


Ask the community...
One last tip - make sure you're ready to start your job search requirements right away if you get approved. Washington ESD requires you to be actively looking for work and you'll need to log your job search activities.
Really hope everything works out for you OP. Being fired is stressful enough without having to worry about whether you can get unemployment benefits. Sounds like you should be fine based on what you've described.
The whole situation is just so stressful. Between keeping up with the Washington ESD requirements, job searching, interviews, and trying to stay positive, it feels like a full-time job that doesn't pay. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing something fundamentally wrong.
That feeling is so normal. Unemployment affects your self-worth in ways that are hard to explain to people who haven't been through it. You're not doing anything wrong - the job market is just challenging right now.
Final thought - keep track of your small wins along the way. Got a phone interview? That's progress. Had a good networking conversation? That's progress. Applied to a job you're really excited about? Progress. The big win (job offer) is made up of lots of smaller wins.
I made decent money but it was all in the first half of last year. Then I had a lower paying job for a few months before getting laid off. Will they use my higher earnings or more recent ones?
Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been way more helpful than the Washington ESD website. I feel much better about filing my claim now.
Honestly, I used that Claimyr thing too when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to reach someone. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get things moving.
Bottom line - apply for benefits and let Washington ESD make the determination. You've got documentation, you tried to resolve it internally, and you had legitimate reasons for leaving. That's exactly the kind of situation the good cause exception is designed for.
Isabella Silva
Just remember to file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed. Missing weeks can cause delays and you might not be able to get those benefits later.
0 coins
Amara Nwosu
•How do I file weekly claims if my main claim isn't approved yet?
0 coins
Isabella Silva
•You can still file them online. If your claim gets approved, you'll get paid for all the weeks you filed. If it gets denied, you just don't get paid but there's no penalty for filing.
0 coins
Ravi Choudhury
The Washington ESD website has gotten better over the years but it's still confusing. I always recommend people read through the handbook they have online - it explains everything in more detail than the FAQ section.
0 coins
CosmosCaptain
•Where is this handbook? I've been all over their website and haven't seen it.
0 coins
Ravi Choudhury
•It's under the 'Resources' section, called something like 'Unemployment Insurance Handbook' or 'Claimant Handbook'. Has way more detail than the basic eligibility pages.
0 coins