I went through something very similar when I was on unemployment a few months ago. I was so worried about messing up my claim that I called ESD directly to ask about a loan I was getting from my credit union. The representative confirmed what everyone here is saying - loans are absolutely NOT income and don't need to be reported. She explained it like this: "If you have to pay it back, it's not income." The key is that you're not earning money through work or services, you're just borrowing money that you'll eventually have to repay. So definitely keep filing your weekly claims and don't stress about the loan affecting your benefits. Just make sure you're still meeting all the other requirements like being available for work and doing your job search activities. Hope this helps ease your mind!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely overthinking this! I was in almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago when I needed a loan to cover utilities while job hunting. The way I understood it from ESD's perspective is that they only care about money you EARN, not money you RECEIVE. Since you'll have to pay the loan back, it's not earnings or income in their eyes. I kept filing my weekly claims the whole time and never had any issues. The important thing is to stay consistent with your filing schedule and keep up with your job search requirements. Don't let financial stress make you second-guess the basics - you've got this! And honestly, taking care of your housing situation with a loan is probably going to help your job search anyway since you'll have more stability and less stress. Just make sure to document your job search activities as usual and you'll be fine.

One more thing - if you do qualify and start receiving benefits, keep detailed records of all your job search activities. Washington ESD can audit your claim and ask for proof of your job search efforts.

Bottom line - you won't know for sure until you apply. Since you had that W-2 employment last year, it's definitely worth trying. The worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised.

UPDATE: ULP called me back and agreed to take my case! They're assigning me an attorney who specializes in "voluntary quit" cases. I have a meeting with them next week to go through all my evidence. They said based on what I described, I have a decent chance of winning my appeal, especially since I have texts showing I tried to work with my employer on the schedule issue before leaving. Thanks everyone for your advice! I'll post another update after my hearing to let you know how it goes. For anyone facing a similar situation, definitely reach out to ULP as soon as possible!

Congratulations Emma! So glad ULP was able to take your case. Just wanted to add that when you meet with your attorney, make sure to bring any documentation of your childcare arrangement too - like contracts with your daycare provider, their operating hours, pickup/dropoff policies, etc. This helps establish that the schedule change created a legitimate conflict you couldn't resolve. Also, if you have any medical records showing stress or health impacts from the impossible schedule, that can sometimes strengthen a "good cause" argument. The key is showing you made reasonable attempts to accommodate the new schedule but it was genuinely impossible due to circumstances beyond your control. Rooting for you at your hearing! ULP attorneys really know their stuff when it comes to these voluntary quit cases.

One last tip - if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD, try calling right when they open or during lunch hours. Sometimes the wait times are shorter then. Though that Claimyr service people mentioned sounds like it might be easier.

This has been such an informative thread! As someone who works in HR, I see situations like this more often than you'd think. One thing I'd add is to make sure you document your layoff thoroughly - get everything in writing from your employer about the reason for termination, your last day of work, and any benefits continuation. Washington ESD will want to verify that it was indeed an involuntary separation, especially since the timing coincides with your maternity leave. Having clear documentation will help avoid any delays or complications with your claim. Also, don't forget to ask about COBRA continuation for your health insurance - you'll want coverage during your recovery period regardless of which benefits you end up receiving.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify, the benefit amount might not cover all your expenses. Make sure you're also looking into other assistance programs if needed.

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation with your mom. As others have mentioned, Washington does recognize caregiving for immediate family members as "good cause" for voluntary separation in certain circumstances. The key factors they'll look at are: 1) medical documentation proving your mom's serious health condition, 2) proof that you were the primary/only available caregiver, and 3) that you had covered employment (meaning your previous retail job paid into the unemployment system). Since you worked retail for several months before becoming a caregiver, that should help establish your base period wages. I'd definitely recommend filing your claim soon - you can always provide additional documentation during the review process, but you can't get benefits for weeks before you file. The process can take several weeks for adjudication, especially for caregiver cases, but don't let that discourage you from applying.