I'm in a very similar situation - remote worker for an out-of-state company, Washington resident. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also confused about where to file, but it sounds like starting with Washington ESD is the right approach. It's frustrating that this isn't more clearly explained anywhere, especially with remote work being so common now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process.

I went through this exact situation last year and can confirm what others have said - start with Washington ESD since you're a resident here. The system is designed to handle interstate situations automatically. When I filed, I provided all my California employer's information during the application process, and Washington ESD coordinated with California's system behind the scenes to verify my wages and tax payments. The whole process took about 3-4 weeks total, which included the interstate verification. The key is to file as soon as possible to establish your claim date, even if there are questions about jurisdiction that need to be sorted out later. Don't stress too much about getting it "wrong" - the system will redirect you if needed, but in most cases Washington ESD will handle everything.

This is such a valuable thread! As someone who's new to unemployment benefits, I had no idea how complex the reporting requirements could be. The distinction between regular income and retirement distributions is something I never would have thought about. It's really eye-opening to see how missing just one weekly claim can have such serious consequences - that definitely wasn't clear in any of the materials I received when I first applied. Thank you to everyone who shared their actual experiences, especially the OP for taking the time to call ESD and report back with the official answer. This kind of real-world information is so much more helpful than trying to interpret the confusing official guidelines on your own. I'm definitely going to be extra cautious about filing every week now, regardless of whether I expect to receive benefits!

As someone who just started collecting unemployment benefits last week, this entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I had no clue about any of these nuances around weekly claim filing. The fact that missing even one week can suspend your entire claim is honestly terrifying - and like everyone else has mentioned, this definitely wasn't made clear in any of the initial paperwork or orientation materials. I was actually in a similar situation where I was considering skipping a week due to some freelance income I received, but after reading through all these experiences, I'm definitely going to file every single week no matter what. The distinction between regular wages and retirement distributions is also something I never would have known about. Thank you so much to the OP for actually calling ESD and sharing the official response, and to everyone else who shared their real experiences (both good and bad). This kind of practical, real-world information is exactly what people need when navigating this confusing system!

Don't stress too much about the process. Washington state is pretty good about processing restaurant worker claims since it's such a common industry here. Your tips will be included in the benefit calculation, and you should be able to get approved without major issues.

As someone who just went through the unemployment process as a restaurant worker myself, I can confirm everything others have said - you absolutely qualify! Your tip income is crucial for calculating your benefits, so make sure you have documentation ready. One tip I'd add: when you create your online account, save your login info somewhere safe. You'll be logging in weekly to file claims, and it's frustrating if you get locked out. Also, don't be discouraged if the website is slow or crashes sometimes - it happens, especially on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims. Just try again later. The whole process was less scary than I expected once I got started.

I just wanted to jump in and share my experience since I see so many people going through the same stress I did a few months ago. I missed filing on Sunday twice during my claim period - once because of a family emergency and another time because I was just completely overwhelmed with job interviews and lost track of what day it was. Both times I was convinced I'd screwed everything up, but Washington ESD really is as forgiving as everyone here is saying. Filed on Wednesday the first time and Thursday the second time, and both payments came through normally just a day or two later than usual. The thing that really helped me was realizing that ESD processes thousands of claims every week - they're not sitting there monitoring whether you filed on Sunday versus Tuesday. As long as you're consistent about filing within that Saturday deadline, you're golden. Setting up multiple reminders is definitely the way to go though - I learned that lesson the hard way!

This thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was in the exact same panic mode this morning when I realized I completely forgot to file yesterday. Between reading everyone's experiences and seeing that Washington ESD actually gives you until Saturday to file, I feel so much better. Just successfully filed my claim about an hour ago and everything went through normally - no scary warnings or penalties, just the usual process. I'm definitely setting up those phone reminders that everyone's been talking about. It's amazing how much stress something so manageable can cause when you don't know the rules! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating the unemployment system.

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My manager has been cutting my hours randomly, being verbally aggressive in meetings, and creating such a stressful environment that I'm having anxiety attacks on Sunday nights just thinking about Monday. What really resonates with me is hearing from people who actually got approved for benefits after quitting for good cause - I was starting to think it was impossible. The documentation advice is spot on. I've started keeping a detailed log of every incident with dates, times, and witnesses present. Even saved screenshots of text messages about sudden schedule changes. One thing I wanted to add for anyone in this situation - I called the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier and they actually got me through to a real ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual busy signals. The agent confirmed that hostile work environment and significant schedule changes can definitely qualify as good cause, but emphasized that documentation is absolutely crucial. They said having witnesses willing to speak to ESD during the investigation makes a huge difference too. It's validating to know that we don't have to just accept abuse to keep our jobs. Mental health matters and toxic workplaces can seriously damage your wellbeing. For anyone on the fence about quitting, start documenting now even if you're not sure yet - having that evidence ready gives you options.

I've been following this conversation and want to add my experience from last year. I was in almost the exact same situation - boss constantly changing my schedule last minute, creating a hostile environment, and cutting my hours unpredictably. I spent weeks agonizing over whether to quit because I was terrified of losing my benefits. What finally helped me make the decision was calling Washington ESD directly (used that Claimyr service people mentioned here - totally worth it to actually get through). The agent walked me through what "good cause" means and emphasized that constructive dismissal is real. I quit after documenting everything for about a month, got approved for benefits after a 3-week investigation. The key things that helped my case: detailed incident log with exact dates/times, screenshots of last-minute schedule changes, and having two coworkers who witnessed the hostile behavior and were willing to talk to ESD. The financial stress during the investigation was tough but manageable with some gig work. Most importantly - my mental health improved dramatically once I left that toxic environment. Don't sacrifice your wellbeing for a paycheck. If you're experiencing genuine hostile conditions, document everything and know that you have options.