Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me: I kept a detailed log of every single phone call with ESD, including the date, time, name of the person I spoke with, and what they told me. This turned out to be crucial evidence because I could point to specific instances where I received conflicting information from different ESD representatives. The OAH judge seemed particularly interested in this documentation.

Wow, thank you so much for sharing this detailed breakdown! I'm just starting my unemployment claim process and honestly had no idea overpayments were even a thing. This is both terrifying and incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to start documenting everything from day one - screenshots of my weekly filings, keeping all my pay stubs, and logging any phone calls. Better to be overprepared than caught off guard like so many people here seem to have been. One question - you mentioned citing specific RCW statutes in your appeals. How did you figure out which ones were relevant? Did you research them yourself or get help from somewhere? I want to make sure I know what to reference if I ever end up in this situation. Again, huge congrats on your victory! Stories like this give me hope that the system isn't completely hopeless, even if it's clearly designed to make people give up.

I've been through something similar - was self-employed for about 18 months and worried I wouldn't qualify. The most important thing is checking your base period wages in your ESD account first. I was surprised to find I had enough W-2 wages from my previous job to qualify, even though it felt like forever ago. The benefit amount was lower than I hoped since it was based on older wages, but it definitely helped bridge the gap while I looked for new work. Also, be prepared for the adjudication process to take a few weeks - they'll want to verify your work history and may ask for tax documents showing your self-employment income. Don't let the complexity discourage you from applying though!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - been self-employed for about 2.5 years and work has completely dried up. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially learning about checking the base period wages first. I had no idea that was even a thing! I worked part-time at a marketing agency while getting my freelance business off the ground, so hopefully those wages are still in my base period. The Claimyr service sounds interesting too - I've been dreading trying to call Washington ESD because everyone says it's impossible to get through. Has anyone here actually used it recently? I'm willing to pay a reasonable fee if it means I can actually talk to a real person about my situation instead of spending days redialing busy signals.

Another option if you need something that looks more professional is to ask Washington ESD for a "Monetary Determination" letter. This document shows your weekly benefit amount, total benefit year amount, and claim dates in an official letterhead format. I used this for a rental application and it looked much more formal than the basic payment history printout. You can request it through your online account under "Correspondence" or by calling their customer service line. It usually generates pretty quickly online.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I needed income verification for a car loan. Here's what worked best for me: In your SecureAccess Washington account, go to "Unemployment Services" then look for "Payment Information" or "Claim Details." There's usually a "View/Print Payment Summary" option that gives you a clean document showing your weekly benefit amounts, payment dates, and total received. Make sure to print it with the full Washington ESD header visible - that official branding really helps with acceptance. If the basic payment history isn't detailed enough, you can also request a "Benefit Verification Letter" through the same system, which looks more formal and includes your claim period and weekly benefit amount on official letterhead. Good luck with your apartment application!

One more thing - if you do get fired, file your claim immediately. There's a one-week waiting period and benefits are only retroactive to when you filed, not when you lost your job.

This is a tough situation and I feel for you. I've been through something similar and here's what I learned: Washington ESD will scrutinize ANY termination that seems suspicious. If you're dealing with genuine harassment or hostile work environment, start documenting everything NOW - dates, witnesses, emails, anything concrete. Consider filing complaints with HR first (even if you don't expect results) because ESD wants to see you tried to resolve things internally. If you do end up quitting for good cause, you'll need rock-solid evidence. And honestly, getting fired "on purpose" is incredibly risky - they're really good at spotting manufactured terminations. Focus on building your case properly rather than gaming the system.

Actually had success with Claimyr too when I needed to get through to Washington ESD about my own forced resignation case. The regular phone lines were impossible, but through their service I got connected immediately and was able to explain my situation directly to an agent. Really made the difference in getting my claim processed quickly.

I went through something very similar about a year ago - my manager created an impossible situation where I was set up to fail, then gave me the "resign or be terminated" ultimatum. I was terrified about filing for unemployment because I had technically resigned, but it turned out Washington ESD was really understanding about constructive discharge situations. The key is being completely honest about the circumstances and having documentation ready. In my case, I had saved emails showing the unreasonable demands and the ultimatum itself. The adjudication took about 5 weeks, but I was approved and received backpay for the entire period. Don't let your employer's manipulative tactics prevent you from claiming benefits you're entitled to - what they did to you is exactly why these protections exist.