One more tip - keep all your documentation organized. If there are any questions about your claim later, having everything ready will make resolving issues much faster.

Just wanted to add that while there's no waiting week, make sure you understand the difference between when you file your claim and when you actually start receiving payments. The elimination of the waiting week means you're eligible for benefits from your first week of unemployment, but there's still the normal processing time before you see any money. I'd recommend having at least 3-4 weeks of expenses saved if possible to bridge that gap. Also, keep track of all your job search activities from day one - the requirement starts immediately even while your claim is being processed.

Bottom line - be honest about your severance when you file, understand that it will likely delay your benefits, but still file your claim right away. The system is complicated but at least it's predictable once you understand the rules.

I just want to add that the timing of when you receive your severance payment can also matter. If your employer pays it out over multiple pay periods instead of all at once, Washington ESD might treat each payment separately. I had a colleague who got their severance split across two months and it affected their benefit timeline differently than a single lump sum would have. Definitely worth asking your HR department about the payment schedule when you're reporting it to ESD.

If it's been 8 days since employer verification and you parted on good terms, there's a good chance they've already responded positively. ESD is currently processing standard claims in about 14-21 days after employer verification, based on what I've seen in recent cases. One thing to note: if your claim shows 'pending' rather than 'adjudication in progress,' that's actually a good sign. Pending typically means they're just working through the queue, while adjudication means there's some specific issue they're investigating. If you don't hear anything by the end of week 4 (from initial filing), then it would be reasonable to try contacting them directly for a status update.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed 3 weeks ago and they contacted my employer 6 days ago. Also laid off due to "restructuring" and left on good terms. The waiting is killing me - I keep refreshing eServices hoping something will change. At least it sounds like we're both in the normal timeframe based on what others are saying here. Fingers crossed we both hear back soon!

Keep documenting everything for Washington ESD and don't get discouraged. The job market is tougher than the numbers suggest but you'll find something eventually. Focus on what you can control - your applications, your skills, and your persistence.

I'm going through the exact same thing - 4 months of searching with barely any callbacks despite the "great job market" everyone talks about. What's really frustrating is that employers seem to have gotten pickier while still complaining they can't find workers. I've started wondering if companies are just posting jobs to look like they're hiring but not actually filling positions. The disconnect between the unemployment stats and reality for job seekers is huge.

Last thought - if you're really concerned about future payment timing, you could always file a day earlier than your deadline to give yourself more buffer time before bills are due.

I've been on unemployment for about 6 months now and can confirm the timing is super consistent. Mine hits my credit union account every Tuesday night around 11pm if I file Sunday evening. The key is just getting into a routine - I always file at the same time each week and know exactly when to expect the money. It definitely gets less stressful once you're used to the schedule!