Honestly this thread is making me feel better about my own unemployment experience. It's nice to know other people have gone through the same confusion and stress.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year. I was laid off from my warehouse job and made the mistake of waiting almost a month to apply because I kept thinking they might call me back. Lost out on about $1,200 in benefits that I never got back. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the timeline - you can file up to a year after your separation date, but you only get paid for the weeks you actually file claims for. So even though you have a year to start your initial claim, every week you wait is money lost forever. My advice is to file today if you haven't already, and don't look back. Even if your employer does call you back to work, you can always stop filing weekly claims at that point. But at least you'll have the safety net in place!

Hope your claim goes smoothly OP! The Washington ESD system can be confusing but understanding how it's funded is a good first step in understanding your rights and benefits.

This whole discussion has been really enlightening! I had no idea there were both state and federal components to unemployment insurance funding. It makes me appreciate how much goes on behind the scenes to support workers when they lose their jobs. The experience-rating system for employers is particularly interesting - it creates real financial incentives for companies to avoid layoffs when possible. Thanks everyone for breaking down such a complex system in easy-to-understand terms!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - don't panic! I was in almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago. Got disqualified for "misconduct" after what I felt was a completely unfair termination. The disqualification notice is intentionally scary and confusing, but it's not the end of the world. Here's what helped me: First, I appealed within the 30-day window (this is critical - don't miss that deadline). Second, I gathered every piece of documentation I could find - text messages, emails, witness contact info, company policies, everything. Third, I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though I wasn't getting paid - this saved me when I eventually won my appeal and got 12 weeks of back pay. The hearing itself was actually pretty fair - the judge let me tell my whole story and really listened. Your case about defending yourself from an abusive customer sounds like it has real merit. Customer service workers have rights too, and employers can't just label any response to harassment as "misconduct." Fight this - you've got more support and options than you realize right now.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - getting a disqualification notice is absolutely terrifying and the language they use makes it sound so final. I went through something similar last year when I got fired from my customer service job for what my manager called "insubordination" - really I was just trying to follow company policy when she wanted me to break it. The disqualification notice made me panic for weeks before I realized I had options. Here's what I wish someone had told me right away: this is likely a temporary penalty, not a permanent ban. Most misconduct disqualifications in Washington are 7-10 weeks of forfeited benefits, then you can collect again if still unemployed. But definitely appeal this - defending yourself from an abusive customer is NOT misconduct under Washington law. Customer service workers have the right to protect themselves from harassment and abuse. Keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process even though you won't get paid right now - if you win, you'll get all that back pay. I know it feels hopeless but you have real options here. Document everything you remember about the incident while it's still fresh, and don't let your employer's version be the only one the state hears.

Hope you get it figured out OP! Let us know what Washington ESD says when you contact them. These benefit reduction issues seem to be happening more often lately.

I had a similar issue a few months ago where my benefits dropped unexpectedly. In my case, it turned out Washington ESD had re-evaluated my base period wages after receiving updated information from one of my previous employers. The frustrating part was that the change happened before I received any notification about it. I'd recommend checking your payment history details first to see if there's any breakdown showing deductions or adjustments. If that doesn't clarify things, you'll probably need to call - I know it's a pain but it's really the only way to get a definitive answer about what triggered the change.

One more thing to know: if your standby request is denied, you'll get a letter explaining why. You have 30 days to appeal that decision if you think it's incorrect. In the meantime, start doing your 3 job search activities each week and documenting them, because if your standby is denied, they'll require proof of job searches for any weeks you've claimed benefits.

Just went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with my electrical contractor! Got laid off for what they said would be 4-6 weeks while waiting on materials. Here's what I learned: Make sure your employer submits their portion ASAP - that's usually what causes delays. My boss dragged his feet for a week before filling out the employer verification form, which pushed my approval back. Once he finally submitted it, my standby was approved in 3 business days. Also, double-check that your employer marked you as "temporarily separated" not "permanently laid off" - that distinction matters a lot for standby eligibility. Good luck!