Pro tip: if you get denied for any reason, appeal immediately. Don't wait. The appeal deadlines are strict and you can't get benefits while waiting for an appeal hearing if you miss the deadline.

The reality is that unemployment benefits aren't designed to fully replace your income. They're meant to provide temporary assistance while you look for work. Most people need to make significant budget adjustments to make it work.

This whole thread has been super helpful. I'm in a similar situation and didn't realize there were so many factors to consider. Going to start documenting things better and maybe try that Claimyr service to get some official guidance from ESD.

I went through this exact situation about 18 months ago. The key thing that helped me get approved was keeping a detailed log - I wrote down every incident with dates, times, what was said/done, and who witnessed it. I also saved any emails or texts that showed the pattern of behavior. When I finally quit and applied for benefits, I had a 3-page timeline that clearly showed the escalating harassment. It took about 4 weeks for approval but having that documentation made all the difference. Start building your paper trail now, even if you're not sure you'll quit - you can always decide not to use it later.

One more thing to add - even if you have to appeal a decision, those hearing records are also confidential. Only becomes public if you choose to take it to court, which almost never happens.

I had the same concerns when I was laid off last year. After doing research and speaking with ESD directly, I can confirm that your unemployment records are absolutely confidential. Washington state has strong privacy laws protecting this information - RCW 50.13.060 specifically prohibits disclosure of individual claim information except to authorized parties. Even if a potential employer somehow tried to access this info, they legally cannot, and ESD faces serious penalties for unauthorized disclosure. The only people who can see your claim details are you, your authorized representative, and ESD staff who need the information to process your claim. Don't let privacy concerns prevent you from accessing benefits you've earned through your payroll contributions.

Bottom line - yes, Washington ESD will contact your employer, but it's completely routine and nothing to stress about. Focus on filing your weekly claims on time and meeting any job search requirements. The employer verification is just one step in the process.

I can confirm from personal experience that Washington ESD does contact employers automatically - it's part of their standard verification process. When I filed my claim about 6 months ago, my former HR department told me they received the separation request form within about a week of my filing. The good news is that if you were laid off due to budget cuts like you mentioned, that's pretty straightforward for them to verify and shouldn't cause any delays. Most employers are very familiar with these requests and handle them routinely. Try not to worry too much about it - you're entitled to these benefits and there's nothing inappropriate about filing for unemployment after a layoff.

Hope your claim goes smoothly! The waiting is the worst part but once you get through the initial processing it gets more routine. File early and often (your weekly claims) and you should be good to go.

I went through this exact same situation last year after getting laid off from my tech job. The key thing is to file immediately - don't second guess yourself! I filed the day after my last day of work and was glad I did because the whole process took longer than expected. Make sure you have your Social Security card handy and write down all your previous employer info before you start the application. The online system will time out if you take too long gathering documents mid-application. Also, set up direct deposit right away so you don't have to wait for checks in the mail once your benefits start. Good luck!