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One more thing - if you've worked in other states recently, that might complicate things. Washington can sometimes combine wages from other states but you might need to file an interstate claim.
Bottom line - with 8 months of full-time work at $4,500/month, you should definitely qualify. The main thing is just making sure you file correctly and understand the ongoing requirements.
The key thing is to not stop filing your weekly claims even if you're not getting paid yet. I made that mistake and it complicated my case when I finally got approved.
Bottom line: plan for 4-6 weeks realistically. Yes some people get approved faster, but better to be prepared for the longer timeline than caught off guard.
If you do decide to leave and the new opportunity doesn't work out, make sure you understand why you're no longer employed. Being fired for performance issues might still qualify you for benefits, but misconduct usually doesn't.
Bottom line: you need sufficient work history in the right time period, and you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own. The 680 hours or equivalent wage requirement is pretty standard across most situations.
Nora Bennett
Just went through a similar situation. Company offered voluntary severance, I took it, and had no issues getting unemployment after the severance period ended. Key was that the company was clear it was a workforce reduction, not people choosing to quit.
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Natalie Adams
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly the kind of real-world example I needed to hear.
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Ryan Andre
•Same here. As long as the company doesn't try to code it as voluntary resignation, you should be fine.
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Lauren Zeb
Make sure you keep all documentation from your employer about the severance package and the reasons for the layoff. Washington ESD might request this during the application process, especially if there are any questions about the voluntary nature of the separation.
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Natalie Adams
•Absolutely. I'm going to make sure I get everything in writing from HR about the department elimination.
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