I had this exact same issue a couple weeks ago and it was driving me crazy! Turns out I was overthinking it completely. Like others have mentioned, you only need the 4-digit PIN if you want to file your weekly claims by phone through their automated system. If you're comfortable using the online portal (which sounds like you are since you're trying to access your account online), you can just keep filing through your SAW account without ever needing that PIN. I ended up never even bothering to get my PIN reset because the online system works so much better anyway. Don't stress yourself out over it - just file online and you'll meet your deadline no problem!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying here - you really don't need to stress about the PIN if you can file online! I made the same mistake a few weeks ago and spent way too much time worrying about it. The 4-digit PIN is only for the telephone filing system, which honestly isn't as convenient as the online portal anyway. As long as you can log into your SAW account on the website, you can file your weekly claims there without any PIN required. Save yourself the headache of trying to get through on those phone lines and just stick with online filing. The most important thing is meeting your deadline, and you can absolutely do that through the website!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to reach Washington ESD for almost 2 weeks about my claim that suddenly got put on hold for "identity verification." I've called that 800-318-6022 number probably 100+ times at this point - tried calling right when they open at 8am, during lunch, even the constant redial method everyone talks about, but I keep getting busy signals or sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected. It's incredibly stressful when you're depending on these benefits to pay rent and utilities. After reading all these success stories about Claimyr, I think I'm going to have to try that service tomorrow. It's absolutely insane that we need to pay a third-party company just to contact our own state unemployment office, but when you're desperate for answers and the regular phone system is completely broken, you do what you have to do. Thanks for posting this question - it's both frustrating and reassuring to know so many others are dealing with this same nightmare. The whole Washington ESD phone system desperately needs fixing!

I'm going through the exact same thing! My weekly claim has been stuck for over a week now and I've probably called that 800-318-6022 number about 80 times with zero success. Every time I either get a busy signal immediately or sit on hold for 2-3 hours just to get disconnected right when I think I'm about to get through. It's so incredibly frustrating when you're relying on these benefits to cover basic expenses like rent and groceries. After reading through everyone's experiences here, especially all the success stories with Claimyr, I think I'm definitely going to try that service first thing tomorrow morning. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to resort to paying a third-party company just to reach our own state unemployment office, but when the alternative is wasting entire days getting absolutely nowhere with the broken phone system, it seems like the only realistic option. The fact that so many people here have actually gotten through and resolved their issues with Claimyr gives me real hope that I can finally get some answers about my flagged claim. Thanks for posting this question - it's both maddening and somewhat comforting to know I'm definitely not alone in dealing with this completely broken system!

Bottom line: severance can affect unemployment but it doesn't have to if it's structured right. Get clarification from Washington ESD, be completely honest when filing your claim, and keep good records. You'll get through this!

I went through something similar last year when my tech company did layoffs. The $8,000 severance amount is pretty typical, and the good news is that Washington state is generally more worker-friendly than some other states when it comes to severance and UI benefits. Here's what I learned: if your severance agreement doesn't specifically mention covering a certain number of weeks or acting as "pay in lieu of notice," you're probably in the clear to start collecting right away. The fact that yours just says it's "in appreciation of service" sounds promising. One tip I wish someone had told me - when you file your UI claim online, there's a section where you can upload documents. Include your severance agreement there from the start, even if they don't explicitly ask for it. It saved me from having to deal with follow-up requests later. Also, start your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, regardless of the severance situation. Washington ESD can always adjust things retroactively if needed, but you don't want to lose out on potential benefit weeks while you're figuring everything out.

For what it's worth, I had a situation where I needed to speak with someone at Washington ESD about documentation they requested, and I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual person at ESD right away. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made dealing with the whole process so much easier when I could actually talk to someone who could answer my questions.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This has been incredibly helpful in understanding how the audit process actually works. It sounds like as long as I keep being honest with my reporting and maintain good documentation of my job search activities, I should be fine. The consensus seems to be that audits are targeted rather than random, which makes me feel much less paranoid about the whole thing. I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing and try not to stress about it unnecessarily.

One more important point your friend should be aware of: When an employee's FMLA ends and the employer states they have no work available, this is generally considered a layoff, not a termination for cause or voluntary separation. This distinction is crucial for UI eligibility. Your friend should save any communications (emails, texts) where the employer stated no work was available. If the conversation was verbal, he should follow up with an email summarizing their conversation to create a paper trail. Something like: "As discussed on [date], I understand that when my FMLA leave ends on [date], there will be no position available for me to return to, and you've advised me to apply for unemployment benefits." This documentation will be invaluable if his claim gets flagged for adjudication, which happens frequently with FMLA-to-unemployment transitions.

I went through this exact situation when my FMLA ended last year. Your friend is smart to ask about timing - it really matters! Here's what I learned: Wait until the day AFTER his FMLA officially ends to file. Filing while still technically on leave can trigger red flags in the system. When he applies, he should select "laid off due to lack of work" as his separation reason since the employer specifically told him no positions are available. A few things that helped me: - I took screenshots of all my communications with HR about no work being available - I prepared a clear timeline of events for the application - I had my employment history ready (last 18 months of jobs, dates, wages) One thing to watch for - if his FMLA was unpaid, it might affect his benefit calculation since they look at your highest earning quarters. But ESD can sometimes use an alternative base year if the standard one doesn't work in your favor. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me to start getting benefits, so tell him to apply as soon as his FMLA ends. Good luck to your friend!