One last thought - if anyone else is struggling to get through to Washington ESD about their church employment questions, that Claimyr service at claimyr.com really is worth checking out. Sometimes you just need to actually talk to someone who can look up your specific employer's status instead of guessing.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I lost my job at a small Lutheran church where I worked as a music director. Like others have said, the key is to file the claim anyway - you might be surprised. In my case, the church had actually opted into the system about 5 years earlier when they hired their first full-time pastor, but nobody on staff knew about it. I only found out when Washington ESD approved my claim. Even if you think there's only a 10% chance, it's worth the 20 minutes to file online. The worst case is you get a denial letter, but the best case is you get the benefits you've earned. Don't let assumptions stop you from trying!

As someone new to this community and currently navigating unemployment myself, this thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea that unemployment eligibility was based on hours worked rather than payment received - that's such an important distinction that isn't immediately obvious. What really impressed me was how quickly this discussion shifted from identifying the problem to finding real solutions. The success story with the employer payroll advance gives me hope that there are more support systems out there than we realize. I'm definitely going to keep this approach in mind during my own job search - being proactive about discussing transition challenges with potential employers rather than just assuming I'll have to struggle through any gaps. It's threads like this that make me grateful to have found such a supportive and knowledgeable community. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice!

This thread has been such a valuable resource for someone like me who's new to both this community and dealing with unemployment benefits! I'm currently job searching and had no idea about the distinction between work status and payment timing for benefit eligibility. Reading about GamerGirl99's situation really opened my eyes to potential challenges I might face during the transition back to work. What I find most encouraging is how the community came together to not only explain the rules but also suggest practical solutions like employer payroll advances. It's amazing that what seemed like an impossible financial gap actually had a solution through proactive communication with HR. This gives me confidence that if I encounter similar challenges, there might be options I wouldn't have thought to explore on my own. I'm definitely going to remember this approach of being upfront with potential employers about transition needs rather than just assuming I'll have to tough it out. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly why community support makes such a difference!

This is such a relief to find this thread! I've been trying to file my weekly claim since yesterday morning and keep getting hit with that firewall block. I was starting to panic thinking my account got flagged for something. After reading through all these responses, I tried the incognito/private browsing method and it worked! Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. For anyone else still struggling - the private browsing mode really does seem to bypass whatever security issue they're having. And knowing there's a grace period from ESD for this issue takes a huge weight off my shoulders. Hopefully they get this sorted out by Monday like they said!

This is happening to me too! I've been trying since this morning and keep getting that firewall message. I was getting so frustrated because I thought it was something I did wrong. Thank you everyone for posting solutions - I'm going to try the incognito mode right now. It's such a relief to know that ESD won't penalize us for late filing because of this technical issue. Really appreciate this community helping each other out with these kinds of problems!

To summarize and clear up any remaining confusion: 1. Shared Work benefits ARE reduced by your earnings (75% deduction formula) 2. You MUST report ALL earnings including tips 3. Job search requirements apply UNLESS your employer has standby status 4. Your employer must submit Shared Work claims showing your reduced hours 5. You still must file your weekly claim in addition to what your employer submits The main advantage of Shared Work over regular UI is that you can work more hours while still getting some benefits, and you maintain your connection to your employer. It's a great program when understood correctly!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been on Shared Work for almost 6 months now. The most important thing is to be completely honest about ALL your earnings - I've seen too many people get in trouble thinking they could hide cash tips or side work. Also, keep detailed records of everything you report because if ESD ever audits your claim, you'll need to show proof. I use a simple spreadsheet tracking my hours, base wages, tips, and what I reported each week. It's saved me so much stress knowing I have everything documented properly. The program really does help bridge the gap when hours get cut, but only if you follow the rules exactly!

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation with about 4 weeks left on my claim. One thing I learned from calling ESD is that you can actually check if you might qualify for a new claim before you exhaust by looking at your wage history in eServices. If you worked any W-2 jobs after your original claim date, those wages might count toward a new base period. It's worth checking early so you're not scrambling when your benefits end.

This is really helpful information everyone! I'm in almost the exact same situation - about 2 weeks left on my regular UI benefits and was completely confused about what "exhaustee" meant when I saw it mentioned in some ESD documents. It sounds like the key takeaway is that becoming an exhaustee just means you've used up your regular 26 weeks, and then the system automatically checks if you qualify for extended benefits (which aren't available right now due to low unemployment rates). If no extended benefits are available, the next option would be filing a new regular claim if you have enough qualifying wages from work done after your original claim started. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's way clearer than anything I could find on the ESD website!