When to get unemployment benefits - Washington ESD timing questions
I'm confused about when exactly I can start getting unemployment benefits from Washington ESD. I was laid off from my retail job last Thursday and I'm not sure if I should file right away or wait. Do the benefits start immediately when you file or is there a waiting period? Also wondering about the timing of weekly claims - when do those need to be submitted? I've never had to file for unemployment before so I'm not sure about the whole process.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
You should file your initial claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. There's a one-week waiting period in Washington before you can receive benefits, but the sooner you file, the sooner that waiting week starts counting. Your benefit year begins the Sunday of the week you file your claim.
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Reina Salazar
•Thanks! So if I file today, would my waiting week start this past Sunday or next Sunday?
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•It would start this past Sunday since that's the beginning of the current benefit week. Washington ESD weeks run Sunday through Saturday.
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Demi Lagos
Weekly claims have to be filed every week to get paid. You can file them online starting Sunday morning for the previous week. Don't miss the deadline or you might not get paid for that week.
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Reina Salazar
•What's the deadline for filing weekly claims? Is it strict?
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Demi Lagos
•You have until 11:59 PM on Saturday to file for that week. They're pretty strict about it - if you miss it, that week is usually gone.
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Mason Lopez
•Actually you can file late weekly claims but you might need to provide a reason. I've done it before when I was sick.
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Vera Visnjic
I had the hardest time getting through to Washington ESD when I first filed. Spent hours on hold trying to ask basic questions about timing. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.
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Jake Sinclair
•How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days with no luck.
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Vera Visnjic
•It basically calls Washington ESD for you and waits on hold, then calls you back when they get a human on the line. Saved me literally hours of waiting.
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Brielle Johnson
•Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.
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Honorah King
The timing depends on your specific situation. Regular unemployment benefits start after the waiting week, but if you have any issues with your claim like identity verification or work separation questions, it could take weeks longer. Make sure you have all your documentation ready when you file.
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Reina Salazar
•What kind of documentation do I need? I have my termination letter.
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Honorah King
•Termination letter is good. Also have your Social Security card, ID, and employment history for the past 18 months including dates and wages.
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Jake Sinclair
I filed my claim 3 weeks ago and I'm still waiting. Washington ESD says it's in adjudication but won't tell me why or how long it will take. This is so frustrating when you have bills to pay.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Adjudication can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on the issue. Did you quit your job or were you fired? That can affect processing time.
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Jake Sinclair
•I was laid off due to company downsizing. They said it was temporary but it's been over a month now.
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Oliver Brown
•Check your account for any outstanding issues you need to respond to. Sometimes there are questionnaires you have to complete.
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Brielle Johnson
Does anyone know if you can get retroactive benefits? I waited 2 weeks to file because I thought my layoff was temporary but now it looks permanent.
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Honorah King
•Benefits are only paid from the date you file your claim forward, not retroactively. That's why it's important to file as soon as you lose your job even if you think it might be temporary.
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Brielle Johnson
•Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Wish someone had told me that earlier.
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Mason Lopez
For anyone reading this - also remember you have to be actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep records.
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Reina Salazar
•What counts as a job search activity?
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Mason Lopez
•Applying for jobs, contacting employers, attending job fairs, networking events. You can log them in your WorkSourceWA account.
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Mary Bates
•Make sure you actually do the job search activities. They audit people and if you can't prove you did the work search, they'll make you pay back the benefits.
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Oliver Brown
The whole system is confusing. I made the mistake of not filing weekly claims for 2 weeks because I didn't understand you had to do it every single week even during the waiting period.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Yeah, you have to file weekly claims starting with your first week even though you won't get paid for the waiting week. It keeps your claim active.
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Oliver Brown
•Learned that the hard way. Had to restart my whole claim process.
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Demi Lagos
Pro tip: if you're getting severance pay or vacation payout, that might delay when you can start receiving benefits. Washington ESD considers that wages for the weeks it covers.
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Reina Salazar
•I'm getting 2 weeks severance. Does that mean I have to wait an extra 2 weeks beyond the waiting period?
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Demi Lagos
•Possibly, depending on how much the severance is and how it's paid out. You'll need to report it when you file your weekly claims.
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Vera Visnjic
Another thing about timing - if you have questions about your claim status or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I really recommend trying Claimyr. I was getting nowhere calling the regular number but they got me through in about 20 minutes. Worth checking out their website.
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Clay blendedgen
•How much does it cost? I'm already strapped for cash.
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Vera Visnjic
•I'd rather pay a little to actually talk to someone than waste entire days trying to get through on my own. The time saved was worth it for me.
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Ayla Kumar
been trying to call washington esd for a week straight. this is ridiculous. how are people supposed to get help?
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Lorenzo McCormick
•Try calling right at 8am when they open. Sometimes you can get through before the lines get jammed.
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Ayla Kumar
•tried that too. still busy signal or just hangs up on you
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Carmella Popescu
•The Claimyr thing people mentioned above actually worked for me last week. Was skeptical but desperate enough to try it.
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Kai Santiago
Important timing note: if you're receiving unemployment and get offered a job, you have to report it immediately even if you haven't started yet. Don't wait until your next weekly claim.
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Lim Wong
•What if the job doesn't work out? Can you get back on unemployment right away?
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Kai Santiago
•Depends on why it didn't work out and how long you worked. You might be able to reopen your existing claim or might need to file a new one.
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Dananyl Lear
I wish they made this process clearer. The Washington ESD website has so much information but it's hard to find the basics about timing and when things happen.
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Noah huntAce420
•The website is definitely not user-friendly. I found the handbook PDF more helpful than the regular web pages.
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Ana Rusula
•Where do you find the handbook? I've been looking for something that explains everything step by step.
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Noah huntAce420
•It's buried in the forms section of the Washington ESD website. Search for 'unemployment insurance handbook' and it should come up.
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Fidel Carson
One more timing thing - if you move to a different state while collecting Washington unemployment, you can usually keep your benefits but you need to notify Washington ESD immediately. Don't just assume it's automatic.
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Reina Salazar
•Good to know. I might have to move for a job opportunity. How do you notify them about the move?
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Fidel Carson
•Call the claims center or update your information online through your SecureAccess Washington account. They'll walk you through what you need to do.
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Isaiah Sanders
The most important thing is don't delay filing your initial claim. Every week you wait is money you can't get back. Even if you're not sure about something, file first and ask questions later.
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Xan Dae
•This is the best advice in this thread. I waited because I was confused and ended up losing 3 weeks of benefits.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Exactly. You can always provide additional information later but you can't backdate your claim to get those missed weeks.
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