I'm a tax preparer and deal with unemployment/commission situations frequently with my clients. Just want to emphasize something others have touched on but is super important: when you report the commission income on your weekly claim, make sure you're entering the GROSS amount (before any taxes, fees, or deductions). ESD calculates their benefit reduction based on gross income, not what you actually take home. I've seen people get confused and report their net commission amount, which can cause issues later if ESD cross-references with employer wage reports. Also, since you mentioned this is from an HVAC job - if there are any installation-related costs or chargebacks that come out of your commission later, those don't change what you report to ESD for this week. You report what you actually received, period. Any subsequent adjustments are separate matters. Good luck with everything, and you're smart to ask these questions upfront rather than guessing!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your commission check puts you over the earnings threshold for that week and you don't receive unemployment benefits, you should still file your weekly claim! A lot of people think they shouldn't bother filing if they know they won't get paid that week, but you need to maintain your claim to stay active in the system. When you file, you'll just answer "yes" to receiving income and enter your commission amount. The system will automatically calculate that you're not eligible for benefits that week, but it keeps your claim current so you can receive benefits the following weeks when you don't have income. Missing a weekly filing can cause your claim to become inactive, which creates more headaches to reactivate later.

I went through something similar when I was caring for my sick father. What really helped my case was getting a letter from the hospital or doctor that confirmed the dates of the emergency and that your presence was necessary. Even though you have the admission records, a letter specifically stating that you were needed there during those exact dates when you missed work can be really powerful evidence. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from that time period showing you were dealing with the emergency, save those too. Washington ESD really does look at the full picture when there are genuine family emergencies involved.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom's hospitalization - that's such a stressful situation. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like you definitely have a valid case for unemployment benefits. The fact that you had a genuine family emergency and can document it with hospital records really strengthens your position. I'd especially follow the advice about getting a letter from the hospital that specifically confirms you were needed there during those exact dates you missed work. Even though it feels overwhelming right now, file your claim as soon as possible and be completely honest about what happened. Washington ESD does look at each situation individually, and having a clean work record for 2 years shows this wasn't a pattern of behavior. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I went through this exact same process last year after being laid off from my office job. The "qualifying separation determination" basically means Washington ESD is verifying that your job separation qualifies you for benefits. Since you were laid off due to company downsizing (not fired for cause or voluntarily quit), you should definitely be approved. The process took about 3 weeks for me, but that was during a less busy time. Just keep filing your weekly claims while you wait - don't stop doing that even though it's pending! The anxiety is real but layoffs are pretty much the most straightforward approvals they handle.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got my qualifying separation determination letter last week and have been panicking ever since. Reading through all these responses is such a relief - I had no idea this was such a routine part of the process. I was also laid off (from a restaurant that closed permanently) but the formal language in the letter made it sound like I was being investigated for fraud or something. It's so reassuring to hear that layoffs are basically automatic approvals once they verify everything with the employer. Thanks for posting this question because I was too nervous to ask myself!

Update us when you find out! I'm in a similar situation and would love to know how it goes.

I'm just starting out as a freelancer and reading through this thread has been really eye-opening. I had no idea that 1099 workers couldn't get regular unemployment benefits in Washington. This is definitely something I need to plan for - maybe I should look into setting up an emergency fund or consider mixing in some W-2 work alongside my freelance projects. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

This has been a really informative thread. I had no idea churches could opt out of unemployment taxes. Learn something new every day I guess.

I work in payroll for a mid-sized company and we deal with various types of employers. One thing to keep in mind is that even if your church was exempt from unemployment taxes, you should still file the claim because Washington ESD needs to make the official determination. Sometimes organizations think they're exempt when they're actually not, or they may have changed their election status at some point. The worst that can happen is you get denied, but at least you'll know for sure. In the meantime, definitely look into other support programs through DSHS as others have mentioned - there are often temporary assistance options available while you're job searching.