my cousin moved to oregon n kept getting washington unemployment for like 3 months without telling them lol but she got caught eventually and had to pay it all back plus penalties so dont do that!!

Just wanted to add that if you do get approved for standby status, make sure to keep detailed records of everything - your application, approval notice, dates, etc. I've heard of cases where ESD systems glitch and people get flagged for not doing job searches even when they're on approved standby. Having documentation makes it much easier to resolve any issues that come up later. Also, remember that standby doesn't extend your benefit year - you're still using up your claim weeks, just without the job search requirement. Good luck with your move!

Thanks for sharing your solution! Bookmarked that Claimyr service for future reference. Never know when you might need to get through to Washington ESD quickly.

Had the exact same issue last week! My payment was stuck pending for 4 days and I was starting to stress about bills. Turned out there was a random identity verification flag on my account that I had no idea about - the online portal didn't show anything wrong. Only found out when I finally got through to an agent. These system holds seem to be happening more frequently lately. Glad you got yours sorted out Nathan!

Based on your situation, it sounds like you have a strong case for your appeal since you have documentation showing it was a layoff due to company downsizing, not misconduct. I'd recommend trying to handle it yourself first - many people win these appeals without lawyers when they have clear evidence like you do. Make sure to submit your layoff notice and any emails about restructuring to the appeals office before the hearing. If you run into complications or your former employer brings an attorney, you can always hire one for a potential second appeal. The key is being organized and sticking to the facts about why you were actually terminated.

As someone who went through a similar situation, I'd suggest starting by gathering all your documentation first before deciding on a lawyer. Since you have the layoff notice and company downsizing emails, you're already in a much better position than many people who appeal. I'd recommend calling the appeals office to ask about their document submission process - they'll tell you exactly when and how to submit your evidence. If you feel overwhelmed after reviewing everything, you can always consult with an employment attorney for an hour just to get their opinion on your case strength. Many offer free or low-cost initial consultations. But honestly, with clear documentation of a layoff versus misconduct, you might be able to handle this yourself and save the attorney fees.

After going through this whole process, my advice is to treat Sunday weekly claim filing like paying a bill - same time every week, never skip it, always complete and accurate. Set up whatever reminders you need because the system doesn't forgive missed deadlines easily.

One more thing to add - if you're new to filing weekly claims, don't panic if your first payment seems delayed. Sometimes there's an additional processing period for your very first claim even after you've been approved. As long as you're filing every Sunday on time, you should get all your eligible weeks eventually. I learned this the hard way when I kept calling Washington ESD thinking something was wrong, but my first payment just took an extra few days to process.

Based on all the responses here, it's clear that you'll be eligible for unemployment benefits even if you volunteer for the layoff. The consensus from people who've actually gone through this with Washington ESD is that voluntary layoffs are still considered involuntary separations since your employer is the one eliminating positions. I'd recommend taking the severance package if it looks good - you can have both the severance pay and then transition to unemployment benefits afterward. Just make sure to keep all the documentation about the company-initiated workforce reduction and file your UI claim promptly after your last day. Sounds like a win-win situation if the severance is decent!

I'm a former Washington ESD claims examiner and can confirm what everyone here is saying - voluntary layoffs absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits. During my time there, we processed hundreds of these cases and the key factor we looked at was whether the employer initiated the workforce reduction, not whether the employee volunteered to be selected. The legal distinction is clear: layoff = employer eliminates position due to business needs, quit = employee chooses to leave for personal reasons. When you file your claim, select "laid off" as your separation reason and explain in the comments that you were selected from volunteers during a company-initiated downsizing. Keep documentation from your employer about the layoff announcement and you should have no issues with approval.