Thanks everyone for all the responses! Sounds like the consensus is that selling personal belongings isn't income I need to report, as long as I'm not running a business. I'll keep records just in case but I feel much better about selling some stuff now. Really appreciate all the help!

I went through this same situation a few months ago. I was decluttering my place and sold about $600 worth of furniture, old electronics, and clothes over a couple months on Facebook Marketplace. I kept detailed records with photos and sale prices, but never reported it on my weekly claims since it was all personal property I'd owned for years. Never had any issues with ESD. The key is making sure you're truly selling your own belongings and not buying things to resell - that would cross into business territory. Keep good documentation and you should be fine!

Hey Connor! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I came off FMLA. The "processing web" status is totally normal - it just means your claim was submitted online and is in their system waiting to be processed. It usually changes to just "processing" within a few days. For the adjudication part, make sure your doctor's release is super clear about being released for full duty work. Mine took about 2.5 weeks to clear, but I've heard it can vary a lot depending on how busy they are. The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even while you're waiting - don't skip any weeks or it'll create more problems later. One tip: if you uploaded your doctor's release through the portal, you should have gotten a confirmation. If not, you might want to call and make sure they actually received it. Sometimes documents don't go through properly and that can add weeks to your wait time.

I'm going through something similar right now! Just filed my claim last week after coming off medical leave (not FMLA but similar situation). My status also shows "processing web" and I was confused about what it meant too. From what I've gathered reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the key is just being patient and making sure you keep filing those weekly claims. The adjudication process seems frustrating but necessary I guess. @Connor Murphy - have you tried calling early in the morning right when they open? I've heard that's the best time to actually get through to someone if you need to check on your case status. Might be worth a shot if you're getting anxious about the timeline. Good luck with everything! Hopefully we both get through this process smoothly.

Also, WATCH OUT for the fact that employers often bring up TOTALLY NEW ALLEGATIONS during the hearing that weren't in their original appeal!!! My employer suddenly claimed I had been warned multiple times when that NEVER HAPPENED. Be prepared for them to make stuff up on the spot!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My employer also waited until after I was approved and receiving benefits to file their appeal. It's so stressful but the advice here is really reassuring. One thing I wanted to add - when you're preparing for the hearing, if you have any witnesses (like coworkers who knew about the restructuring), make sure to ask them ASAP if they'd be willing to testify. Some people are hesitant to get involved, but others are happy to help if they know the truth. Even if they can't participate in the hearing, they might be willing to write a brief statement about what they witnessed. Also, keep all your job search records organized during this time. Sometimes they ask about your work search efforts during the hearing, and having that documentation ready shows you're taking the process seriously. You've got this! The fact that ESD initially approved you after reviewing the case is definitely in your favor.

hey did u do ur weekly claims even tho ur appealing? my friend didnt and lost all his backpay when he won his appeal

I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is claiming I abandoned my job when they actually terminated me for "restructuring." It's so frustrating when they can just lie like that! One thing that helped me was thinking about WHY my employer might be lying. In my case, I think they don't want their unemployment insurance rates to go up from having to pay out benefits. That could be worth mentioning at your hearing - give the judge a reason to understand your employer's motivation to misrepresent what happened. Also, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims! I almost made that mistake early on. Even though you're disqualified right now, you need to keep certifying so you can get backpay if you win your appeal. The fact that you applied immediately after being let go is definitely in your favor. I did the same thing and my lawyer said that's one of the strongest pieces of evidence that I didn't voluntarily quit. People who quit usually take time before filing because they know they might not qualify. Stay strong and stick to the truth! The system isn't perfect but it's not completely rigged either.

Bottom line - yes you have to pay federal taxes on unemployment benefits. Start setting aside money now if you're still collecting. The 10% withholding option is your friend. And if you're confused about anything, talk to a tax professional or find a way to reach someone at Washington ESD who can clarify.

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been collecting unemployment for about 4 months and had no idea about the tax implications. Just logged into my Washington ESD account and found the tax withholding option - it was buried in the account settings under "Manage Tax Withholding" like someone mentioned. Set it to 10% federal withholding starting with my next payment. Better late than never! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who was caught off guard by this.