Great plan! One additional tip - when you get that letter from your CEO, also ask HR to send a separate confirmation email or letter verifying the standby arrangement. Having documentation from both the CEO and HR can strengthen your case if there are any questions from ESD. Also, since you mentioned this is related to funding rounds, you might want to ask your employer to include language in the letter about the "temporary nature due to funding timeline" rather than just saying "layoff." ESD sometimes views funding-related separations more favorably when it's clear it's truly temporary and business-related rather than performance issues. Good luck!

Just want to echo what others have said about getting proper documentation - this is absolutely critical! I went through a similar situation last year when my startup ran out of runway. A few additional things to consider: 1. Make sure your employer includes their EIN (Employer Identification Number) on the letter - ESD sometimes requests this for verification 2. If possible, get the letter notarized - it's not required but can help if there are any disputes 3. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - the original layoff notice, the return-to-work letter, any emails about the situation Also, since you mentioned this is funding-related, be prepared for potential delays. My company's "6-week bridge" turned into 12 weeks when their Series A fell through. Having that backup job search plan is really smart. The good news is that if your standby gets extended or converted to regular UI, you won't lose any benefits - just be ready to start the job search requirements if needed. One last tip: if you do end up job searching during standby "just in case," don't report those activities on your weekly claims unless you actually get hired somewhere. Being on standby means you're excused from job search requirements, so reporting them could confuse the system.

And remember if you DO run into problems, don't just sit there waiting forever like I did. Get on the phone or use one of those services to figure out what's going on. Time is money when you're unemployed!

I'm in a similar situation - filed about 2 weeks ago and still waiting for my first payment. My claim shows "approved" but no money yet. It's nerve-wracking when you have bills due! From what I'm reading here, sounds like I'm still within the normal timeframe. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and timelines - helps knowing this is normal and not just me having issues with the system.

I'm dealing with a similar disqualification issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just want to add that if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, try calling right when they open at 8:00 AM - that's when I had the most luck. Also, when you do get through, ask them to email you a copy of your determination letter if you haven't received it yet. Sometimes the mail gets delayed but they can send it electronically. Don't get discouraged - the appeal process really does work if you have the documentation to back up your case. Keep all your paperwork organized and make copies of everything before you submit it!

I just want to echo what others have said about not giving up if you know you were legitimately laid off. The same thing happened to my brother - he was part of a company-wide layoff but his employer reported it as job abandonment to avoid paying unemployment taxes. He was initially disqualified but won his appeal after providing his layoff notice and getting statements from other employees who were laid off the same day. The whole process took about 2 months but he received full back pay. Make sure to document everything - dates, conversations with supervisors, any written notices you received. Even if you don't have formal paperwork, witness statements from coworkers can be really powerful evidence. The hearing officers understand that some employers try to game the system, so they're usually pretty thorough in reviewing the evidence. Good luck with your appeal!

Bottom line for the original poster and anyone else reading: File immediately after job loss. Don't wait for paperwork, don't wait to think about it, don't wait for anything. Every day you wait is money lost forever.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I cannot stress enough - FILE IMMEDIATELY. I was laid off on a Wednesday and filed that same evening online. The whole process took maybe 30 minutes, and I'm so glad I didn't wait. The Washington ESD website is actually pretty user-friendly and walks you through everything step by step. You don't need any special paperwork from your employer to get started - just your basic info, work history, and reason for separation. The key thing to remember is that your benefit week starts the Sunday of the week you file, so every day you delay is literally money out of your pocket that you can never recover. Don't overthink it, just do it today!

Thanks everyone for all this info! I feel much more confident about understanding my options now. This was really helpful.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is workplace harassment or discrimination. If you have to quit because of a hostile work environment due to harassment (sexual, racial, etc.) or discrimination, that's typically considered good cause in Washington. You'll need to document incidents and show you tried to address it through proper channels first, but it's definitely a qualifying reason that more people should know about.