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I'm really sorry this happened to you, Sebastian. As someone who's been through a similar situation, I can tell you that getting fired right after FMLA is a huge red flag for retaliation. The timing alone makes it really hard for employers to justify it as legitimate performance issues. You absolutely should be eligible for unemployment benefits - Washington ESD typically sides with employees in these clear-cut retaliation cases. Make sure you keep copies of all your FMLA paperwork and any performance reviews you had before taking leave. The contrast between your pre-leave performance and their sudden "performance issues" claim will be important evidence. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you!
That "meets expectations" review from just 4 months ago is going to be crucial evidence in your favor. The fact that your performance was fine right up until you took FMLA leave really strengthens your case. I know it's overwhelming with a new baby, but you're doing the right thing by fighting this. Employers count on people being too stressed or intimidated to push back, but you have solid legal protections here. Document everything and don't let them gaslight you into thinking this is legitimate.
This whole situation is so infuriating but unfortunately not uncommon. I've seen this exact pattern happen to several people - perfect timing right after FMLA return with suddenly manufactured "performance issues." The good news is that Washington ESD investigators are pretty experienced at spotting this kind of retaliation. Your documentation sounds solid, and the timing alone is going to be very difficult for your employer to explain away. Just remember that even if they contest your claim, you're in a strong position. Hang in there - you shouldn't have to choose between taking care of your family and keeping your job.
I went through almost the exact same thing two years ago - fired 5 days after returning from maternity leave for alleged "performance issues" that were never mentioned before I left. Washington ESD approved my claim and my former employer's contest was denied at the hearing. The administrative law judge basically said the timing was too suspicious and they couldn't provide any evidence of actual performance problems prior to my leave. It took about 8 weeks total but I got full benefits plus backpay. The stress was awful with a new baby, but don't let them intimidate you - this kind of retaliation is exactly what unemployment insurance is designed to protect against. Your case sounds even stronger than mine was since you were only out 3 days before they fired you. Stay strong and keep fighting!
This is so reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing! The timing in your case (5 days) and mine (3 days) is almost identical - it's like they don't even try to hide the retaliation anymore. I'm definitely feeling stressed about the whole process, especially with everything else going on with the new baby, but hearing that you got approved and won the hearing gives me hope. Did you have a lawyer for the hearing or did you represent yourself? I'm trying to figure out if I need to start looking for legal help now or wait to see what happens with the initial claim.
Best of luck with everything! Filing for unemployment can be stressful but you've got this. The benefits really help while you're looking for your next job.
Don't forget to also have your reason for separation clearly documented! If you were laid off, get any paperwork from your employer about the layoff if possible. This can help speed up processing and avoid potential delays. Also, when you create your SecureAccess Washington account, write down your username and password somewhere safe - you'll need to log in regularly for weekly claims and checking your benefit status.
I'm going through almost the exact same situation! Applied for Training Benefits in mid-December for a healthcare administration program at Bellevue College and I'm still waiting at nearly 14 weeks now. My regular UI ran out 3 weeks ago and I've been living off savings and stress. A few things I've learned through this nightmare: 1. I finally got through using Claimyr after trying for weeks on my own - it really does work! Took about 45 minutes but I actually spoke to a human who could see my application status. 2. The ESD agent told me that December applications got caught in some kind of system backlog during their winter processing, which is why so many of us from that timeframe are still waiting. 3. She said to keep filing weekly claims even after regular benefits run out - apparently if/when TB gets approved, there can be retroactive payments back to when you started the program (as long as you kept filing). 4. My state rep's office (48th district) was actually really helpful - they have a constituent services person who specializes in ESD issues and she put in an inquiry for me. The restaurant job search while in school is absolutely brutal right now. I've had better luck applying for administrative assistant positions that explicitly mention "part-time" or "flexible schedule" - at least those feel more realistic given my class commitments. Hang in there - your program sounds like a great choice and culinary management is definitely growing. This system is broken but we'll get through it!
This is incredibly helpful information, thank you! 14 weeks is absolutely insane but it's really encouraging to hear that Claimyr actually worked for you and that you got some real answers about what's causing the delays. The system backlog explanation makes sense - probably a combination of holiday staffing issues and everyone applying for spring programs at the same time. I had no idea about continuing to file weekly claims after regular benefits run out for potential retroactive payments - that's huge! I definitely would have stopped filing once my UI ran out, thinking there was no point. Will make sure to keep doing that. Your point about applying for admin positions with flexible schedules is really smart too. I've been so focused on food service that I didn't think about office work that might actually accommodate a student schedule better. The restaurant industry really is impossible right now between the competition and inflexible scheduling demands. Thanks for sharing the district 48 tip too - sounds like some rep offices are way more helpful than others with ESD issues. I'm going to look into whether my district has someone similar. Really appreciate you taking the time to share all these details after going through such a long ordeal. It gives me hope that there's light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel!
