If you need help immediately, most counties have emergency assistance programs while you wait for unemployment to kick in. Might be worth looking into.

been through this process twice now and it's always stressful waiting for that first payment. hang in there, it'll come eventually

Has anyone tried the Claimyr service for other Washington ESD issues besides benefit calculations? I'm having problems with my weekly claim certification.

The most important thing is getting your initial claim filed correctly. The percentage calculation happens automatically once Washington ESD processes your wage information from employers.

The whole misconduct vs performance distinction is key. Washington ESD's handbook is pretty clear that poor performance alone doesn't disqualify you unless it's willful or deliberate.

Final thought - don't let employer intimidation tactics scare you away from filing. Some companies try to make fired employees think they can't get benefits, but that's not always true, especially for performance issues.

If you run into any issues or need to speak with Washington ESD directly, I'd recommend using Claimyr. I used it when I had questions about my specific situation and it worked great. Much better than spending hours on hold.

The bottom line is this: file your claim now while you're still able to work. Deal with future changes when they happen. You're overthinking it and potentially missing out on benefits you're entitled to.

The tax thing is definitely separate but just be aware that if you get a big unemployment payout, it might bump you into a higher tax bracket for this year. Plan accordingly so you're not surprised next April.

Bottom line - file your unemployment claim ASAP. Tax debt won't stop you from getting benefits and you need that income now more than you need to worry about what might happen later. Take care of immediate needs first.