This entire thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with ESD denials! I work in HR and see employees get tripped up by these hour requirements all the time. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you had any employer-paid training during your base year (orientation, safety training, etc.), make sure those hours are counted too. We've had several cases where new hire training hours weren't included in ESD's calculations. Also, if you were paid for any company meetings or mandatory events, those count as well. The key is that ANY time your employer paid you should be included in that 680-hour total. Keep all your pay stubs from the entire base year period - not just your regular work hours!

Wow, reading through this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea there were so many different types of paid hours that count toward the 680 requirement. I'm bookmarking this for future reference in case I ever need to file for unemployment. It's really frustrating that ESD doesn't provide this level of detail upfront - like why isn't there a clear checklist of what counts as "hours worked" on their website? The fact that vacation time, sick pay, training hours, temp agency work, and even alternative base year calculations can all make a difference is huge. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise here. This thread is going to help so many people who find themselves in similar situations!

I went through a similar situation when I had to close my coffee shop last year. One thing I'd add is to make sure you document the reason for closure (rising rent costs in your case) in your final paperwork with Washington ESD. This helps establish that it's an involuntary business closure rather than voluntary, which can be important for your employees' unemployment claims and potentially for you if you ever start another business. Also, consider reaching out to your local SCORE chapter - they sometimes have resources for business closure assistance that I wish I'd known about earlier.

I'm sorry to hear about your shop closure, but it sounds like you're approaching this responsibly. One thing I wanted to mention that I don't see covered yet - when you do your final payroll, Washington state requires that final paychecks be paid immediately upon termination (same day) rather than on your normal pay schedule. This is different from regular payroll timing rules. Also, if you have any accrued vacation time or PTO policies, you'll need to pay those out according to your company policy or Washington state law. Make sure to factor these immediate payout requirements into your closure timeline and cash flow planning.

I'm going through a backdating appeal myself right now and wanted to share what I've learned from talking to other claimants who've been through this process. The judges definitely vary in how they interpret the "good cause" standard, but several people have told me that having extensive job search documentation like yours actually strengthens your case significantly. One thing that might help - if you have any emails or texts you sent to friends/family during those 8 weeks mentioning your job search or expressing confusion about unemployment benefits, bring those as evidence. They can help demonstrate your genuine state of mind at the time. Also, practice explaining your timeline clearly and concisely. The judges appreciate when you can walk through exactly what happened week by week without getting too emotional or defensive. Focus on the facts: when you were laid off, what you understood about the process, what actions you took, and when you realized you should have filed earlier. The $4,200 you're owed shows this is definitely worth fighting for. Even if the odds aren't perfect, you've got a legitimate case with the misunderstanding angle and strong job search evidence. Wishing you the best of luck with your hearing next week!

I'm actually in a very similar boat and wanted to share some hope! I had my backdating appeal hearing last week for a 6-week period where I was intensely job searching instead of filing. Like you, I had this totally wrong idea that unemployment was something you only did if you gave up looking for work. The judge asked me point blank why I didn't call ESD during those weeks, and I was honest - I said I was operating under the assumption that active job searching and collecting unemployment were mutually exclusive. I explained that in my mind, filing for benefits meant I was "giving up" on finding work quickly. What really seemed to help my case was that I brought a timeline showing I applied to 40+ jobs during the disputed period (way more than required) and had emails to friends where I specifically said I was "trying to find work before having to go on unemployment." The judge said these showed my genuine belief that I was doing what I was supposed to do. I should hear back on the decision within a week or two, but the judge seemed much more sympathetic than I expected. Your 60+ job applications during 8 weeks actually puts you in a really strong position - that level of activity clearly shows good faith effort and genuine misunderstanding rather than laziness or avoidance. Definitely focus on the misunderstanding angle and bring any documentation that shows your mindset at the time. You've got this!

Best of luck with your move and job search! Even if the unemployment situation doesn't work out perfectly, you're making the right choice to support your family.

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. One thing I discovered is that Washington ESD does have a provision for "domestic circumstances" under RCW 50.20.050, but it's interpreted very narrowly. However, there's also something called "interstate benefit payment plans" that might be worth looking into. Essentially, you might be able to file your initial claim in Washington based on your work history there, but then potentially transfer or continue receiving benefits while residing in Oregon if you meet certain criteria. The key is establishing your claim before you move and ensuring you're actively seeking work. I'd definitely recommend getting this confirmed directly with an ESD agent before making any decisions.

I'm new to this unemployment process and reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently waiting for my eligibility determination after being laid off from my main job, but I also had a part-time position earlier in my base year that I left to focus on the full-time role. From what I'm understanding from all your stories, it sounds like ESD will review each job separation individually during adjudication, which makes sense but also sounds pretty stressful to wait through. The advice about keeping detailed documentation and continuing to file weekly claims even during the waiting period seems crucial - I definitely don't want to mess that up! One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know if the length of time you worked at each job affects how they calculate benefits? I was only at my part-time job for about 3 months before leaving for the full-time position, so I'm wondering if that shorter duration might impact things. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. It's really helpful to hear real stories from people who've actually been through this process rather than just trying to decipher the official ESD website!

I've been following this thread closely as I'm in a very similar situation - laid off from my primary job but also had a previous employer that might contest my claim. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add that might be useful for others in this situation: I recently discovered that you can actually check the status of your employer responses through your eServices account. If you log in and go to "View Claim Details," it sometimes shows whether employers have responded to the separation notices ESD sent them. It's not always updated in real-time, but it can give you a sense of where things stand. Also, I've been keeping a simple journal documenting my whole experience - dates of calls to ESD, what representatives told me, when I submitted documents, etc. My friend who went through this last year said it was a lifesaver when she had to do a phone interview, because she could reference exact dates and conversations. The waiting really is the hardest part, but it sounds like most people here eventually got approved, even if it took longer than expected. Hang in there everyone!