Why is there a waiting period for unemployment benefits in Washington?

So I file the weekly claim but don't get paid for it? That seems backwards.

Exactly. You file it to establish your benefit year and keep your claim active, but that first week is always unpaid.

That's pretty harsh for people who actually need help immediately though.

I agree it's tough, but most states have similar waiting periods. It's been part of the UI system for decades.

I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Is that legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it worked for me. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

The waiting period waiver ended when the federal emergency declarations ended. We're back to the normal one-week waiting period as of 2023.

Ugh, that sucks. The waiver was one of the few good things that came out of that mess.

I mean, I get being frustrated but yelling in caps doesn't help me understand the system better.

sorry, just really fed up with Washington ESD right now. Been fighting them for months on an overpayment issue.

What's standby status? Is that different from regular unemployment?

Standby is when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to call you back within a specific timeframe. You don't have to do job searches but you have to be available to return to work immediately.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved after you filed?

about 2 weeks but i had a simple case. no complications or anything

In theory being the key phrase there. My claim took 6 weeks to process even with the waiting period.

True, the waiting period doesn't guarantee fast processing. Adjudication issues can still cause delays.

Exactly right. Week 1 is your waiting period week - you file it but it's unpaid. Week 2 and beyond are payable if you're eligible.

Got it. Thanks for explaining this clearly.

The website is terrible at explaining most things. I've learned more from forums like this than from their official info.

Same here. Real people explaining things in plain English beats government jargon every time.

I tried Claimyr after you mentioned it and actually got through to someone at Washington ESD the same day. Worth it for me.

How much does something like that cost though?

I focused more on the time savings than the cost. Getting my claim resolved was worth way more than what I spent.

Actually, most states still have waiting periods. Only a handful have eliminated them completely.

Still doesn't make it right. People need help immediately when they lose their jobs.

If you're initially disqualified and then win your appeal, you still have to serve the waiting period for your first payable week. The appeal doesn't waive the waiting period requirement.

ugh that's annoying but good to know

Good attitude. Make sure you keep filing consistently even during the waiting period to avoid any issues with your claim.

Will do. This forum has been way more helpful than the Washington ESD website.

That's good to know. Hopefully I won't need to use that information though!

Ha, fingers crossed for you. But it's good info to have just in case.

Oregon actually does have a one-week waiting period, same as Washington. Your cousin might be thinking of something else or had special circumstances.

oh weird maybe i misunderstood what they were saying

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Good thing I asked about this before I was counting on that first week's payment.

Smart thinking. Always better to know what to expect with Washington ESD.

Is this like a calling service or what exactly do they do?

They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when you can't reach them through normal channels. Super helpful when you're stuck.

Definitely helped! Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain things clearly.

Great summary. This should be pinned for future reference.