I'm in a similar boat - been working commission-only sales at a furniture store for about 3 years and they just announced they're closing next month. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! I've been putting off applying because I wasn't sure if commission workers even qualified, but it sounds like as long as I have my W-2s (which I do) and my employer was paying unemployment taxes, I should be eligible. One question - did anyone have issues with the varying income affecting their job search requirements? Like, are they expecting me to look for the same type of commission-based sales jobs, or can I apply for hourly positions too while I'm collecting benefits? I'm wondering if I should stick to my industry or if branching out would cause any problems with ESD.

I went through a very similar situation as a commission-only mortgage loan officer when my company went out of business in 2023. The whole process was definitely more involved than I expected, but I did get approved after about 5-6 weeks. A few things that helped me that I haven't seen mentioned yet: - Keep copies of your pay stubs/commission statements that show taxes were withheld (this proves your employer was treating you as a W-2 employee) - If your brokerage used a payroll company, try to get contact info for them since ESD might need to verify the unemployment tax payments directly - Be prepared for them to ask about any 1099 income you might have received on top of your W-2 commission (some real estate agents get referral fees as 1099 income which can complicate things) The income verification took the longest for me, but once they confirmed everything, my weekly benefit amount was actually calculated pretty fairly based on my stronger quarters. Don't let the extra paperwork discourage you - commission workers definitely have rights to unemployment benefits in Washington! Just start gathering your documents now and be patient with the process.

Good luck OP! The Washington ESD website has pretty clear instructions for filing. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you - you paid into this system and you deserve the benefits.

I'm also in Washington and was laid off recently. Reading through everyone's responses here really helped clarify things for me too! One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your bank account info ready when you file - they'll ask how you want to receive payments (direct deposit vs. debit card). Direct deposit is usually faster once you start getting benefits. Also, don't be discouraged if the website seems slow or glitchy sometimes - just keep trying. The system can get overloaded but it does work. Good luck with your filing!

Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so relieved you got this sorted out, Keisha. Your story really highlights how these coding errors can happen to anyone - it sounds like it was just human error on ESD's end when they were processing your employer's response. For anyone else who might encounter this, I'd also suggest taking screenshots of your claim status at different stages. Sometimes these systems can be glitchy and having visual proof of what you're seeing can be helpful when talking to agents. Also, if you do get disconnected while on hold (which happens way too often), try calling right back - sometimes you get lucky and get through faster on the second attempt. Thanks for sharing your resolution - it's going to help so many people who find themselves in similar situations!

This thread is incredibly valuable - thank you Keisha for sharing your experience and everyone for the helpful advice! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed at how supportive everyone is. I'm currently dealing with my own ESD claim issues (different problem but equally frustrating) and reading through all these responses has given me so much insight into how the system works and what to expect. The tip about checking claim status regularly is something I definitely wasn't doing enough. It's reassuring to know that these coding errors can happen to anyone and that there are ways to get them fixed, even if it takes some persistence. I'll definitely be more proactive about monitoring my account and documenting everything going forward. Thanks for creating such a helpful resource for all of us navigating this confusing process!

Just want to add another perspective - I'm a substitute teacher in Washington and I was actually able to collect unemployment last summer because subs typically don't have that "reasonable assurance" of work. So the rules definitely vary depending on your exact employment situation. Since you're switching from teaching to librarian, that role change might work in your favor. The key is that it's a different job classification with different duties, even though it's in the same district. I'd definitely encourage you to apply - worst case they say no, but you might be surprised!

I'm also a Washington teacher dealing with the same summer income issues! Reading through all these responses, it sounds like your situation switching from English teacher to librarian might actually work in your favor. The fact that it's a different job classification with completely different certification requirements and daily duties could be the key to overcoming the "reasonable assurance" rule. I'd definitely recommend applying ASAP and really emphasizing how substantially different the librarian position is from classroom teaching. Even if you're in the same district, the roles are totally different - different skills, different responsibilities, different certifications needed. Worth a shot, and like others said, worst case they deny it but at least you'll know for sure. Keep us updated on what Washington ESD says!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my tech job and received 10 weeks of severance. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like I should file my unemployment claim immediately and just report the severance accurately each week. One thing I'm wondering about though - does the amount of severance affect how much my weekly unemployment benefit would be once the severance runs out? Or is that calculated solely based on my previous wages?

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in almost the exact same situation last year with a marketing layoff and severance. Filed my claim right away like everyone suggested, and it was the right move. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed spreadsheet of my severance payments and which weeks they covered. Made the weekly claims much easier to fill out accurately. Also, don't stress too much about the job search requirements during severance - I used that time to really polish my resume and LinkedIn profile, which actually helped me land interviews faster once I was actively receiving benefits. The whole process is much smoother than it seems at first!