My friend works at ESD (not posting officially) and says that over 70% of layoff claims go through with no issues as long as you document properly. Most employers don't contest legitimate layoffs because they know they'll lose and their unemployment insurance rates are affected by layoffs regardless of whether they contest. He says to just be honest, upload documentation, and don't worry too much unless you actually receive an adjudication notice.

One important thing to understand is that the separation form is actually for YOUR protection in the process. It gives you the opportunity to document your side of the story BEFORE any potential issues arise. Make sure you: - Use clear, factual language (no emotions or accusations) - Specify it was a layoff due to budget cuts/reduction in force - Include the names of managers who informed you - Note that others were also laid off (if applicable) - Upload your layoff notice - List any severance or final payments you received This creates a solid record that makes it much harder for an employer to successfully contest later. Many claimants make the mistake of providing vague information on this form, which can lead to unnecessary adjudication delays.

sorry about ur layoff but congrats on the baby! my sister just had one too! one thing nobody mentioned - make sure ur resume is updated ASAP cuz the job search requirements start right away! u have to do 3 activities every week and keep a log. if u dont they can deny ur benefits even if u were approved!

Quick update on the job search requirements that were mentioned: While you do need to complete 3 job search activities per week, know that these activities can include more than just applying for jobs. They can also include: - Attending job fairs - Creating profiles on employment websites - Meeting with career counselors - Taking skills assessments or training courses - Networking events Also, WorkSource Washington offers free resources to help with your job search and they count toward your required activities. Regarding childcare: Washington has childcare subsidies available for job seekers. You can check eligibility through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families website.

the reason its 820 hours is because washington state hates part time workers lol. But srsly I think it has to do with how the program is funded through payroll taxes or something. I know oregon and some other states are lower. But ur at 25hrs x 4 weeks x 8 months = 800 hours so ur close? maybe pick up some extra shifts if u can before applying

ALSO IMPORTANT: Make sure you're checking your QUALIFYING PERIOD correctly! If your mom's surgery is next month (assuming March 2025), your qualifying period would likely be either: 1. The first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters (Q4 2023, Q1 2024, Q2 2024, Q3 2024) OR 2. The last 4 completed quarters (Q1 2024, Q2 2024, Q3 2024, Q4 2024) You can use whichever gives you more hours. The ESD site has a calculator that helps determine this.

To answer your follow-up question - when you do reach an ESD agent, have this information ready: 1. Your claim ID number 2. The specific week (date range) where your job search log is stuck in draft 3. Details of your job search activities for that week 4. Screenshots or documentation if possible Make sure to specifically ask them to add a note to your claim about the job search log technical issue. Also ask them to confirm that your weekly benefits won't be affected by this. In my experience, as long as you did actually perform the job search activities and can document them, ESD is reasonable about system limitations. The key is getting through to actually speak with someone.

Just as a follow-up since I saw your question - when I used Claimyr to reach ESD about my job search log issue, they got me through to an agent in the claims department. The agent asked for my SSN, claim ID, and the specific week I was having trouble with. They confirmed I could still receive benefits as long as I actually did the job search activities, even if the system wouldn't let me submit the log retroactively. The whole call took about 15 minutes once I got through.

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! The agent confirmed I was underpaid throughout my claim. They're going to issue a supplemental payment for all weeks I claimed (23 weeks total). The difference comes out to about $1650 before taxes that I'm owed! She said it should be deposited within 5-7 business days. Thanks everyone for your help figuring this out - I would have just assumed I was out of luck if I hadn't posted here.

This is a great reminder for everyone to carefully review their initial monetary determination and compare it to the actual payments received. ESD's system doesn't always correctly apply the WBA calculation, especially if you had multiple employers or irregular earnings in your base year. For anyone else reading this: you can request a redetermination of your weekly benefit amount at any time during your benefit year if you think there's an error. Don't wait until your benefits expire like the original poster did - the sooner you catch these issues, the faster they can be resolved.