Look, I get the anxiety about filing, but you've got bills to pay and you earned these benefits. Your employer will get notified - that's just how the system works - but they laid you off so they should expect it. Stop worrying and file today!

I went through the exact same worry when I got laid off from my tech job last year. Your employer will definitely get notified - it's required by law - but honestly, most employers who are doing legitimate layoffs expect their former employees to file for unemployment. It's literally what the system is designed for! I was so anxious about it that I almost didn't file, but my former manager actually reached out a few weeks later to ask if I had filed yet because they wanted to make sure I was getting the support I needed. Don't let anxiety cost you benefits you've earned - file as soon as possible because every day you wait is money you're leaving on the table.

After reviewing your responses here, I suspect there may have been a system issue or misinterpretation of your weekly claim answers. This happens more often than ESD admits. For your appeal, focus on these key elements: 1. Your consistent job search activities (3+ per week) 2. Your full availability for work (no restrictions on hours/days) 3. Your willingness to accept suitable work 4. Any miscommunications or system errors that might have occurred Technically speaking, the burden of proof in these hearings shifts to ESD. They must prove you were NOT available, rather than you having to prove you WERE available. However, having solid documentation significantly strengthens your case. The current appeal process is taking about 6-8 weeks from filing to hearing, and another 1-2 weeks for the decision. Administrative Law Judges are overturning about 58% of 'able and available' disqualifications according to the most recent OAH statistics.

I went through a similar situation last year and won my appeal! One thing that really helped my case was creating a detailed spreadsheet showing every job I applied for during each disqualified week - including company name, position, date applied, and method of application. I also included screenshots of job postings I applied to through Indeed and other sites. The Administrative Law Judge was impressed with my organization and it clearly showed I was actively seeking work. Another tip: if you had any phone or video interviews during those weeks, bring documentation of those too - it proves you were not only looking but actually getting responses. The fact that you mentioned having an interview scheduled probably worked in your favor, not against you, because it shows employer interest. Good luck with your appeal - you've got this!

Update from earlier - I tried Claimyr this morning and got through to Washington ESD in about 10 minutes. Agent told me my redetermination was approved last Thursday! She said the back pay should show up in my account by tomorrow. So relieved to finally know what's happening. Thanks to whoever recommended that service!

I'm going through something similar and this thread has been really helpful! I submitted my redetermination documents about 4 weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting. My case is also about separation circumstances - my employer is claiming I was terminated for performance issues but I believe it was actually due to company restructuring. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that I'll hear something soon. It's encouraging to see so many people getting approved and receiving their back pay, even if the wait is stressful. I think I'm going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow since it seems like several people have had success getting through to an actual agent that way.

Bottom line - yes you can work part-time and collect unemployment in Washington. Just be honest, report everything accurately, and keep looking for full-time work. It's actually a great way to bridge the gap while job hunting.

One thing I'd add is to keep detailed records of your part-time work schedule and earnings for your own records. I create a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours worked, and gross pay for each week. This has saved me so much time when filing my weekly claims and makes it easy to double-check that Washington ESD processed everything correctly. Also, if you ever get audited or have questions about your claim later, having your own documentation is invaluable. The 15-20 hours at $18/hour sounds like a perfect setup for partial benefits!

The whole system is set up to confuse people. Why can't Washington ESD just have clear guidance on their website about common situations like this?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! This thread has been incredibly valuable. I'm feeling much more confident about filing my claim now. It sounds like the key points are: 1) WARN Act pay is different from regular severance and typically doesn't delay your claim, 2) You still need to report it on weekly certifications as other income, and 3) Be transparent about everything when filing. I'll make sure to clearly indicate it's WARN Act pay (not regular severance) when I file this week. Really appreciate this community for providing real-world experiences when the official channels are so hard to navigate!