I'm a newly licensed therapist and this is exactly the kind of situation I'm terrified of encountering as I start my career. Thank you so much for posting this question and to everyone who's shared their experiences - it's incredibly valuable information. From what I'm reading, it sounds like you have a very strong case for unemployment benefits. The consensus seems clear that converting from W2 employee to 1099 contractor represents a fundamental change in your employment relationship, not just a minor adjustment. One thing I wanted to ask - have you considered reaching out to any professional therapy associations for guidance? I know the Washington State Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WSAMFT) sometimes provides resources for members dealing with employment issues. They might have additional insights or even be tracking this trend of healthcare employers converting therapists to contractors. Also, I'm curious if your employer provided any written notice about these changes? In my coursework, we learned that significant changes to employment terms often require proper notice, and documentation of how they communicated this decision could be helpful for your unemployment claim. Best of luck with your filing! Based on all the advice here, it really sounds like you're well-positioned to receive benefits while you search for a proper W2 position.

I'm going through a similar situation right now and want to add some practical advice for navigating the ESD system. After reading through all these responses, I decided to be extremely thorough in my documentation before filing. Here's what I gathered that might help your case: - Screenshots of your current job posting/description showing you as a W2 employee - The email/documentation about position elimination and 1099 offer - A side-by-side comparison of current benefits vs. what you'd lose (health insurance, PTO hours, guaranteed salary, etc.) - Any communication where they acknowledge this is a "different arrangement" or "new opportunity" I also called my former coworkers who went through contractor conversions at other clinics. Every single one who declined the 1099 conversion and filed for unemployment was approved, though a few had to go through adjudication first. One more tip - when you do get through to ESD (definitely try Claimyr like others suggested), ask them to make notes in your file about the conversation. This creates a paper trail that can help if your employer contests the claim later. You're absolutely doing the right thing prioritizing stable employment with benefits for your family. The healthcare industry's push toward contractor conversion is really problematic, and I hope ESD continues to recognize these situations for what they really are - layoffs disguised as "opportunities.

I waited to file my first claim and it was a HUGE mistake! ESD questioned why there was a gap between when I was approved and when I started filing. Had to go through adjudication for 5 weeks before I got a single payment! Don't make my mistake!

Just want to add my experience to help clarify things! I was in a similar situation last year and started filing immediately after approval, even though I had a final paycheck coming. The key is being completely transparent about ALL income you receive. When I filed my weekly claim, I reported my final paycheck amount and ESD automatically calculated my reduced benefit for that week. It worked out fine and I didn't have any issues. The important thing is don't create gaps in your filing - file every week even if you think you might not be eligible due to income. Let ESD do the calculations for you!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a newcomer to unemployment benefits and seeing "Processing-IVR" on my claim this morning sent me into a panic. Reading through everyone's experiences here really helps clarify that it's just a technical status indicating phone system interaction, not something to immediately worry about. Sofia, thank you so much for updating with your resolution - it's such a relief to see a success story! The fact that your real issue was a hidden employer response problem that wasn't visible in your account is really important for others to know. Connor's troubleshooting checklist is also fantastic - I'm going to work through all those steps. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate such a confusing system. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

I'm new to unemployment benefits and just saw "Processing-IVR" appear on my claim today after I called to verify my identity yesterday. This thread is so helpful - I was getting really worried about what it meant! Reading everyone's experiences here, especially Sofia's success story, gives me hope that this is just a normal part of the process when you interact with ESD by phone instead of online. It's reassuring to know that the status itself isn't the problem, but I'll definitely keep Connor's checklist in mind and be proactive about calling if my payments don't come through in a reasonable timeframe. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this community is invaluable for navigating such a confusing system!

Hope this helps everyone! The key is persistence and having multiple strategies. Don't rely on just one approach - try calling at different times, use the messaging system, and consider services like Claimyr if you're really stuck.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months now and here's what I've learned: The main number 800-318-6022 is correct, but timing is everything. I've had the best luck calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - set multiple alarms and start dialing right on the dot. Also, if you get through to the automated system, don't hang up even if it says they're experiencing high call volume. Sometimes you'll get placed in a callback queue where they'll call you back within a few hours instead of making you wait on hold. Save yourself the headache and have your SSN, claim number, and recent employer info ready before you even dial.

One more helpful tip - set a weekly reminder on your phone or calendar to file your claim! I use Sunday at 7 AM so I never forget. Missing even one week can really complicate things, and it's so easy to lose track of time when you're dealing with unemployment stress. The consistency helps make it feel less overwhelming too.

Just want to add - when you're filing your weekly claim, pay attention to the questions about being "able and available" for work. If you're sick or have other circumstances that prevent you from working that week, you need to answer honestly. I made the mistake of saying I was available when I had the flu, and it caused issues later when they cross-referenced with my job search activities (or lack thereof that week). It's better to be truthful even if it affects that week's benefits than to risk having problems down the road.