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I just went through this exact same confusion a few weeks ago! The wording of that question really threw me off too - it does seem like a circular question when you're applying FOR benefits. After reading through everyone's explanations here, I finally understand they're asking about your current unemployment spell specifically. In my case, I had been unemployed for about 6 weeks before I finally got around to filing my claim, so during those 6 weeks I obviously hadn't collected any benefits yet since I hadn't applied. So my answer was "no." But if someone had been getting benefits earlier in their current unemployment period and then had to file again for some reason, they'd need to report those. The key is really focusing on "during your unemployment period" meaning THIS current stretch of being unemployed. Thanks everyone for breaking this down - Washington ESD really needs to work on their form wording!
Exactly! The 6-week delay before filing is such a common situation too. I think a lot of people don't realize they should file right away when they become unemployed. Your explanation about focusing on "THIS current stretch" really drives home the point - it's all about the timeline of your current unemployment episode, not any historical unemployment situations. And you're so right about Washington ESD needing to improve their form wording. They could save everyone so much confusion by just being more specific about what time period they're referring to!
This thread has been such a lifesaver! I just encountered this exact question on my Washington ESD forms and was completely stumped by the wording. Like Jessica said, it really does seem like a circular question when you're applying FOR benefits in the first place. After reading through everyone's explanations, I now understand they're asking specifically about your current unemployment period - so if you've been unemployed for 2 months but only just now filing your claim, they want to know if you received any benefits during those 2 months (which would be no for first-time filers). The distinction between your "unemployment period" versus your overall unemployment history is key. I also appreciate the advice about using the comments section to clarify your situation if you're unsure - that's such a smart approach. It's frustrating that Washington ESD uses such confusing language, but at least we have this community to help decode their forms!
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I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with Washington ESD. Was suspended for 10 days pending investigation and filed for unemployment benefits. The key thing is to be completely transparent about your employment status when you file. They'll ask if you worked and earned wages - answer honestly that you were suspended without pay. My claim was approved within about 2 weeks once they verified the details with my employer. The investigation outcome didn't affect my eligibility since I wasn't being paid during the suspension period. Just make sure you're ready to provide documentation if they request it.
That's really helpful to know! The 2-week approval timeline gives me hope. Did you have to do anything special during the investigation period or just wait for it to resolve?
I was in a similar situation a few years ago - suspended without pay for 3 weeks while they investigated a safety incident. Washington ESD approved my benefits after about 10 days of review. The key things that helped me were: 1) I filed immediately when the suspension started, 2) I was completely upfront about being suspended (not terminated), and 3) I had all my documentation ready including the suspension notice from HR. During my weekly certifications, I just reported zero wages and explained I was suspended without pay each week. Once the investigation cleared me and I returned to work, I stopped filing claims. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I got past the initial worry about eligibility.
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same process! I'm planning to file today and will make sure to have all my documentation ready. The fact that you got approved in 10 days gives me hope. Did you face any issues when you returned to work after the investigation cleared you, or was it pretty straightforward to stop the claims?
@Diego Vargas Thanks for sharing your experience! That s'exactly the kind of detailed breakdown I was hoping to find. I m'definitely going to follow your approach - file immediately, be completely transparent about the suspension status, and have all my documentation organized. It s'good to know that the weekly certifications are straightforward too. I was worried about how to handle those, but just reporting zero wages and explaining the suspension makes perfect sense. Really appreciate you taking the time to share what worked for you!
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Just want to emphasize again - do NOT go without health insurance while on unemployment. Even if you think you can't afford it, check all your options first. The financial risk isn't worth it.
Absolutely, that's why I'm trying to get this figured out ASAP. Thanks everyone for all the great advice!
Also worth checking if your county has any local health programs or clinics that offer services on a sliding fee scale based on income. Even with marketplace coverage, you might find cheaper options for routine care and prescriptions while you're on unemployment. Some counties in Washington have really good programs that can supplement your insurance coverage.
That's a great point about local health programs! I hadn't thought about that. Do you know if there's a way to find out what's available in my specific county? I'm in King County and wondering if they have any programs that could help with prescription costs especially.
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Thanks for this additional information! I was able to find my 1099-G following everyone's advice, but this is good to know for future reference. I appreciate all the help from everyone!
Just wanted to share another tip for anyone still having trouble - if you're using a mobile device to access the ESD website, sometimes the 1099-G section doesn't display properly. I had this issue last month and switching to a desktop computer made all the difference. The mobile version of their site seems to hide some menu options or they don't load correctly. Also, make sure you're not using an outdated browser - I've found that Chrome or Firefox work best with the ESD portal. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through!
Ivanna St. Pierre
I'm really glad I found this thread! I've been on unemployment for about 8 weeks now and have rental income from a small apartment building that brings in around $2,200/month. I've been reporting it on my weekly claims but was constantly worried that I was doing something wrong or that it might affect my benefit amount. Reading through all these experiences has been such a huge relief - especially the clarification about earned vs unearned income and hearing from the benefits counselor. Like many others here, I use a property management company so it's completely passive for me. It's incredible how much anxiety this stuff can cause when you're already dealing with unemployment stress. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this kind of real-world insight is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing official resources!
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Ryan Vasquez
•Welcome to the community! Your situation with $2,200/month from an apartment building sounds exactly like what everyone else has been describing here. With a property management company handling everything, that's definitely passive income that shouldn't affect your unemployment benefits at all. You're absolutely doing the right thing by consistently reporting it on your weekly claims - that transparency is exactly what Washington ESD wants to see, but it won't reduce your benefit amount. I completely understand the anxiety though! This whole unemployment process is stressful enough without worrying about whether you're accidentally doing something wrong with your benefits. This thread has been such an amazing resource for all of us dealing with rental income situations. It's so reassuring to hear from people with real experience and that benefits counselor who confirmed we're all on the right track!
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Paolo Bianchi
I'm new to this community but this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I've been on unemployment for about 5 weeks and have rental income from a duplex that brings in $1,800/month. I've been reporting it on my weekly claims but was really stressed thinking it might disqualify me or reduce my benefits. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially the benefits counselor's confirmation and hearing from people who've dealt with this for years - has put my mind at ease. The earned vs unearned income distinction makes so much sense now. I also use a property management company so it's completely hands-off for me. It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when you get real advice from people with actual experience rather than trying to figure out the confusing official websites. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and helping newcomers like me navigate this stressful situation!
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Mei Lin
•Welcome to the community, Paolo! Your duplex situation sounds exactly like what so many of us have been dealing with here. That $1,800/month with a property management company is definitely passive income that won't affect your unemployment benefits at all. You're absolutely doing the right thing by reporting it consistently on your weekly claims - that's the transparency Washington ESD wants, but it shouldn't reduce your benefit amount. I totally get the stress though! When you're already dealing with unemployment anxiety, the last thing you need is worrying about accidentally messing up your benefits. This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding the earned vs unearned income rules. It's so much better getting real experiences from people who've actually lived through this rather than trying to decode those confusing official resources!
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