I'm also stuck in Training Benefits limbo! Applied in early January for a dental hygiene program and I'm at 9 weeks with nothing. It's reassuring (but also terrifying) to see so many others going through the exact same timeline delays. A couple things that have helped me stay somewhat sane while waiting: 1. I set up a separate savings account specifically for "emergency UI gap" funds early in my program - wish I'd done more, but even having $800 set aside has helped with the stress of potentially losing benefits. 2. Found a few weekend/evening medical receptionist positions that work around my clinical schedule - not great pay but something coming in while waiting for TB approval. 3. My program coordinator mentioned that several other students from our cohort are also waiting on TB approval from December/January applications, so it's definitely a systemic issue right now. The job search requirement is so frustrating when you're in healthcare training - most clinical positions want specific certifications I don't have yet, and the ones I could theoretically do want full weekday availability that conflicts with my program schedule. Going to try the Claimyr service this week based on all the positive feedback here. Dental hygiene is definitely in-demand so hopefully once they actually review my application it'll go through quickly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on ESD's actual website!
Your experience really resonates with me! I'm also dealing with the Training Benefits waiting game (applied in December for culinary management) and it's so frustrating to see this is happening to so many people across different programs. The emergency savings fund idea is brilliant - I wish I had thought of that earlier. Even having a small buffer would help with the anxiety of potentially losing benefits while in school. And it sounds like you were smart to find weekend/evening work that actually fits around your program schedule. I've been struggling to find anything in food service that works with my class times. 9 weeks is definitely getting into that range where you should try escalating through other channels. The Claimyr service seems to be working for people, and several folks here have had success contacting their state representatives too. Dental hygiene is such a growing field - hopefully once they actually look at your application it'll be a straightforward approval. It's actually somewhat comforting to know that other students in your program are dealing with the same delays. At least it confirms this is a system-wide problem and not something specific to our individual applications. Thanks for sharing the practical tips about managing the financial stress while waiting. This whole thread has been way more helpful than anything official from ESD! Keep us posted on how the Claimyr thing works out.
I've been working part-time while on unemployment for about 3 months now and wanted to share some practical tips. First, set up a simple spreadsheet to track your hours and earnings each week - it makes filling out the weekly claims so much easier and gives you backup documentation. Second, I'd recommend staying well under 32 hours per week, not just for the full-time threshold but because it gives you flexibility for job interviews and networking events. I usually aim for 20-25 hours max. Third, don't forget that your part-time work can actually help your job search - I've gotten several full-time job leads through my part-time employer's network. The key is treating the part-time work as a stepping stone, not a permanent solution. And yes, definitely report every penny you earn - Washington ESD will find out eventually through wage matching, so it's not worth the risk of being accused of fraud over a few unreported dollars.
This is incredibly practical advice, thank you! The spreadsheet tip is brilliant - I'm definitely going to set that up before I start working. It sounds like it would save so much time and stress when filling out the weekly claims. I really like your point about the part-time work potentially leading to networking opportunities and job leads. That's something I hadn't considered, but it makes total sense that staying connected in the workforce, even part-time, could open doors. The 20-25 hour range seems to be the sweet spot that multiple people have mentioned. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward with those part-time shifts now. Thanks for sharing your real-world experience!
I've been dealing with this exact situation for the past few months and wanted to add some insight about the job search requirement that's often overlooked. While everyone's focused on the earnings formula (which is super important), remember that you also need to complete your required work search activities each week. In Washington, that's typically 3 job contacts per week. The tricky part is balancing your part-time work schedule with actively applying and interviewing for full-time positions. I've found it helpful to schedule my part-time shifts consistently (same days each week) so I can block out specific times for job searching and interviews. Also, don't underestimate how exhausting it can be to work part-time, job search, and manage all the unemployment paperwork - pace yourself and stay organized. The good news is that having recent work experience, even part-time, often makes you more attractive to potential full-time employers. Just make sure you're genuinely pursuing full-time work and not getting too comfortable with the part-time + benefits arrangement, because Washington ESD does review claims for continued eligibility.
Katherine Harris
UPDATE: Found it! It was right where you all said - under the UI Claim tab there's a 1099G option. For anyone else looking, once you click on that, you need to select the tax year and then there's a button to view/download the PDF. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Madison Allen
•Glad you found it! Make sure to save a copy for your records. Also, double-check that the amount on the 1099-G matches what you actually received in benefits. ESD occasionally makes mistakes, and it's a hassle to get them corrected after you file taxes.
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JaylinCharles
Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble finding the 1099-G in eServices, make sure you're looking under the correct benefit year. Sometimes people have claims spanning multiple years and the forms are organized by tax year. Also, if you received both regular unemployment and any pandemic benefits (like PUA or PEUC), you might have separate 1099-G forms for each program. Double-check that you have all the forms you need before filing your taxes!
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Freya Pedersen
•That's a really good point about multiple benefit years and different programs! I didn't even think about that. Since I was on unemployment for several months last year, I should probably double-check that I'm looking at the right tax year and make sure I haven't missed any additional forms. Better to be thorough now than have issues with the IRS later. Thanks for the heads up!
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