I've been through a similar furlough situation myself and want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely can collect unemployment benefits during a furlough in Washington state! The process was surprisingly straightforward when I filed last year. One thing I'd add is to make sure you save a copy of any written notice your employer gives you about the furlough dates and circumstances. Washington ESD may ask for this documentation during the application process or later for verification. Also, don't stress too much about getting every detail perfect on your initial application - you can always provide additional information later if needed. The most important thing is to get your claim started as soon as the furlough begins so you don't miss out on any potential benefits. Best of luck with everything!

I just wanted to add my experience to help others in similar situations. I was furloughed for 10 weeks last year and successfully collected unemployment benefits the entire time through Washington ESD. The key things that helped me were: 1) Filing immediately when the furlough started - don't wait thinking you might not qualify, 2) Being completely transparent about it being a temporary layoff with a return date, and 3) Keeping detailed records of all communications with my employer about the furlough. The weekly claims were straightforward, and I just had to consistently report that I was still on furlough each week. When my company called me back to work, I simply reported my return date on that week's claim and everything wrapped up smoothly. The financial support was a lifesaver during those months, and it really is designed for exactly these kinds of situations. Don't hesitate to apply - furloughs are considered qualifying unemployment events in Washington!

Emma, I went through this exact situation last year and know how overwhelming it feels. Here are some key things that helped me: For the hardship waiver form, be as thorough as possible with your financial documentation. Include 3-6 months of bank statements, not just current ones - they want to see patterns, not just a snapshot. List EVERY expense, even small ones like streaming services, because they add up and show your true financial picture. I submitted mine through eServices (upload documents section) rather than mail - much faster and you get confirmation it was received. Took about 4-5 weeks for a decision. Most importantly: call ESD immediately to request they pause all collection activities while your waiver is under review. This prevents them from taking tax refunds or garnishing wages. Get the representative's name and a case number for this request. One thing that really helped my case was getting a letter from my childcare provider confirming monthly costs and a brief statement from my doctor about any medical expenses. These third-party validations seemed to carry weight. Don't panic about the 30-day deadline - as long as you submit SOMETHING within 30 days (even if incomplete), you can usually add supporting documents later. The key is showing you're responding in good faith. You've got this! The waiver process works for people in genuine hardship situations.

I'm dealing with a similar overpayment situation right now - $2,800 that I absolutely cannot afford to pay back. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I learned from my case worker is that when filling out the hardship waiver, don't just list your expenses - explain WHY each expense is necessary and unavoidable. For example, instead of just "childcare - $800/month," write "childcare - $800/month (required for work, no family support available, waitlisted for subsidized care)." Also, if you have any medical conditions, disabilities, or family members with special needs, make sure to document how these impact your finances. Even if it seems minor, include it - they're looking at your overall ability to pay without suffering undue hardship. The process is definitely stressful but there's hope! I submitted my waiver 3 weeks ago and am still waiting, but at least I got confirmation that collections are paused while they review it. Hang in there Emma - sounds like you have a strong case for the waiver given your situation as a single parent!

Hey Jackson! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago when my company did layoffs. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure you save/print your final paystub as soon as you get it, because you'll need it for the ESD application and sometimes payroll systems get deactivated quickly after layoffs. Also, if your employer uses a third-party payroll service (like ADP or Paychex), you might lose access to your pay history sooner than you expect. I had to scramble to get documentation because I couldn't log into the payroll portal after my separation date. One more tip - if you're comfortable doing so, exchange contact info with some of your coworkers who are also being laid off. Having people who went through the same process at the same company can be really helpful for comparing experiences and troubleshooting any ESD issues that come up. We created a little group chat and it was super helpful for sharing updates and tips throughout the unemployment process.

As someone who just went through a layoff situation in March, I want to echo what everyone's saying about applying early - it really does help! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to make sure you have a quiet space and reliable internet when you're filling out the application. The ESD website can be glitchy and if you get kicked out halfway through, you might lose some of your progress. Also, when you're reporting your wages for the base period calculation, have your W-2 from last year handy. The system will ask for quarterly wage information from the past 5 quarters, and having that tax document makes it much easier to provide accurate numbers. Good luck with everything - it sounds like you're being really proactive about planning ahead, which will definitely work in your favor!

Whatever you do, don't give up calling. I know it's frustrating but your adjudication won't move forward until you provide those documents they're asking for. Keep trying different times of day and different approaches.

Update: I ended up trying Claimyr after reading about it here. Got connected to Washington ESD yesterday and the agent was able to see exactly what documents they needed for my adjudication. Turns out it was just a wage verification form that I can get from my HR department. Should have my benefits released next week. Thanks everyone!

To summarize the correct information for anyone finding this thread later: 1. Once you've exhausted your maximum benefit amount, you won't receive any more payments regardless of whether you continue filing weekly claims. 2. You're not required to continue filing weekly claims after benefits are exhausted. 3. However, there can be situations where continuing to file might be helpful: - If you're receiving other benefits that require proof of continued unemployment - If there's potential for extension programs to be implemented - If you want to maintain your claim status in the system 4. The ESD system will continue to show filing alerts because it's automated and doesn't adjust based on individual benefit exhaustion. 5. If you're uncertain about your specific situation, it's always best to contact ESD directly for guidance.

I'm in a similar situation and decided to keep filing just in case. Even though I'm not getting paid, it takes less than 5 minutes each week and I figure it's better to be safe than sorry. My friend had her benefits exhausted in 2020 and then when PEUC became available she was automatically enrolled because she kept filing. Worth the small time investment IMO, especially since your benefit year doesn't end until June.