When will I receive unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

What kind of issues would delay it? I made sure to fill everything out completely.

things like job separation reasons, wage verification, or if they need to contact your employer for more info

So I'm looking at potentially 3-4 weeks total before I see any money?

That's about right for a straightforward claim. The waiting week was eliminated during COVID and hasn't been reinstated, so you should get paid for your first eligible week.

Wait, there's no waiting week anymore? I thought you had to wait a full week before benefits started.

Oh no, how do I know if that's happening to my claim?

Check your online account regularly. If it goes into adjudication status, you'll see it there. But good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain what's happening.

Actually, if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an agent when my claim was stuck. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Have you tried calling the claims center? Five weeks is definitely not normal unless there's an issue that needs resolution.

tried calling dozens of times, just get busy signals or hung up on after waiting on hold for hours

When can I start filing weekly claims? I don't see that option in my account yet.

You should be able to file weekly claims starting the Sunday after you submit your initial application, even before you get your determination letter.

This is confusing. I thought you had to wait for approval before filing weekly claims?

I didn't know about the SSN thing! My last digit is 7, what day would I get paid?

I think 7 is Wednesday, but double-check the official schedule on the Washington ESD site because I might be remembering wrong.

Every state has different processing times and requirements. Washington actually improved a lot since the pandemic backup.

doesn't feel improved when you're broke and waiting for money that should have come weeks ago

That gives me hope! Did you have any complications or was it pretty straightforward?

Straightforward layoff, had all my documents ready, no disputes from employer. I think that made a big difference.

Where do I set up direct deposit? I don't remember seeing that option when I filed.

Log into your account and look for payment options or account settings. You can add your bank info there.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

The standard requirement is 3 job search activities per week, but check your determination letter when you get it because it might be different based on your situation.

I mentioned this earlier but it's worth repeating - I had success using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them directly. It's not free but it was worth it to finally talk to someone who could explain what was happening with my claim.

At this point I'm willing to try anything. How does it work exactly?

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

How would I check for that? This is my first time filing for unemployment.

Since it's your first claim you should be fine, but it's always good to review your account history for any red flags.

While the system can be frustrating, most claims do get processed within the normal timeframe. The loud complaints online make it seem worse than it is for most people.

easy to say when you're not the one waiting weeks for money you desperately need

I used the company name from my paystubs, hopefully that's correct.

That should be fine. The important thing is that it matches what your employer has in their records when Washington ESD contacts them.

What counts as a valid job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, interviews, creating profiles on job sites. Keep detailed records with dates, company names, and what you did.

You can also count time spent on WorkSourceWA creating your profile and searching for jobs, just make sure to document it properly.

Mine was a straightforward layoff due to company downsizing, so hopefully that helps speed things up.

That's ideal. You should see movement on your claim within the next week or two. Just keep filing those weekly claims and be patient.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's stressful not knowing when to expect anything.

totally understand, I was checking my account multiple times a day when I was waiting. try to stay busy with job searching, it helps pass the time

I'll try that tomorrow morning. What number did you call?

The main claims center number, but honestly those early morning calls fill up fast. That's why some people use services like Claimyr to handle the calling.

I was skeptical about using a paid service to make phone calls, but after wasting days trying to get through myself, Claimyr actually saved me time and stress. Got connected to an agent within an hour.

I just double-checked and my bank info looks right. Hopefully that won't be an issue.

Good thinking. The last thing you want is to have your payment delayed because of a typo in your account number.

Good advice. I've been taking screenshots but haven't been printing anything. Should I print the weekly claim confirmations too?

I would print or save PDFs of anything important. Technology glitches happen and you don't want to lose proof of your filings.