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OP, curious how your application went? Did you run into any issues with the online system? I know some people have trouble with the SAW login process.
Haven't filed yet but planning to do it tonight after work. Hopefully the website cooperates! I'll update this thread once I get through the process.
If you do have trouble with the website or need to speak with someone, remember that Claimyr option I mentioned earlier. Sometimes the online system glitches and you need human help to sort things out.
Just wanted to add that if you have any trouble with the SAW (SecureAccess Washington) login when filing, try using a different browser or clearing your cache. I had issues with Chrome but Firefox worked fine. Also, the system sometimes gets overloaded on Sunday evenings when everyone files their weekly claims, so if you hit errors tonight, try again early Monday morning. The important thing is you're finally getting this started - better late than never!
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This is such a comprehensive thread! I've been hesitating about plasma donation for weeks but reading everyone's experiences really helps. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Plasma donation isn't considered employment income by Washington ESD, 2) No need to report it on weekly claims, 3) Keep documentation just in case, and 4) Make sure to maintain good health with proper nutrition. I'm definitely going to look into local centers now. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate unemployment and need every bit of help you can get!
You've summarized it perfectly! I was in the same boat a few months ago - really nervous about doing anything that might jeopardize my benefits. But after reading threads like this and talking to people who've actually done it, I realized I was overthinking it. The plasma donation process is pretty straightforward too - just make sure you have all your documents ready for the first visit and don't be afraid to ask questions. The staff at these centers are used to dealing with people in tough financial situations and they're generally pretty understanding. Hope it works out for you!
Just wanted to add my experience - I've been donating plasma for about 3 months while on unemployment and it's been a lifesaver. The extra $300-400 per month has really helped with bills and groceries. What I found helpful was calling ahead to different centers to compare their compensation rates and new donor bonuses. Some places offer up to $100 for your first few donations. Also, if you have any medical conditions or take medications, make sure to ask about eligibility during the screening - they're pretty thorough about what disqualifies you. The actual donation process is pretty relaxing once you get used to it, and most centers have wifi so you can catch up on shows or job searching while you're there. Definitely recommend keeping a simple log of dates and amounts like others mentioned - I use a notes app on my phone. Good luck with your job search and hope this helps bridge the gap financially!
This is exactly the kind of detailed info I was looking for! The tip about calling different centers to compare rates is brilliant - I hadn't thought of that. I'm curious about the screening process - how long did it take for your first visit? And did they ask any questions about your employment status or income sources? I'm planning to go next week but want to be prepared for what to expect. Also really appreciate the reminder about using the time productively for job searching - that's actually a great way to think about it!
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Final tip - when you file your claim, be completely honest about everything. It's better to explain a complicated situation upfront than to have Washington ESD discover something later that looks like you were trying to hide it.
That makes sense. I'll make sure to explain the whole situation with my hours being cut and why I decided to quit.
Exactly. Transparency is always the best policy with unemployment claims.
Just wanted to add that I went through a similar situation last year - my hours got cut from full-time to part-time and I eventually had to quit because it wasn't sustainable financially. Washington ESD approved my claim because the substantial reduction in hours was considered good cause. The key is documenting everything like others mentioned - I kept copies of my old schedule vs new schedule, emails about the changes, and even screenshots of my reduced paychecks. It took about 3 weeks to get my first payment but it was worth the wait. Don't let fear of disqualification stop you from filing - the worst they can say is no, and then you can appeal if needed.
This is really encouraging to hear! It sounds like you had almost exactly the same situation I'm dealing with. Can I ask what kind of documentation you found most helpful? I have some old schedules and recent pay stubs showing the reduced hours, but I'm wondering if there's anything else I should try to gather before I file.
The pay stubs and schedules are definitely the most important. I also saved any emails or texts from my manager about the schedule changes, and I wrote down dates of conversations where I asked about getting more hours. If you have any documentation showing you tried to work with your employer to maintain your hours, that really helps show good faith effort. Also keep anything that shows the financial impact - like if you had to start looking for a second job or if you calculated that the reduced hours plus commute costs made it not worth continuing.
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I'm sorry you're going through this - workplace harassment is so draining. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to keep a detailed journal of incidents with dates, times, and what exactly happened. Even if you don't have emails or texts for everything, your own contemporaneous notes can be valuable evidence. Also, if you have any performance reviews or previous positive feedback from before this supervisor started targeting you, gather those too - they can help show that the problems aren't with your work performance but with the hostile treatment you're receiving.
