Bottom line: $25K in earnings across multiple quarters should definitely qualify you in Washington. Stop stressing and just file the claim!

Good luck with your application! From everything you've described, you should definitely qualify. I went through a similar situation last year with part-time work and had no issues getting approved. The Washington ESD system is pretty straightforward once you get started. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time once you're approved - that's the part people sometimes mess up. Let us know how it goes!

To wrap this up - the key takeaway is that in Washington state, unemployment insurance is funded entirely by employer contributions. Employees don't pay unemployment taxes through payroll deductions, but they're still fully covered for benefits if they become unemployed and meet the eligibility requirements. Pretty straightforward once you know how it works!

This is such valuable information! As someone who just moved to Washington from California, I had the same confusion about unemployment taxes. In CA I remember seeing State Disability Insurance (SDI) deductions on my paystub, so I was expecting something similar here. It's refreshing to know that Washington keeps it simple for employees - no state income tax, no employee unemployment contributions, and apparently better unemployment benefits than most states. Really appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge here!

I wish ESD would stop using these vague status terms without explaining what they mean anywhere on their website! My neighbor works for DSHS and she says they get constant calls from people confused about their claim status because the terminology is so unclear. Active should definitely mean approved though, so hopefully you'll see money soon!

Congratulations on getting out of adjudication! From what I've seen in this community, "Active" status is generally a good sign that your claim has been approved. I went through something similar last fall - was stuck in adjudication for about 5 weeks, then one morning my status switched to Active and I received my first payment 3 days later. The backpay for all those weeks I was waiting came through at the same time too, which was such a huge relief. Just keep filing your weekly claims and hopefully you'll see those payments hit your account soon. The waiting is the worst part, but it sounds like you're finally through it!

One more tip - when you file that weekly claim with the vacation pay, screenshot everything. I always take screenshots of my weekly claims just in case there are any disputes later about what I reported.

Just wanted to add that the timing can get tricky if your vacation payout spans multiple pay periods. I got my vacation pay split across two checks - one in December and one in January. You report each payment in the week you actually receive it, not when your employer processes it. So if the first check arrives on a Tuesday, you report it for that week's claim, even if your employer dated it from the previous Friday. The key is the date YOU receive the money, not when they cut the check.

Last bit of advice - don't take any under the table work while collecting unemployment. It's not worth the risk of getting caught and having to pay everything back.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when my retail job got eliminated due to store closures. Here's what I learned: file your claim TODAY if you haven't already. Don't wait even one more day. The one-week waiting period everyone mentioned is real, but it only starts counting once you file your initial claim. I made the mistake of waiting a few days to "get organized" and basically just delayed my first payment by those same days. Also, keep your separation paperwork from your employer handy when you file - they'll ask for specific dates and details. Since you mentioned it was budget cuts and layoffs, your claim should be pretty straightforward. The whole process took me about 30 minutes online, and my first payment hit my account exactly 14 days after I filed. Hang in there!