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Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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One more thing - if you do end up filing, make sure you file as soon as possible after you lose your job. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, even if you were eligible.
Good to know! I definitely wouldn't want to miss out on benefits because of timing.
Exactly right. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefit year starts, even if there are delays in processing.
This thread was super helpful! I was wondering about the same thing for my situation. Thanks for asking the question OP!
Glad it helped someone else too! Seems like a lot of people are confused about the requirements.
Yeah these kinds of questions come up a lot. The system really could be more user-friendly.
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Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better now knowing that Zoom is still a valid option. I'll make sure to prepare my job search logs, test my connection, and be ready 5 minutes early. I appreciate all the advice!
Regarding your question about the 3 job search activities per week - yes, they are quite strict about this requirement. However, during your WorkSource appointment, you can ask for clarification on what activities count. If you have documentation showing you were actively seeking work but weren't sure if it qualified, bring that up during your appointment. Often, the WorkSource specialist can help you properly categorize past activities. Just be honest about your confusion rather than making something up.
I just had my WorkSource Zoom appointment last week and it went smoothly! A few additional tips: make sure you have a quiet space without distractions, dress professionally (at least from the waist up), and have a backup plan in case of technical issues - they gave me a phone number to call if my internet failed. The specialist was understanding about my transportation challenges and even mentioned they prefer virtual appointments for people in situations like yours. Also, if you're caring for your mom, that might actually count as a valid reason for needing accommodations, so don't hesitate to mention that if any issues come up. Good luck with your appointment!
That's really encouraging to hear! I hadn't thought about mentioning my caregiving situation as a potential accommodation reason - that's a great point. I'll definitely make sure to dress professionally and have that backup phone number ready. It sounds like most people have had positive experiences with the Zoom appointments, which is reassuring. Thanks for sharing your recent experience!
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I'm in the exact same situation right now! Just got laid off this week and have about 80 hours of vacation pay coming to me. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I was really worried that the vacation payout would delay my unemployment benefits or cause complications with Washington ESD. It's clear from everyone's experiences that vacation pay is just wages you already earned while working, so it shouldn't affect your unemployment eligibility at all. The key seems to be reporting it accurately for the weeks you actually worked and earned that vacation time, not when you receive the lump sum payment. I feel so much more confident about filing my initial claim now. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community has been way more helpful than trying to navigate Washington ESD's confusing website on my own!
I'm in almost the exact same boat - just got laid off earlier this week and have about 2 weeks of vacation pay coming too! This whole thread has been such a relief to read. I was really anxious that the vacation payout might somehow disqualify me from unemployment benefits or create delays. But seeing so many people successfully navigate this exact situation has really put my mind at ease. The distinction between vacation pay (wages already earned) versus other types of payments like severance makes total sense now. I'm planning to file my claim this weekend and will make sure to report the vacation pay for the actual weeks I earned it throughout the year. Thanks for adding your voice to this - it's comforting to know so many of us are going through the same thing and that it's really not as complicated as I initially thought!
I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Just got laid off from my accounting job on Thursday and have about 12 days of vacation pay being processed with my final paycheck. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was really stressing about whether the vacation payout would complicate my unemployment claim or delay my benefits. After reading everyone's experiences, I feel so much more confident that it's really not a big deal. The key takeaway seems to be that vacation pay is just wages you already earned while employed, not income during your unemployment period. I'll make sure to report it accurately for the weeks I actually worked and earned that vacation time, not when I receive the payout. It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when you hear from real people who've successfully navigated the same situation! Planning to file my initial claim this weekend. Thanks to everyone for sharing - this community support has been invaluable during what's already a stressful time.
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! It's incredible how many of us are dealing with the exact same vacation pay situation right now. I was also really anxious about this when I first got laid off, but reading everyone's experiences here has made it so much clearer. The fact that vacation pay is just deferred compensation for work we already performed really simplifies things. I think the most important thing I learned from this thread is just to be completely honest and accurate from the start - don't try to overcomplicate it or second-guess yourself. Washington ESD deals with this situation all the time, so as long as we report it correctly for the weeks we earned it, we should be good to go. Best of luck with your claim this weekend! Sounds like you've got a solid understanding of how to handle it now.
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Just want to echo what everyone else said - timing matters a LOT with unemployment claims. File the week you become unemployed, not before and definitely not weeks later. You've got this!
Thank you! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel like I actually understand the process now instead of just guessing.
That's what this community is for. We've all been through the unemployment process and know how confusing it can be at first.
Just wanted to add one more important detail - when you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will send you a monetary determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount and how long your benefits will last. Keep this letter safe because you'll need it if any issues come up later. Also, if you disagree with the benefit amount or qualification decision, you have a limited time to appeal (I think it's 30 days), so don't ignore that paperwork when it arrives!
Ava Thompson
For anyone else reading this thread in the future, here are some proven strategies for contacting ESD in 2025: 1. Call at 8:00am sharp when they first open (or 7:59am as someone mentioned) 2. If your issue is urgent (eviction, utilities being shut off), make sure to mention this 3. Keep your claim ID number, last 4 of SSN, and specific issue details ready 4. If you can't get through after multiple attempts, contact your state representative 5. Always document every contact attempt with date/time for reference 6. Check if your issue can be resolved through the eServices portal 7. Prepare for a potential 30-60 minute hold time once you do connect Staying calm and being specific about your issue when you do reach someone will help get your problem resolved more quickly.
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Dana Doyle
I've been dealing with this same nightmare for the past 2 weeks! After reading through all these suggestions, I finally got through yesterday using a combination of the tips here. Called at exactly 8:00am, selected option 1 then 4, and waited on hold for almost an hour. The agent was able to see that my claim had been flagged for identity verification even though I never received any notice about it. She walked me through uploading documents right there on the call and said it should process within 48 hours. Dylan, so glad you got through too! For anyone still struggling - persistence really is key, and having all your info ready makes the call go much smoother once you do connect. Don't give up!
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Aisha Rahman
•Thank you for sharing your experience Dana! It's so frustrating that they don't send notices about identity verification flags - how are we supposed to know what's wrong if they don't tell us? I'm going to try your exact approach tomorrow morning. Did the agent mention why these identity verification flags are happening so frequently? It seems like a lot of people are getting stuck on this step without any notification.
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