Just remembered - some car dealers have special financing programs for people in transition situations. Might be worth calling around and asking if they have any programs for people on unemployment who are actively job searching.

I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - car broke down while on Washington ESD benefits and desperately needed transportation for job searching. What ended up working for me was joining a local credit union (BECU specifically) and being completely transparent about my situation. I brought all my paperwork - benefit determination letter, recent payment history showing consistent UI deposits, my active job search log, and even references from potential employers I'd interviewed with. The loan officer was really understanding about the catch-22 situation and approved me for a used car loan at a reasonable rate. The key was showing them I was actively working toward getting back into employment, not just sitting on benefits. Also, I kept my loan amount conservative - went for an $8k reliable Honda instead of anything flashy. Having that documented job search activity from Washington ESD requirements actually helped prove I was serious about getting back to work. Good luck!

UPDATE: I actually got approved at a credit union today! Had to put down $2000 and the rate is 12.9% but I got a 2018 Corolla with 60k miles. Thanks everyone for the advice about trying credit unions first - it definitely paid off. Now I can get to job interviews without worrying about transportation.

I'm in a similar situation - been on Washington ESD benefits for about 6 weeks now and really need a reliable car for job interviews. Reading through all these responses is super helpful. I'm planning to try the local credit union first since so many people had success there. Also going to look into that Navy Federal option since my grandfather was in the military. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had luck explaining to lenders that unemployment benefits are actually pretty stable income for the duration you're approved for? Like, I know exactly how much I'll get each week for the next several months, which seems more predictable than some jobs. Anyway, thanks for posting this question OP, the responses have given me a much better roadmap for approaching this.

Glad this got resolved! The Washington ESD website really needs better navigation - took me forever to find this same thing when I needed it for my loan application.

Just want to add that if you're having trouble finding the "Request Benefit Verification Letter" option that others mentioned, make sure you're fully logged into your SecureAccess Washington account and have selected "Unemployment Services" from the main menu first. Sometimes the menu options don't show up properly if you're not in the right section. Also, if you're on PUA or PEUC instead of regular UI, the letter might be in a slightly different location but should still be available through the same general path.

For people asking about job search requirements with the maximum benefit - just because you're getting $999 a week doesn't mean the requirements are any different. You still need those 3 job contacts per week minimum and need to be actively looking for work in your field.

For anyone wondering about appeal rights - if you think your benefit calculation is wrong or you're not getting the maximum you're entitled to, you have the right to appeal Washington ESD's determination. You get 30 days from when they mail you the decision to file an appeal. I had to do this when they miscalculated my base period wages and it was worth the effort. The appeals process can take a few months but if you're right about being owed more money, they'll pay you retroactively for the difference.

Bottom line - job abandonment doesn't automatically disqualify you if you had good cause. File your claim, be honest about the circumstances, and don't be afraid to appeal if you get denied initially. You might be surprised by the outcome.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing to remember is that Washington state recognizes "constructive dismissal" - basically when working conditions are so bad that any reasonable person would have to quit. Mental health impacts from a hostile work environment absolutely count as good cause. When you file your claim, focus on specific incidents and how they affected your ability to do your job safely. Even without formal HR complaints, you can still build a strong case. Document everything you can remember now - dates, what was said, how it made you feel, any physical symptoms like anxiety or insomnia. I ended up getting approved after initially being denied, and the back pay helped a lot during my job search.