This is excellent advice about keeping a detailed journal. I'd also suggest backing up all your documentation in multiple places - cloud storage, email to yourself, etc. I've heard horror stories of people losing crucial evidence when their work computer got wiped or their phone broke. The performance review idea is really smart too - it helps establish that you were a good employee before the harassment started.
That's such good advice about backing up documentation! I learned this the hard way when my laptop crashed and I lost some screenshots of inappropriate messages from my former manager. Now I always email important evidence to my personal account immediately. Also, if you're keeping a journal, try to write entries as close to when incidents happen as possible - it makes them more credible if you end up in a hearing because you can show they were written in real-time, not reconstructed later from memory.
I went through something similar with a toxic manager who was trying to force me out. The key thing that saved my UI claim was creating a paper trail - I started sending follow-up emails after every verbal conversation summarizing what was discussed. Like if she gave you that ultimatum verbally, send an email saying "Just to confirm our conversation today, you mentioned that I need to 'figure out how to make this work' regarding the scheduling conflicts we discussed, or find another job. I want to make sure I understood correctly." This forces them to either confirm it in writing or correct the record, and either way you have documentation. Also, when you do talk to the owner, do it in writing if possible or follow up with an email summary. Washington ESD really values that paper trail in constructive dismissal cases.
This is brilliant advice about creating a paper trail through follow-up emails! I never thought about summarizing verbal conversations in writing like that. It's such a smart way to get documentation even when they won't put things in writing themselves. I'm definitely going to start doing this with my supervisor - especially for those "informal" conversations where she makes unreasonable demands or threats. Do you think it's better to send these follow-up emails immediately after the conversation or wait until the end of the day to avoid seeming confrontational?
Alejandro Castro
As someone who's been helping friends and family navigate the ESD system for the past year, I wanted to add a few more practical tips that might help newcomers: **Before you even log in:** - Have a pen and paper ready to jot down any error messages you might encounter - Make sure you have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted time - Close all other browser tabs to avoid any conflicts **During the filing process:** - If you see a spinning wheel or loading icon, DON'T click anything else - just wait - The "Save and Continue" buttons sometimes take 10-15 seconds to respond - If you get kicked out mid-process, don't panic - your partial information usually saves **Red flags to watch for:** - If the page looks completely blank, try Ctrl+F5 to hard refresh - If buttons appear greyed out, try scrolling down - sometimes there are required fields below - If you get an "unexpected error" message, wait 10 minutes before trying again I've noticed ESD has been making small improvements to the system lately, but it's still far from perfect. The most important thing is to be patient with yourself and the technology. This community has your back if you get stuck! Also keeping a backup email folder with all your job application confirmations has saved me during audits. Stay organized and don't let the system stress you out more than necessary! 🌟
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Jeremiah Brown
•This is such comprehensive advice, Alejandro! As someone who just started this process, I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of what to expect and watch out for. The tip about having a pen and paper ready for error messages is brilliant - I would have never thought of that but it makes total sense. I'm especially glad you mentioned the timing thing about buttons taking 10-15 seconds to respond, because I'm definitely the type of person who would get impatient and start clicking multiple times! The backup email folder idea is genius too. I've been saving confirmation emails but not in any organized way. I'm going to create a dedicated folder right now for all my job search documentation. It's so reassuring to know that even if the system has issues, there are ways to work around them and people like you who are willing to share that knowledge. Thanks for taking the time to compile all these practical tips - this thread just keeps getting more helpful! 🙏
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Jamal Carter
I just want to say how grateful I am for this entire thread! I've been putting off filing my weekly claim because I was so intimidated by the job search reporting part, but reading through everyone's experiences has made me realize it's totally doable. I love how this community comes together to help each other navigate what is honestly a pretty confusing system. The step-by-step breakdown, browser tips, formatting requirements, and all the little technical tricks people have shared are going to save me so much frustration. I'm planning to set up my spreadsheet this weekend with all the columns mentioned (Date, Company, Position, Method, Outcome) and gather all my job search info before I even log in. The tip about Sunday morning filing for better system stability is definitely going on my calendar! One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with reporting freelance/gig work applications as job search activities? I've been applying to some contract positions through platforms like Upwork and wasn't sure if those count toward the 3 weekly requirements. Again, thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge. It's amazing how much less stressful this feels when you have a roadmap to follow! 💙
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