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I'm currently going through this same process! Called the governor's office on Wednesday after being stuck for 6 weeks, and got the ESD callback Thursday saying my claim was expedited to adjudication. Still waiting for the adjudicator call but reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring. Based on what I'm seeing, it sounds like 7-14 business days is the realistic timeframe to expect. I've cleared out my voicemail, organized all my separation documents (I was also laid off due to restructuring), and I'm answering every unknown call. The stress of waiting is real but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel! One thing I learned from calling around - if you need to reach ESD directly for any reason while waiting, the best times to call are right at 8am when they open or around 4:30pm before they close. Still nearly impossible to get through, but slightly better odds than midday.
Thanks for sharing your timeline! It's really helpful to see someone else who just went through the governor's office route this week. I'm on day 2 of waiting for the adjudicator call after getting my claim expedited yesterday, so hearing that 7-14 business days is realistic helps manage my expectations. That tip about calling ESD at 8am or 4:30pm is gold - I'll keep that in mind if I need to follow up for any reason. Fingers crossed we both hear back soon! This whole process is so nerve-wracking when you're dealing with bills piling up.
I went through this exact process about 3 weeks ago! After contacting the governor's office, I got the ESD callback the next day saying my claim was expedited. The adjudicator called me exactly 11 business days later at 9:45am from an unknown number. A few tips that really helped me: 1) Set up a professional voicemail greeting and make sure it's not full, 2) Have a notepad ready when you answer - they ask for specific dates and details, 3) If you were laid off like me, have your termination paperwork AND the contact info for your former HR department ready. The adjudicator actually called my old company to verify my separation while I was on hold. The whole call took about 25 minutes. She was very thorough but professional. My claim was approved the same day and I had my first payment deposited 3 days later. Hang in there - the governor's office route really does work, you just need patience for the adjudicator callback. The timeline everyone's sharing here (7-14 business days) matches my experience perfectly.
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Don't let the negativity get to you - planning ahead is smart, especially after multiple layoffs! I've been through similar situations and it's totally reasonable to understand your safety net before making job decisions. One thing I'd add that others haven't mentioned: if you do end up reopening your claim, make sure to keep all your documentation from the new job (offer letter, job description, any performance feedback, termination letter, etc.). Even if everything goes smoothly with ESD, having a paper trail helps if there are any questions later. Also, don't forget that you can do some part-time or gig work while on unemployment too - might help ease the financial pressure while you're looking for the right permanent position. Good luck with the interview!
Thanks Mason, that's really thoughtful advice! The documentation tip is especially helpful - I never would have thought to keep the job description and offer letter for potential UI purposes later. And you're right about not letting the negativity get to me. After being laid off twice in one year (both times due to "restructuring"), I've learned that being prepared isn't pessimistic, it's just realistic in today's job market. I'll definitely look into some gig work options too while I'm searching. Really appreciate the encouragement!
Just wanted to add my experience from a similar situation last year - I was on unemployment, took a job that seemed great during interviews, but after 6 weeks they said I "wasn't meeting expectations" and let me go. I was able to reopen my existing claim without any issues since I still had benefit weeks remaining. The key thing that helped me was that my former employer was honest about it being a performance/fit issue rather than misconduct, so there was no contest from their side. One tip: when you're at the new job, try to get any feedback in writing if possible. In my case, they sent me an email saying they appreciated my efforts but felt I wasn't the right match for their team culture - that email actually helped when I reopened my claim because it clearly showed it wasn't misconduct or voluntary quit. Don't let fear of "what if" stop you from taking opportunities, but definitely good to know your options ahead of time like you're doing!
That's such a helpful real-world example, thank you Ashley! It's reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this exact situation. The tip about getting feedback in writing is brilliant - I never would have thought to ask for that, but it makes total sense from a documentation standpoint. It sounds like you handled it really professionally too. Did you have to wait long for your claim to reactivate once you reopened it, or was it pretty much immediate? I'm just trying to get a sense of timing in case there's a gap between when a job ends and benefits start back up.
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I'm really glad I found this thread! I've been on unemployment for about 8 weeks now and have rental income from a small apartment building that brings in around $2,200/month. I've been reporting it on my weekly claims but was constantly worried that I was doing something wrong or that it might affect my benefit amount. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - especially the clarification about earned vs unearned income and hearing from the benefits counselor. Like many others here, I use a property management company so it's completely passive for me. It's incredible how much anxiety this stuff can cause when you're already dealing with unemployment stress. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this kind of real-world insight is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing official resources!
Welcome to the community! Your situation with $2,200/month from an apartment building sounds exactly like what everyone else has been describing here. With a property management company handling everything, that's definitely passive income that shouldn't affect your unemployment benefits at all. You're absolutely doing the right thing by consistently reporting it on your weekly claims - that transparency is exactly what Washington ESD wants to see, but it won't reduce your benefit amount. I completely understand the anxiety though! This whole unemployment process is stressful enough without worrying about whether you're accidentally doing something wrong with your benefits. This thread has been such an amazing resource for all of us dealing with rental income situations. It's so reassuring to hear from people with real experience and that benefits counselor who confirmed we're all on the right track!
