I went through something similar last year. My sister missed work for 2 days without calling due to a mental health crisis and initially got denied benefits. But she appealed with documentation from her therapist and hospital records, and Washington ESD eventually approved her claim. The key was proving it wasn't willful misconduct but rather circumstances beyond her control. Your coworker should definitely file - even if it seems hopeless, stranger things have happened. The worst they can say is no, but if she doesn't try, the answer is automatically no.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my roommate got fired for no call no show but she had a legitimate medical emergency. From what I've learned reading through all these responses, it really comes down to whether there were circumstances beyond her control and if she has documentation to prove it. Even though the odds might not be great for typical no call no show cases, Washington ESD does evaluate each situation individually. The consensus here seems to be that she should definitely file anyway since there's nothing to lose by trying. If she gets denied, she can always appeal with any evidence she might have. The whole process might take a while but it's better than not trying at all.

This entire thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and ended up scrambling because I had no idea what to expect. Reading through everyone's experiences and all the practical resources shared here really shows how much collective knowledge we have when we come together to help each other. A couple things I learned from my experience that might help others: 1. Document everything - keep screenshots of your ESD claims, copies of your job offer letter, and records of all your communications with landlords/utilities. This saved me when I had questions later. 2. Some employers have "new hire hardship" policies that aren't widely advertised - it's worth asking HR directly if they have any resources for employees dealing with pay schedule gaps. 3. Local libraries often have information about emergency assistance programs and some even have social workers on staff who can help connect you with resources. What really strikes me is how many people face this same challenge but there's so little official guidance about it. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone starting a new job while on unemployment. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and making this transition less isolating for others!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's currently unemployed and actively job searching, I'm saving this entire conversation for reference because I know I'll likely face this exact situation soon. What really stands out to me is how this reveals a significant gap in our support systems - you're technically employed but have zero income for weeks, yet the unemployment system can't bridge that gap. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical resources people have shared - things like the United Way 2-1-1 helpline, asking about earned wage access programs, and the tip about libraries having social workers. These are resources I never would have known about otherwise! It's also really smart advice about being proactive with landlords and utilities rather than waiting until you're behind. One thing this thread makes me want to do is start building a small emergency fund specifically for this type of transition, even while on unemployment benefits. Maybe setting aside even $20-30 per week could help create a small buffer for situations like this. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially AstroAce for the detailed updates and follow-through. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex situations that the official systems don't handle well. Congratulations on the new job, and I hope the transition period goes smoothly!

Great thread here! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're doing your weekly claims and reporting vacation pay, make sure to save screenshots or print copies of your submissions. I had a situation where Washington ESD claimed I didn't report some vacation pay correctly, and having those records saved me from having to pay back benefits. The online system can be glitchy sometimes, so documentation is your friend!

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Had about 60 hours of vacation pay coming after getting laid off. The key thing is to file your claim immediately - don't wait for the vacation pay to run out. I made the mistake of waiting a week thinking I should, and it just delayed everything unnecessarily. When you do your weekly claims, just be completely honest about the vacation pay amounts and dates you receive them. Washington ESD's system will automatically calculate how it affects your benefits. The vacation pay didn't cause any adjudication issues for me, and once it was done, my regular unemployment payments started right up. Also, keep really detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, pay stubs from the vacation payout. You'll thank yourself later if any questions come up!

Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone dealing with pension issues and Washington ESD. I had a small pension from a retail job I worked 25 years ago, and I was really stressed about how it would affect my unemployment benefits. After reading through all these helpful comments, I decided to be completely upfront about it when I filed my initial claim. Washington ESD was actually really professional about the whole thing - they walked me through exactly what documents I needed and explained the calculation process clearly. It did take about 2 weeks longer to process my claim because of the pension verification, but like someone mentioned earlier, they backdated all my payments to when I first filed. The reduction wasn't as bad as I feared either - they only deducted about 25% of my pension amount from my weekly UI benefits because most of my pension was from my own contributions. My advice is definitely to report it upfront and gather as much documentation as you can beforehand. The peace of mind is worth it, and Washington ESD seems to really appreciate honesty and transparency in these situations.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and found this thread really helpful! One thing I wanted to add based on my research is that Washington ESD actually has a specific form (Form ESD 847) that they use for pension reporting. If you can get this form filled out by your pension administrator ahead of time, it can really speed up the process. Also, for anyone who might be in a similar boat - if you have multiple small pensions from different jobs (like I do), you need to report ALL of them, even if individually they seem insignificant. Washington ESD will calculate the total impact across all pension income. The good news is that if the combined employer contribution portion is under a certain threshold, the reduction to your UI benefits might be minimal. I'm still waiting to hear back from Washington ESD about my specific case, but at least I feel prepared now thanks to all the advice shared here.

FINAL UPDATE: I used Claimyr to get through to ESD this morning and explained the situation. The agent said since I reported my work hours correctly (including the holiday), the system just needed manual verification. She fixed it right on the call! Payment is being processed now. Thanks everyone for the help!

Great to hear it all worked out! This is a perfect example of why it's worth reaching out to ESD when you're unsure about something on your claim. I've learned that their system can be pretty sensitive to any inconsistencies, even minor ones. Thanks for sharing your experience - it'll definitely help others who run into similar situations with holiday reporting!