


Ask the community...
Whatever you decide, don't delay filing your UI claim after you quit. You want to get in the system as soon as possible even if you expect to be denied initially.
I'm going through something similar right now. The stress is affecting my health but I'm scared to quit without knowing if I'll get benefits. This thread has been really helpful.
I'm in a similar boat - toxic workplace affecting my mental health but terrified about the financial implications of quitting. From everything I've read in this thread, it seems like the key is really solid documentation and showing you tried to resolve things internally first. The fact that multiple people have mentioned Claimyr for getting through to ESD makes me think the phone system really is as broken as everyone says. Stay strong and document everything!
I'm also dealing with a hostile work environment and considering my options. What really stands out to me from this discussion is how important it is to have a paper trail - emails, written complaints to HR, dates and times of incidents. It sounds like Washington ESD really scrutinizes these cases, so the more evidence you have that a reasonable person would quit under the same circumstances, the better your chances. Have you started documenting everything systematically? I've been keeping a work journal with detailed notes about each incident.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My status changed to 'eligible redetermined' yesterday and I was panicking thinking I did something wrong. Reading through all these responses is such a relief - sounds like it's actually a good thing that they reviewed everything and I'm still eligible. The Washington ESD website really needs to explain these status changes better instead of leaving people to guess what they mean. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
This thread is such a goldmine! I just went through the same exact panic when my status changed to 'eligible redetermined' last week. Like everyone else said, I immediately thought I was in trouble or had made some mistake. But after reading all these experiences, it's clear that Washington ESD just has terrible communication about what these statuses actually mean. It's like they deliberately choose the most confusing wording possible! My payments have continued normally and everything is fine. Really wish they would just say "we double-checked your eligibility and you're still approved" instead of this cryptic government-speak that sends everyone into a tailspin.
I totally get that panic feeling! I had the same reaction when mine changed to 'eligible redetermined' a few weeks ago. It's like they specifically chose the most anxiety-inducing way to say "we looked at your case again and everything's fine." The word "redetermined" just sounds so final and scary when you're depending on these benefits! But yeah, everyone here is right - it's actually good news that they reviewed everything and you're still eligible. Just keep filing your weekly claims like normal and try not to stress about the confusing terminology. This community has been such a lifesaver for translating what Washington ESD actually means with all their official jargon!
I just wanted to add my experience since I went through something similar! My status changed to 'eligible redetermined' about a month ago and I was absolutely terrified - I thought for sure I had messed something up with my weekly claims or job search activities. Turns out it was just because my previous employer finally responded to Washington ESD's inquiry about my separation (I was laid off due to budget cuts). They reviewed everything again and confirmed I was still eligible for benefits. My payments never stopped and everything continued as normal. It's really frustrating how Washington ESD uses these scary-sounding official terms when they could just say "we double-checked and you're good!" The anxiety these status changes cause when you're already stressed about finances is just unnecessary. But bottom line - if it still says 'eligible' then you're fine!
For anyone still confused, I found the Washington ESD handbook really helpful once I finally found it buried on their website. It has examples of different scenarios with the earnings calculations.
I'll try to find it again. It was in the claimant handbook section, but their website navigation is terrible.
This is another reason I liked using Claimyr - the agent could explain specific scenarios without me having to hunt through their website for hours.
This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was panicking about the hours vs earnings thing. One quick question though - if I'm working variable hours week to week (like sometimes 15 hours, sometimes 35 hours), do I need to notify ESD about the schedule changes or just report my actual earnings each week? I keep seeing conflicting info about whether you need to report "significant changes" in work status.
You don't need to separately notify ESD about schedule changes - just report your actual earnings each week when you file your claim. The system is designed to handle variable income situations like yours. As long as you're accurately reporting what you earned each week, that's all they need. The "significant changes" thing usually refers to major changes like starting a new permanent job or becoming unavailable for work, not normal fluctuations in part-time hours.
Update: The money just landed in my account this morning! So it took about 48 hours from when the status changed to 'paid' until it appeared in my bank. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!
That's awesome news! 48 hours is pretty typical for most banks. I'm glad you found the Payment Issue Date in the system too - that's really helpful info for tracking. It's such a relief when that money finally hits your account, especially when you have bills coming up. Thanks for posting the update, it'll definitely help other people who are in the same situation and wondering about the timeline!
Yes, this is such helpful information! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - my claim just switched to 'paid' status this morning and I was starting to panic about when I'd see the money. Reading through this thread and seeing your timeline gives me so much peace of mind. I'm going to check for that Payment Issue Date right now. It's crazy how the ESD website doesn't explain any of this stuff clearly - you'd think they'd have a simple FAQ about payment timing!
Rosie Harper
Also worth noting that some employers offer direct deposit setup before your first day, which can speed up getting that first paycheck. Ask HR if they can expedite the paperwork so you get paid on the earliest possible pay cycle. Many companies are willing to help new hires with this kind of timing issue if you explain the situation upfront.
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Owen Jenkins
•That's really smart advice! I didn't even think about asking them to set up direct deposit early. Most places I've worked before just had you fill out all the paperwork on your first day, but if they can get banking info processed ahead of time that could definitely help with the timing.
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Nia Thompson
Just went through this exact situation a few months ago when I started my current job. The waiting period between starting work and getting that first paycheck is brutal, but you absolutely have to stop filing once you begin working. I made the mistake of thinking "well, I'm not getting paid yet so technically..." but Washington ESD doesn't see it that way at all. They care about when you're performing work, not when the money hits your account. Had to learn that lesson the expensive way when they caught it during a routine audit. Save yourself the headache and stop filing as soon as you clock in on Monday.
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Giovanni Marino
•Oh wow, so they actually caught it in an audit? That's scary. How much trouble did you end up in with Washington ESD? I'm definitely not going to risk it now but I'm curious how serious the consequences were for you.
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