It's not too late to change your tax withholding preference. Log into your eServices account, go to your claim summary, and look for the option to update your tax withholding preference. The standard withholding is 10% for federal taxes (WA has no income tax). Making this change won't affect what you've already received, but it will help reduce your tax liability for future payments.

Just wanted to add a tip for anyone who might be in a similar situation - if you're still collecting benefits and want to avoid a big tax surprise, you can also make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS using Form 1040ES. This is especially helpful if you're in a higher tax bracket or have other income sources. I learned this the hard way my first year on unemployment! Also, keep all your 1099-G forms organized - you'll need them if you get audited down the road.

Final thought - consider the timing of when you quit. If you can, try to quit at a time when you'll have the best chance of finding new employment. The job market varies throughout the year.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when my employer moved from Bellevue to Centralia. The 3+ hour commute was destroying my quality of life and my finances. Washington ESD approved my claim because I could demonstrate that the relocation created an unreasonable burden. Key things that helped my case: 1) I calculated the exact cost increase (gas, wear and tear, parking), 2) I documented all attempts to find alternatives with my employer (remote work, transfer, schedule changes), and 3) I kept records of the timeline showing when the move was announced versus implemented. The adjudicator told me that showing I tried to make it work before quitting was crucial. Your situation with 3 hours each way definitely qualifies as unreasonable - that's 15 hours per week just commuting! Make sure you file immediately after you quit and be thorough with your documentation.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for over a month now about my benefit calculation and it's been absolutely impossible. Their phone system is completely broken - I either get a busy signal, sit on hold for 3+ hours only to get disconnected, or the system just hangs up on me. I'm pretty sure my benefit amount is wrong based on what I'm reading here, but I can't get anyone to review it. Has anyone found a reliable way to actually speak with a real person at ESD recently? This is so frustrating when you're already stressed about being unemployed.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with Washington ESD benefit calculations since I see a lot of confusion in this thread. I was initially awarded $742 per week, but after reviewing my wage history I realized they had missed some overtime pay from my highest earning quarter. I ended up using one of those callback services (similar to what others mentioned) to get through to an agent, and they were able to recalculate my benefits. Turns out I qualified for $891 per week instead! The key was having all my pay stubs organized and being able to clearly explain which wages they had missed. If you think your calculation is wrong, don't give up - it's worth fighting for the correct amount. Just make sure you have solid documentation to back up your claim.

Update: I tried the Claimyr service that was recommended, and I actually got through to ESD! The agent told me my employer DID respond and said I was terminated for "failure to meet performance expectations" but they didn't provide any documentation to back it up. The agent said without documentation, it would likely be decided in my favor, but the adjudication could still take 4-6 more weeks due to backlog. I explained about the lack of write-ups and the positive meeting two weeks before termination, and she added notes to my claim. She also suggested I upload a written statement explaining this in detail, which I just did. Frustrated that my employer wasn't honest with me about not contesting, but at least now I know what I'm dealing with. Thanks everyone for your help!

Really glad you were able to get through to ESD and find out what your employer actually said! It's unfortunately very common for employers to tell terminated employees they won't contest the claim, then turn around and provide reasons that could potentially disqualify you. At least now you know exactly what you're up against. The fact that they claimed "failure to meet performance expectations" but provided zero documentation is actually a good sign for your case. ESD typically needs to see a clear pattern of documented poor performance and warnings for that to constitute misconduct. One unsigned probation notice from January with positive interactions since then doesn't meet that bar. 4-6 weeks is still a long time to wait when bills are piling up, but it sounds like you're in a strong position for approval. Make sure you keep filing those weekly claims - you can't get back pay for weeks you didn't file even if you're eventually approved. Hang in there! The waiting is the worst part, but it sounds like you've done everything right.

Congratulations on landing the job! I'm currently on unemployment benefits too and this thread is super helpful for when I hopefully find something soon. One question - did you have to do anything special with your job search log when you stopped claiming? I've been keeping detailed records of all my applications and contacts, but wasn't sure if I need to submit a final report or anything like that to Washington ESD when I stop filing.

Congratulations on the new job! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just accepted a position that starts next week and have been on UI benefits for about 3 months. This thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like the process is pretty straightforward: file your final weekly claim accurately for this past week, then just stop filing once you start working full-time. I'm definitely going to take the advice about keeping documentation and saving a screenshot of my final claim submission. It's such a relief to finally be transitioning back to work after months of job searching. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver during the unemployment process!