When to file for unemployment - Washington ESD timing question

You should file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, not before. Washington ESD processes claims based on when you actually become unemployed. The waiting period they mention is automatic - it's the first week of your claim where you don't get paid, but you still need to file that week.

So I file on Monday after my last day Friday? And I won't get paid for that first week no matter what?

Exactly. File on Monday and yes, the first week is unpaid but you must still complete your weekly claim to keep your benefits active.

i waited 2 weeks after getting fired thinking i needed to look for jobs first... big mistake! lost out on 2 weeks of benefits because of the stupid waiting period thing. file right away!

Oh no! So you can't get those weeks back at all?

nope, they dont backdate claims. whatever you do file immediately

The key thing to understand is that your benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job. Washington ESD requires you to file within a reasonable timeframe to avoid losing potential benefits. If you're getting laid off, you can also file the day after your last day of work.

What if you're still getting paid vacation or severance? Do you wait until that runs out?

No, you can still file your claim. You'll just report the vacation pay when you do your weekly claims and it may affect your benefit amount for those weeks.

I've been calling Washington ESD for 3 days trying to get through to ask this exact question! Their phone system is impossible. Keep getting disconnected after waiting 2 hours. This is so frustrating when you just need basic information about filing deadlines.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that but willing to try anything at this point. The hold times are insane.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING WITH WASHINGTON ESD! File immediately or you'll regret it. I've seen people lose thousands because they waited thinking they needed to job hunt first or whatever. The system doesn't care about your reasons for waiting.

Thousands?? That's terrifying. Definitely filing right away then.

yep happened to my neighbor. thought he was being responsible by trying to find work first. cost him big time

Just to clarify the process: 1) File your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov the day after your last day of work, 2) Complete your first weekly claim (this is your waiting week), 3) Continue filing weekly claims every week even if you're not paid for the first one. Don't skip any weeks or you'll lose benefits.

This is really helpful, thank you! So I do the weekly claim even during the waiting week?

Yes, absolutely. Skipping that first weekly claim is a common mistake that can mess up your entire claim.

Does anyone know if there's a deadline? Like what if you wait a month to file - are you completely out of luck?

There's no absolute deadline but Washington ESD generally won't backdate claims more than a few weeks. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to lose potential benefits.

Good to know, thanks. Better safe than sorry with the timing.

What about if you're getting unemployment but then get a temporary job? Do you have to refile or can you just restart the weekly claims?

You can usually restart your weekly claims within your benefit year without refiling. Just report the work and wages when you restart your weekly claims.

That's a relief. Thought I'd have to start the whole process over.

seriously the washington esd website should make this clearer. spent way too much time trying to figure out when to file. should be like step 1 on their homepage

AGREED! Their website is terrible for basic info. Everything is buried in PDFs and confusing menus.

Yeah I'm finding it really hard to navigate. This thread has been more helpful than their website.

One thing I learned the hard way - even if you think you might not qualify, file anyway. Let Washington ESD make the determination. I waited 3 weeks thinking I wouldn't qualify because of my reason for leaving, but I actually did qualify.

That's good advice. What was your situation if you don't mind me asking?

I quit what I thought was a hostile work environment but wasn't sure it met their criteria. Turned out it did qualify as good cause.

The waiting period is so dumb. Like you're already stressed about losing your job and then they make you wait a week for benefits. At least file right away so you don't make it worse for yourself.

It's supposed to encourage people to find work quickly, but mostly it just hurts people who are already struggling.

Exactly. One week without pay when you just lost your job is brutal.

For anyone still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, I mentioned Claimyr earlier but wanted to add that it's been a game changer. Instead of spending all day calling and getting hung up on, I was able to talk to an actual ESD agent within an hour to confirm my filing timeline.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if it saves hours of calling.

Way cheaper than losing a day of work calling ESD repeatedly. The peace of mind was worth it for me.

Filed mine on a Sunday night after my Friday layoff. Had my first weekly claim ready to go for Monday. Highly recommend doing it online late at night when their system is faster.

Good tip about the timing! I'll try filing Sunday night then.

Yeah their website is definitely slower during business hours when everyone's trying to use it.

Just want to echo what everyone's saying - FILE IMMEDIATELY. Don't overthink it, don't wait to see if you find a job quickly, don't worry about whether you qualify. File first, ask questions later.

This thread has convinced me. Filing Monday morning for sure.

Smart choice. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

One more thing - make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file. Previous employer addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. Having it organized will make the process much smoother.

Should I contact HR to get exact dates and addresses?

If you don't have them handy, yes. Washington ESD will verify with your employer anyway, so accuracy is important.

Been through this process twice now. The key is filing right away and then being consistent with your weekly claims. Don't skip weeks, report all work and income honestly, and keep looking for jobs. Pretty straightforward once you get started.

Thanks for the reassurance. Feeling much better about the whole process now.

The consistency part is huge. Miss one weekly claim and it can mess everything up.

wish someone had told me about the job search requirements before i filed. make sure you understand what washington esd expects for job search activities each week

What kind of job search requirements?

you have to do 3 job search activities per week and keep records. applies to most people but there are some exceptions

The most important thing I learned - Washington ESD's phone system is a nightmare, but their online filing system actually works pretty well. Do as much as you can online to avoid the phone hassles.

Totally agree. Only call if you absolutely have to.

And if you do need to call, services like Claimyr can save you from the phone tree nightmare.

Bottom line for OP - file Monday after your last day of work Friday. Don't wait, don't second guess, just do it. You can always stop filing weekly claims if you find work quickly, but you can't get back those weeks if you wait too long to start.

Perfect summary. Thanks everyone for all the advice! This has been incredibly helpful.

Good luck with everything! The system can be confusing but once you get started it's not too bad.

One thing I learned when I was laid off last year - make sure you file online rather than trying to call. Washington ESD's website can be slow during peak hours, but it's still way more reliable than their phone system. I spent days trying to get through by phone before someone told me I could do everything online. Also, don't stress too much about the application itself - they walk you through it step by step and you can always correct information later if needed.