Hope you get this sorted out quickly! These kinds of claim issues are so stressful when you're already dealing with being unemployed. Let us know what happens when you call Washington ESD.

I had a similar "ineligible week" issue a few months ago and it was nerve-wracking! In my case, it turned out to be because I had reported being "unable to work" one day due to illness, but I answered the question incorrectly. Even though I was only sick for one day and could work the rest of the week, the way I answered made it look like I was unavailable for the entire week. The key is to be very careful about how you interpret those weekly questions - they're asking about your availability for the ENTIRE week, not just individual days. When I called Washington ESD (took several tries to get through), they explained that if you're unavailable for work for any reason during the week, you need to report it very specifically or it can flag the whole week as ineligible. They were able to correct it once I explained what happened. Definitely call as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the more complicated it can become to resolve.

Final advice - don't wait to file. The sooner you get your claim started with Washington ESD, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. Business closure is a legitimate reason for unemployment, so you should have no problem qualifying.

Sorry to hear about your company closing, Sofia. That's always stressful! The good news is that business closure absolutely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in Washington. Since you're losing your job through no fault of your own, you meet the basic eligibility requirements. Make sure to file your claim on or after your last day of work - you can do it online at the Washington ESD website. Keep records of your final pay stub and any written notice about the closure. The process should be straightforward since there's no question about why you're unemployed. Don't stress too much about it - this is exactly the kind of situation unemployment insurance is designed to help with!

Quick update on the rules: For 2025, ESD updated their guidelines a bit. After the first 10 weeks of unemployment, you're expected to consider jobs paying at least 80% of your previous wage. After 15 weeks, this drops to 75%. Only after 20+ weeks are you expected to consider positions below 70% of your previous wage. Since you're only at week 6 and the offer is 50% of your previous wage, you're well within your rights to decline. The requirement to pay for your own training strengthens your case further. Keep up with your job search activities (minimum 3 per week) and document everything carefully!

I went through something very similar last year - was making $78K in marketing and got offered a $35K retail management position that required me to complete unpaid training for 2 weeks before starting. I was terrified about declining it, but after consulting with an ESD agent, I learned that the unpaid training requirement alone made it "unsuitable work." Key things that helped my case: - The job required personal financial investment (your $750 certification) - Salary was less than 50% of previous wage - Completely different career field - I had only been unemployed for 7 weeks I reported it honestly on my weekly claim, attached the job offer email, and included a brief explanation. ESD approved my decision within a week with no issues. The agent even told me that employers who require workers to pay upfront costs are often trying to take advantage of desperate job seekers. You made the right call declining this offer. Keep documenting your job search efforts and applying for positions in your field. The fact that you're only 6 weeks in and they offered you something requiring out-of-pocket expenses makes this a pretty clear-cut case of unsuitable work.

Just wanted to add that when you're reporting your severance payments each week, make sure you're reporting the gross amount (before taxes) not the net amount you actually receive. Washington ESD bases their calculations on the gross severance amount. I made this mistake initially and had to correct it later, which caused some confusion in my claim. The weekly claim form should be pretty clear about this, but it's worth mentioning since tax withholdings can make the amounts look quite different.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation but with a twist - my company is paying my severance through their regular payroll system over 8 weeks, but they're also continuing my health insurance during that time. Does anyone know if the continued health insurance coverage affects how Washington ESD views the severance payments? I want to make sure I understand the full picture before I file my claim. From everything I've read here, it sounds like I should still file immediately and report the weekly severance amounts, but I'm wondering if the insurance continuation adds any complications to the process.

The whole system is confusing but at least Washington has decent benefits compared to other states. Could be worse I guess.

I'm new to the unemployment system and this thread has been super informative! One thing I'm still unclear on - when they calculate your base period wages, do they use gross wages or net wages after taxes? I want to make sure I'm estimating my potential benefit correctly before I file.