I'm new to this community but this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I've been on unemployment for about 5 weeks and have rental income from a duplex that brings in $1,800/month. I've been reporting it on my weekly claims but was really stressed thinking it might disqualify me or reduce my benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially the benefits counselor's confirmation and hearing from people who've dealt with this for years - has put my mind at ease. The earned vs unearned income distinction makes so much sense now. I also use a property management company so it's completely hands-off for me. It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when you get real advice from people with actual experience rather than trying to figure out the confusing official websites. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and helping newcomers like me navigate this stressful situation!
Welcome to the community, Paolo! Your duplex situation sounds exactly like what so many of us have been dealing with here. That $1,800/month with a property management company is definitely passive income that won't affect your unemployment benefits at all. You're absolutely doing the right thing by reporting it consistently on your weekly claims - that's the transparency Washington ESD wants, but it shouldn't reduce your benefit amount. I totally get the stress though! When you're already dealing with unemployment anxiety, the last thing you need is worrying about accidentally messing up your benefits. This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding the earned vs unearned income rules. It's so much better getting real experiences from people who've actually lived through this rather than trying to decode those confusing official resources!
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Thanks for all the detailed info everyone! Based on what I'm reading, with my $52k salary I should expect somewhere in the $600-700 range weekly, which is actually better than I thought. The one week waiting period is good to know too. I'm hoping I won't need to file but it's reassuring to understand how it all works. Definitely going to bookmark this thread in case I need to reference the Claimyr service or appeal process later. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!
Glad this thread was helpful! One thing I'd add is to keep all your pay stubs and employment records organized before you file, just in case there are any discrepancies with what ESD has on file from your employers. I had a situation where one of my previous employers reported my wages incorrectly and having my own documentation made the correction process much smoother. Also, if you do end up filing, don't stress too much about the initial calculation - you can always request a redetermination if something looks off. The system isn't perfect but Washington generally does right by people once you get through to the right person.
Just want to add that if you're concerned about the waiting period, you should file your claim on Sunday night/Monday morning to start the week off right. I made the mistake of filing mid-week and it pushed everything back. Also, make sure you have your Social Security card and driver's license handy when you apply - the system will ask for those numbers and it's faster if you don't have to hunt them down. One more tip: screenshot or write down your confirmation numbers for everything. The system can be glitchy and having those reference numbers saved me when I had to call customer service.
That's really smart advice about filing on Sunday/Monday! I never would have thought about the timing affecting when benefits start. The tip about screenshotting confirmation numbers is gold too - I've had issues with other government websites where things just disappeared. Quick question though - when you say "start the week off right," does that mean the benefit week runs Sunday to Saturday? I want to make sure I understand the timing correctly if I do end up needing to file.
Ivanna St. Pierre
Just wanted to add from personal experience - I was in almost the exact same situation last winter with a seasonal retail job. Went with standby and it was definitely the right choice. The key things that made it work smoothly for me: 1. My manager filled out the standby paperwork correctly with accurate dates 2. They responded immediately when ESD contacted them to verify 3. I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though no job searches were required When my 8 weeks were up and they still weren't ready to bring me back, the transition to regular unemployment with job search requirements was seamless - literally just started reporting 3 job searches per week on my next weekly claim. No interruption in benefits at all. The peace of mind of not having to stress about job searches while knowing I had a job waiting was worth it, especially during the holidays when finding temp work would have been tough anyway. Go with standby if your employer is on board!
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Omar Fawaz
•This is exactly the kind of real-world experience I was hoping to hear! It sounds like as long as the employer does their part correctly, standby really is the smoother option. I'm feeling much more confident about this decision now. Did you find the job search requirement transition challenging at all, or was it pretty straightforward to start reporting those 3 activities each week?
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DeShawn Washington
•The job search transition was super easy! When I filed my weekly claim after the 8 weeks expired, the system automatically started asking for job search activities. I just had to report 3 per week like normal - online applications, calling employers, visiting businesses, etc. The ESD website has a list of what counts as valid job search activities. Just make sure to keep records of what you did, when, and which employers you contacted. The hardest part was remembering to actually do the searches since I'd gotten used to not having to worry about it during standby!
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Ezra Bates
This whole thread has been super helpful! I was in a similar situation a few months ago and went the regular unemployment route because I was scared of the standby complications, but honestly after reading everyone's experiences I think I made the wrong choice. The job search requirement during the holidays was brutal - lots of places weren't even hiring and I felt like I was just going through the motions to meet the 3-per-week requirement. If your employer is willing to do the standby paperwork correctly and you trust they'll actually bring you back, it sounds like standby is definitely the way to go. Just make sure you understand that weekly filing requirement that Andre mentioned - that would have tripped me up for sure!
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Connor Byrne
•You're so right about the holiday job search struggle! I'm actually dealing with this timing issue right now since my layoff is happening just before the holidays. Reading everyone's experiences here has really convinced me that standby is the better path when you have a legitimate recall situation. It seems like the main thing is just making sure your employer understands their role in the process and responds to ESD promptly. Thanks for sharing your perspective - it's helpful to hear from someone who went the other route and can compare the experiences!
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