Don't wait for your final paystub - file right away! You can always provide additional documentation later if Washington ESD requests it. The key is getting your application in as soon as possible since there can already be delays in processing. Most of the essential info they need initially is stuff you already know - your employer details, last day worked, reason for separation, etc. Your final paystub will mainly just confirm wage information they can verify through other means. I made the mistake of waiting a few extra days to get "everything perfect" and wished I had just filed immediately. Every day you delay is potentially a day longer before you see your first payment.

I'm in the exact same boat - filed my application on Monday after getting laid off from a retail management position due to company restructuring. The waiting and not knowing is definitely the worst part! What I've found helpful from reading this thread is that it sounds like most people do get through the process eventually, even when there are delays. I'm trying to focus on the things I can control - keeping detailed records of my job search activities, making sure I file my weekly claims on time, and having all my employment documentation organized just in case they need it. It's scary not knowing when that first payment will come through, but hearing from people like Fernanda who got approved in 2 weeks and Hattie who got paid in just 8 days gives me hope that it could move quickly if everything goes smoothly. We've got this!

Perfect summary. This gives me exactly what I need for my business planning. Thanks everyone!

Good luck with your business growth! Managing payroll taxes gets easier once you get into a routine.

Yes, they definitely provided a new employer timeline! They gave us a really helpful checklist that breaks down everything by when you need to do it. You have to register within 30 days of becoming liable (basically when you first pay wages), and your first quarterly report is due by the last day of the month following the end of the quarter where you first paid wages. So if you start paying employees in February, your first report covers Q1 and is due April 30th. They also emphasized that even if you have zero wages to report in a quarter, you still need to file a report saying so. The workshop materials included a calendar showing all the quarterly due dates for the year, which was super useful for planning ahead.

This workshop information is exactly what I've been looking for! As a complete newcomer to employment taxes, I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed trying to figure out all the Washington ESD requirements on my own. The fact that they offer free structured training specifically for new employers sounds like a lifesaver. I'm planning to hire my first employee in the next couple months, so the timing would be perfect. Do you remember if they also covered what documentation you need to keep for audits, and for how long? I want to make sure I'm setting up good record-keeping practices from the start rather than trying to fix things later.

Already done! Thanks for all the advice everyone. This community is amazing.

Good luck with your claim! The first few weeks are always the most uncertain but it gets easier once you establish the routine.

This is really good advice! I worked in Oregon for part of last year before moving to Washington, so I should definitely check if those wages are included. How do I request a wage review if something is missing?

You can request a wage review by contacting Washington ESD directly or submitting a wage protest through your SecureAccess Washington account. If you have pay stubs or W-2s from your Oregon job, gather those as documentation. The interstate wage transfer process can take some time, so definitely get this sorted out as soon as possible. I had a similar situation with wages from California and it added a few weeks to my processing time, but it was worth it because it increased my weekly benefit amount significantly.

Agreed! This whole discussion should be bookmarked for future reference.

@Amara Nnamani Thank you so much for sharing this! I ve'been struggling with the same issue and getting nowhere with the ESD phone lines. Quick question about the Department of Revenue number - when you called 360-705-6741, did you need to have your quarterly tax notice with you, or just basic business information? I want to make sure I have everything ready before calling. Also, do you know if they can help with questions about wage calculations or is that something I d'still need to contact ESD directly for?

@Amara Nnamani This is a game changer! I ve'been stuck in phone tree hell with ESD for weeks. Just to make sure I understand - when you call that Department of Revenue number 360-705-6741 (,)do you ask specifically for unemployment tax help or do they automatically know to transfer you to the right department? And did you need your EIN and that account number from the quarterly notice, or just basic business info? Want to have everything ready so I don t'waste their time. Really appreciate you sharing the direct line!

Totally agree! This thread should be pinned or something because this seems to be such a common issue. I'm bookmarking it too. It's honestly embarrassing that Washington state's unemployment system is so broken that people have to resort to paying third-party services just to access their own benefits. The fact that there's even a market for services like Claimyr shows how badly ESD has failed at basic customer service. At least now we have a roadmap for dealing with this specific problem - thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

This is incredibly helpful from an IT perspective! I'm new to this community but dealing with what sounds like the exact same issue - my claim was approved 3 weeks ago but no weekly filing option anywhere. Reading through this thread has been a lifesaver because I was starting to think I was going crazy or missing something obvious. The fact that this is a known system synchronization issue makes me feel so much better, and having the specific terminology ("system-prevented filing" case) will definitely help when I finally get through to someone. Definitely going to document everything like you suggested and probably try that Claimyr service if I can't get through by Monday. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is amazing!