This has been such an informative discussion! I'm a seasonal worker at a Christmas tree farm and had no idea I could collect unemployment during the slow months. I've been working there for two winters now and always assumed seasonal employees weren't eligible for benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me confidence to file a claim this spring. It's frustrating how little information is out there specifically for seasonal workers - you really have to dig to find clear answers. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!

I've been working seasonal river rafting tours for the past 4 years and just discovered through this thread that I could have been collecting unemployment during winter months! Can't believe I've been missing out on this. My season runs April through October and I always scrape by during the off months doing random gig work. Question for those who've been filing - do you need to report the occasional one-off jobs like helping someone move or doing yard work for cash? I want to make sure I do this right when I file my first claim this winter.

Vincent, I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my manufacturing benefits ran out after 26 weeks. It's incredibly stressful, I know. Unfortunately, everyone here is right - there are no extensions available beyond the standard 26 weeks in Washington state right now. The pandemic programs ended years ago, and Extended Benefits only trigger when unemployment rates hit specific thresholds we haven't reached. However, I want to echo what others said about exploring WorkSource retraining programs IMMEDIATELY while you still have benefits. I got into an industrial maintenance certification program that was 10 weeks and completely covered by WorkSource. With your aerospace background, you'd be perfect for programs in precision manufacturing, quality control, or CNC operation. Also, definitely look into temp agencies like Aerotek and Randstad - they have strong connections with Boeing suppliers and other manufacturers who value aerospace experience. The partial unemployment option is huge too - you can work temp jobs and still collect reduced benefits. Don't lose hope, this forced transition might actually open better opportunities than what you had before!

I'm really sorry you're going through this Vincent - I was in a similar situation about a year ago when my benefits were running out. Unfortunately, what everyone else has said is correct - there are no extensions available beyond the standard 26 weeks in Washington state right now. The federal pandemic programs ended back in September 2021, and Washington's unemployment rate hasn't hit the thresholds needed to trigger Extended Benefits. That said, I'd strongly recommend using one of those callback services like Claimyr that people mentioned to get official confirmation from Washington ESD about your exact situation. Sometimes there are small details about benefit year calculations that can give you an extra week or two that you weren't expecting. More importantly, start exploring those WorkSource retraining programs NOW while you still have a few weeks of benefits left. I ended up getting certified in lean manufacturing principles through a 8-week program that WorkSource completely covered. With your aerospace background, you'd probably be a great candidate for programs in quality control, precision manufacturing, or even project management certifications. The temp agency route is solid too - companies like Aerotek specifically work with aerospace suppliers and they understand the value of your experience. Plus, you can work temp jobs and still collect partial unemployment benefits, which really helps during the transition. Don't give up hope - sometimes these forced career pivots end up leading to better opportunities than what we had before. The key is being proactive about exploring your options while you still have that safety net of benefits coming in.

I'm in week 8 of my claim and just received my SEAP invitation letter yesterday! Reading through this thread has been so helpful in understanding what to expect. For those still waiting - don't give up hope. I was starting to think I wouldn't get selected since I'm in construction like @Brielle Johnson, but apparently they do consider our industry. A few things I learned from my initial call with the SEAP coordinator: - The business plan doesn't have to be super detailed in the application, but you need to show you've thought it through - They really want to see how your existing skills transfer to the new business - Local market need is important - they asked specific questions about competition in my area For anyone doing research while waiting, I found the SCORE mentorship program really helpful for getting free business advice. Also, the SBA website has tons of resources for market analysis and financial projections. I'm nervous about the approval process after the invitation, but feeling more confident after reading @Gael Robinson's experience. Will definitely emphasize the project management angle in my application. Thanks everyone for sharing - this community is way more helpful than the official ESD resources!

