r/UnemploymentWA • u/vkapadia • Dec 01 '25

RESOLVED Claim Start Date

Hi, I have a question.

I work from home, so this is all done at home, not at any office.

I joined the morning meeting like always. A little after, my manager called me and let me know that I have been laid off. They said they would pay me for the month of December.

Do I apply for unemployment today? Wait until tomorrow? Sunday?

I started the application. It is asking "You are applying for benefits this week, so your claim year start date is Nov 30 2025. Is this the date you want your claim to start?" Do I start it today? Tomorrow? Sunday?

Thanks.

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u/SoThenIThought_ Admin for WEBA.Law, WA Unemployment Benefits Dec 01 '25

as per the handbook and website, the soonest you can apply is the sunday following the job separation

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3

u/grapegeek Dec 01 '25

You start the week after your last paycheck.

1

u/vkapadia Dec 01 '25

They don't pay me until close to the end of the month. They laid me off today but they will pay me for December. So I can't apply until the end of January?

1

u/grapegeek Dec 01 '25

First week you don’t get paid.

1

u/vkapadia Dec 01 '25

Ok but when does that "first week" start? What do I put for my claim start date?

Today, since they laid me off today? Tomorrow, since that's my first non-working day? This coming Sunday 12/7, since that's the first Sunday since I stopped working? January 1, since I'm being paid through December? January 4, since that's the first Sunday after that? January 28, since that's the first Sunday after I'll receive my December paycheck?

1

u/grapegeek Dec 01 '25

I just got laid off in September (thanks Seattle Childrens!) they paid me through November 15th. I got my last paycheck was November 21st. I was sent home and did nothing for two months but I can’t start the process until the week after my last paycheck. Which was the week ending November 30th. Why would you wait a month? The unemployment cycle is weekly not monthly. Read the handbook.

1

u/vkapadia Dec 01 '25

I'm not saying I'd wait a month for the unemployment cycle. You said not until last paycheck. I am going to be paid for December, meaning my last paycheck will come in January. I get paid the end of the month (around the 24th or so) for the previous month. So around this December 24th, I'll get my November pay. Then around January 24th, I'll get my December pay. That's why, according to your statement, I'm thinking I'll have to wait until end of January.