Update: I called Nevada DETR this morning (took forever to get through) and finally spoke with an agent who confirmed what you all said - I can potentially use those wages for a Nevada claim after my WA benefit year expires in March! She said my two quarters should be enough to qualify for at least a minimal benefit. She also mentioned I'll need to provide proof that those wages weren't used in my WA monetary determination. Thanks everyone for the guidance!

Congrats on getting through to Nevada DETR and getting confirmation! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. Just a heads up - when you do file in March, make sure you have your WA monetary determination letter handy that shows which wages were actually used in calculating your benefits. Nevada will likely want to see that documentation to verify that your NV wages weren't part of the calculation. Also, don't be surprised if there's some back-and-forth between the states to verify everything - interstate claims can take a bit longer to process, but you're definitely on the right track now!

This thread should be pinned - so much good information about Washington ESD eligibility requirements. Wish I had found something like this when I was trying to figure out if I qualified.

I went through a similar situation last year and want to add a few practical tips that helped me. First, when you apply online, the system will ask for your gross wages by quarter - if you don't have exact quarterly breakdowns, your pay stubs and W-2 should be enough for them to calculate it. Second, make sure you understand the difference between your filing date and your effective date - there can be a one-week waiting period before benefits begin. Finally, once you're approved, set up direct deposit immediately because paper checks can take much longer to arrive. The whole process was less intimidating than I expected, and it sounds like you definitely qualify based on your work history and the reason for separation.

This has been incredibly helpful everyone. I feel like I have a actual plan now instead of just panicking. Going to tackle the DSHS application tonight and call WorkSource first thing tomorrow morning.

I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits just exhausted last week too after the full 26 weeks. It's really stressful not having that weekly payment to count on anymore. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the main options are applying for other assistance programs through DSHS (SNAP, housing help, etc.), checking with WorkSource about training programs that might include financial support, and looking into local community resources like food banks and 211. I'm going to start making calls this week too. It helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this - the job market really is tough right now and 26 weeks just isn't always enough time to find the right position. Hang in there everyone!

Hope everything works out for you OP. Health issues are stressful enough without worrying about benefits complications.

I went through something similar a few months ago. The key is timing and communication. When I realized I needed to switch from UI to short-term disability, I called Washington ESD first to let them know I was stopping my claim due to a medical condition. Then I applied for the STD benefits through my former employer. Make sure there's no overlap in the dates - even one day can cause problems. Also, keep all your medical documentation organized because both programs may request it. The transition back to UI later was smoother because I had been upfront about everything from the start.

I went through this same nightmare last year! The key is uploading documentation for ALL employment during your base year period. Since you mentioned having that 3-week job at another construction site, that's definitely what's triggering the alert. ESD needs to verify every single employer, even short-term ones. I'd suggest uploading: 1) W2s from both construction companies, 2) paystubs from your main employer showing consistent work, 3) whatever documentation you have from the 3-week job (even just a paystub or two), and 4) your layoff letter. Label each file clearly with the employer name and document type. Once I provided documentation for a brief temp job I'd almost forgotten about, my claim got approved within days. The system is definitely frustrating but hang in there!

Just wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU to everyone who helped, especially @Evelyn Martinez for the specific breakdown and @Freya Nielsen for connecting the dots about my short-term job! I uploaded documentation from both construction companies last night - W2s, paystubs from my main employer, the few paystubs I still had from that 3-week job, and my layoff letter, all clearly labeled. Woke up this morning and the "missing employment information" alert is GONE! My claim status changed to "processing" and I actually got a timeline estimate of 3-5 business days. After almost a month of stress, I can't believe it was that simple once I knew what they actually needed. This community is a lifesaver - the ESD website and phone system are absolutely useless but you all provided clearer guidance than I ever got from official sources. Hopefully this thread helps other people in the same boat!