This thread has been incredibly valuable - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm a newcomer here and have been lurking while trying to understand SEAP. I was laid off from my IT project management role about 6 weeks ago and have been considering starting a tech consulting business. Reading through everyone's stories, it sounds like the selection process is quite competitive and somewhat unpredictable. The fact that @Yuki Yamamoto just got selected at week 8 gives me some hope since I'm at week 6 with no word yet. One thing that strikes me from all these responses is how much more informative this community discussion is compared to the official ESD materials. The actual eligibility criteria, timeline expectations, and practical advice about business plan preparation - none of this detail was available through official channels when I tried researching SEAP. For those who've been through the program successfully, did you find that having a more "traditional" business idea (like handyman services or consulting) worked better than more innovative/creative concepts? I'm wondering if they favor business types that have proven local demand versus newer market opportunities. Also really appreciate the tips about leveraging SCORE and SBDC resources while waiting. Even if SEAP doesn't work out, it sounds like there are ways to move forward with business planning while maintaining UI compliance.

This thread has been such an incredible journey to follow! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how @Angelina Farar's 7-week nightmare transformed into the most comprehensive ESD survival guide I've ever seen. The identity verification issue that they never communicated about is just classic ESD - creating problems and then making YOU figure out what's wrong. What really strikes me is the power of community knowledge-sharing here. The strategies that emerged - calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state reps, proactive document uploads, using services like Claimyr - these are the real solutions that work but you'd never find through official channels. It's both frustrating and inspiring that we have to crowdsource basic information about accessing our own approved benefits. Your persistence making 23 calls that morning shows incredible determination, and seeing you finally get those 7 weeks of backpay was such a relief! This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with ESD's broken system. For others still stuck in pending limbo - don't give up, use these proven strategies, and remember that this community has your back when the system fails you!

As someone completely new to this community and the ESD system, this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! @Angelina Farar, your persistence through that 7-week approved-but-pending nightmare is truly heroic - I can't even imagine the stress of having an approval letter but still no income for almost 2 months. The fact that it was an identity verification issue they never bothered to tell you about is just peak ESD dysfunction. What absolutely blows my mind is how this thread evolved from a desperate plea for help into the most comprehensive ESD troubleshooting guide on the entire internet. The collective wisdom here - calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state representatives, proactive document uploads, using Claimyr, documenting every interaction - these are the battle-tested strategies that actually work but are completely absent from any official ESD resources. It's both infuriating and incredible that we have to reverse-engineer solutions just to access benefits we've already been approved for. The identity verification black hole seems to be trapping so many people based on all the stories shared here - this is clearly a massive systemic issue that ESD desperately needs to address. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because the step-by-step roadmap documented here is pure gold for anyone facing ESD's bureaucratic maze. Your 23-call persistence that morning shows what real determination looks like, and your success story gives genuine hope to everyone else stuck in pending limbo. Thank you for sharing your complete journey and proving that persistence really does pay off when you know the right approaches! This community support is exactly what people need when government systems fail us.

I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful as I'm facing the exact same situation. I just started receiving UI benefits at $565/week about two weeks ago and had no idea this could impact my Apple Health coverage until I found this discussion. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially the detailed accounts from @Luca Romano and @Fatima Al-Maktoum, has really eased my anxiety about this transition. The $75/month subsidized marketplace option sounds much more manageable than I expected - I was dreading having to pay full marketplace rates. I'm planning to call the Apple Health line at 8am tomorrow using the strategies shared here. Does anyone know if I should gather any specific documentation beyond my UI payment statements before calling? Also, has anyone had experience with how prescription copays compare between Apple Health and the subsidized marketplace plans? I take a couple of medications that I need to budget for. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - it's made this stressful situation feel much more manageable!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation. I've been receiving UI benefits at $590/week for about 5 weeks now and only just learned about the potential impact on my Apple Health coverage from reading this thread. Like many others here, I was initially panicked about potentially losing my health insurance right when I need it most during my job search. However, reading through all the experiences shared here - especially @Luca Romano's detailed account of successfully calling and @Fatima Al-Maktoum's explanation of the "coverage gap" concept - has been incredibly reassuring. The $75/month subsidized marketplace option sounds much more reasonable than I expected. I'm definitely planning to call the Apple Health line at 8am tomorrow using the strategies everyone has shared. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - for those who have transitioned to marketplace plans, have you noticed any differences in provider networks or access to specialists compared to Apple Health? I have a therapist I've been seeing regularly during this stressful unemployment period and want to make sure I can continue that care. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and creating such a supportive discussion!