One last thing - if you're ever unsure about something, it's better to call Washington ESD and ask than to guess wrong. I know the phones are busy but it's worth it for peace of mind.

Just to add to all the great advice here - I've been driving for UberEats while on unemployment for about 6 weeks now. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to keep a simple weekly log of your earnings right when you get them. I take a screenshot of my weekly earnings summary from the Uber app every Sunday night before I file my weekly claim on Monday. That way I never have to scramble to remember what I made or worry about reporting the wrong amount. Also, don't stress too much about the dollar-for-dollar reduction - even if you make $200 from Uber one week, you're still coming out ahead financially compared to just the unemployment benefits alone. Just stay honest with your reporting and you'll be fine!

Don't forget that in addition to your regular unemployment benefits, you might also qualify for the extra $25 per dependent per week if you have kids. Doesn't change the advice about filing immediately, but worth knowing when budgeting for after your severance ends!

Just went through this exact situation myself! Got laid off in November with 6 weeks severance. Filed my initial claim the Monday after my last day even though my severance was higher than UI benefits. The key thing is you HAVE to keep filing those weekly claims during severance or they'll consider your claim abandoned. I made the mistake of skipping a couple weeks thinking "why bother if I'm getting $0" and had to call ESD to reactivate. Also heads up - they might ask for documentation of your severance agreement, so keep that handy. The good news is once your severance ends, the benefits kick in automatically if you've been filing consistently. Definitely don't wait until March like I almost did!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm feeling much more confident about starting the refile process now.

Just want to add that when you refile, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready - pay stubs, W-2s, or 1099s from any work you did since your last claim started. Washington ESD may ask for verification of your wages, and having everything organized ahead of time can really speed up the process. I learned this the hard way when my refile got delayed because I couldn't find documentation for a short-term contract job I'd forgotten about.

One important thing to note: even if they decide by the end of the week, it might not immediately show up in your account or result in payment. There can be a processing delay of a few days between decision and payment. Also, if approved, they'll pay you retroactively for all eligible weeks, so you won't lose any money due to this delay. The call you received is actually a positive sign that your claim is being actively worked on rather than sitting in the backlog.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago! ESD called me for what felt like the same exact questions I'd already answered in my initial application. In my case, they were just verifying details because my former employer had reported slightly different information than what I had provided. The whole thing felt really intimidating, but it turned out to be completely routine. I got my approval letter exactly 5 days after the call, and like others have mentioned, I received back pay for all the weeks I'd been waiting. The fact that they gave you a specific timeline is actually a really good sign - it means your case isn't complicated and they're just doing their due diligence. Try not to stress too much over the weekend!

Good luck with your claim! The whole process seems intimidating at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Most people who qualify for benefits get approved without any major issues.

The employer verification process is really standard - I went through it last year when I was laid off from my tech job. Washington ESD sent my former employer a basic form asking about my employment dates, wages, and reason for separation. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's actually one of the clearest qualifying reasons for unemployment benefits. Your employer will likely just confirm the layoff was due to business reasons, which supports your claim. The whole verification usually takes about a week, and then you should hear back about your claim status. Don't stress too much about it - layoffs due to budget constraints are pretty straightforward for Washington ESD to process.