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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

I'm currently a WGU student in their IT program and went through this exact situation just 2 months ago! The great news is that WGU's competency-based model actually works strongly in your favor compared to traditional universities. When ESD contacted me about my student status, I made sure to highlight these key points: 1. WGU has ZERO scheduled class times - no Zoom meetings, no mandatory attendance, nothing that would conflict with a work schedule 2. All coursework is 100% self-paced - you can complete assignments and exams literally any time of day or night 3. WGU is specifically marketed to working professionals - most students maintain full-time jobs while enrolled 4. The program is designed around competency, not seat time - if you know the material, you can accelerate through courses I also mentioned that I was using my unemployment time productively by advancing my skills to be more competitive in the job market, which seemed to resonate well with the adjudicator. My claim was approved after a brief phone interview where I simply reiterated these points. The flexibility of WGU is honestly a huge advantage here - just make sure you clearly communicate that to ESD. You should be fine! Let us know how it goes.

I'm also a WGU student and just went through this process last month! One additional tip that really helped my case - I printed out pages from WGU's website that specifically describe their competency-based model and flexible scheduling. Having that official documentation from the school itself seemed to carry a lot of weight with the ESD adjudicator. You can find this info in their "How WGU Works" section where they explicitly state there are no set class times or schedules. I also made sure to mention that WGU actually requires students to commit to working at least 15 hours per week on coursework, which demonstrates you can easily balance it with full-time employment since most people work way more than 40 hours total per week when you include evenings and weekends. The adjudicator approved my claim right on the phone after I walked through these points. Don't let the stress get to you - WGU's model is actually perfect for this situation once ESD understands how it works!

I just went through this exact same confusion a few weeks ago! The wording of that question really threw me off too - it does seem like a circular question when you're applying FOR benefits. After reading through everyone's explanations here, I finally understand they're asking about your current unemployment spell specifically. In my case, I had been unemployed for about 6 weeks before I finally got around to filing my claim, so during those 6 weeks I obviously hadn't collected any benefits yet since I hadn't applied. So my answer was "no." But if someone had been getting benefits earlier in their current unemployment period and then had to file again for some reason, they'd need to report those. The key is really focusing on "during your unemployment period" meaning THIS current stretch of being unemployed. Thanks everyone for breaking this down - Washington ESD really needs to work on their form wording!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I just encountered this exact question on my Washington ESD forms and was completely stumped by the wording. Like Jessica said, it really does seem like a circular question when you're applying FOR benefits in the first place. After reading through everyone's explanations, I now understand they're asking specifically about your current unemployment period - so if you've been unemployed for 2 months but only just now filing your claim, they want to know if you received any benefits during those 2 months (which would be no for first-time filers). The distinction between your "unemployment period" versus your overall unemployment history is key. I also appreciate the advice about using the comments section to clarify your situation if you're unsure - that's such a smart approach. It's frustrating that Washington ESD uses such confusing language, but at least we have this community to help decode their forms!