 4) There's no penalty for filing early, but there IS a penalty for filing late

I learned this the hard way - I waited 3 weeks thinking my company might rehire me and I lost out on $1,800 in benefits because you can't backdate claims. File immediately and if you get called back to work, just stop filing your weekly claims. It's that simple.

Just went through this process last month. One thing nobody mentions is that even after you file your initial claim, it can take 2-3 weeks for Washington ESD to process everything and send your first payment. So the sooner you start, the better. Don't wait around hoping for a callback - you can always stop claiming if you get rehired.

Also, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to ask questions about your claim timing, I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and even a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made the whole process much less stressful when I had questions about my filing.

File now, worry later. That's my motto with unemployment. The system is set up to help people who lose their jobs, not to punish them for filing too early. I've been through this twice and both times I filed the same day I got laid off.

One more important timing tip: make sure you understand when your benefit year starts. Your benefit year begins the Sunday of the week you file your initial claim, not the day you actually file. So if you file on a Wednesday, your benefit year started the previous Sunday. This affects how long you can collect benefits.

I keep seeing people say to file immediately but what if you're not sure if you qualify? Like what if you quit your job instead of getting laid off?

The timing thing stressed me out so much when I got laid off. I spent two days researching when to file instead of just filing. Don't be like me - just do it immediately and save yourself the anxiety.

Another timing consideration: if you're expecting a severance package or vacation payout, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers some types of separation pay as wages, which could delay your first payment. But you should still file your initial claim right away.

Quick question - if someone files on Friday vs Sunday, does it make a difference for when they get paid?

I waited because I thought filing for unemployment would hurt my chances of getting rehired by the same company. Turns out that was stupid thinking and I lost 3 weeks of benefits. File immediately, period.

For anyone else reading this thread, here's the Washington ESD website where you can file your initial claim: https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/. Don't wait, don't overthink it. Just file as soon as you lose your job.

Been unemployed 3 times in my career and every single time I filed the day I got laid off. Never had any issues, always got my benefits as soon as possible. There's literally no downside to filing early.

One last timing tip: after you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to get paid. Mark Sunday as your weekly filing day and stick to it. Missing a week means missing a payment.

Update on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - if anyone needs to call Washington ESD about timing questions or anything else, that service really does work. Saved me hours of trying to get through on my own when I had questions about my claim.

Just want to echo everyone else - FILE IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress this enough. Every day you wait is money out of your pocket. The Washington ESD system is there to help you, so use it.

For what it's worth, I tried the Claimyr service when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual hours of busy signals. Worth checking out if you need help with your claim timing or anything else.

Bottom line: File your unemployment claim the day you lose your job. Don't wait, don't hesitate, don't overthink it. The Washington ESD system is designed to help people in your situation. Take advantage of it immediately.