The pandemic really highlighted how broken the system is for gig workers. Hopefully that leads to some changes eventually.

Final update: I filed my claim and it's under review! They're looking at my wages from the marketing agency job. Fingers crossed it works out. Thanks to everyone who helped explain how this works.

Just want to add - keep track of your earnings from your current job including your last full week of work. Washington ESD needs this info to calculate your benefit amount, and if you quit mid-week it can affect which week your claim starts from.

I went through a similar situation two years ago and ended up getting approved, but it was a long process. The most important thing I learned is that Washington ESD really wants to see a pattern of problems and that you made genuine efforts to resolve them before quitting. Start documenting everything NOW - even if you don't quit, having records protects you. Save emails, write down incidents with dates and witnesses, and definitely follow up with HR in writing about your previous conversations. Also consider if there are any company policies being violated - that can strengthen your case significantly. The mental health angle is valid but you'll need medical documentation showing how work is specifically impacting you. Don't just quit impulsively - build your case first. Good luck!

Also worth mentioning - if you run into issues with your seasonal claim, Claimyr (claimyr.com) has been super helpful for getting through to Washington ESD. They have a demo video that shows how it works. Sometimes it's worth paying for the service rather than spending days trying to get through yourself.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I work at a Christmas tree farm and never realized I could file for unemployment during the off-season. I always thought you had to be permanently laid off. Going to start my application this week - sounds like seasonal workers have just as much right to benefits as anyone else who gets laid off through no fault of their own.

I went through the same thing a few months ago. The frustration is real! One tip that helped me - if you do try calling at 8am, have the number already dialed and hit call at exactly 8:00:00. Even a few seconds late and you'll be stuck in the queue forever. Also, don't hang up if you get the busy signal - sometimes it will actually connect you after a minute or two. The system is definitely broken but these little tricks can help you work around it.

I had the exact same problem last year and ended up having to get creative. After weeks of trying to call, I actually contacted my state representative's office and they have a constituent services team that can help with state agency issues. They reached out to Washington ESD on my behalf and got a response within 3 days. It's not guaranteed but it's worth a shot if you've exhausted other options. You can find your rep on the Washington State Legislature website. Sometimes going through a different channel gets you faster results than the normal system.

Congratulations on getting it resolved so quickly! That's awesome that your benefit amount increased too. I'm going through the exact same situation right now - just filed my subsequent claim 3 days ago and have been anxiously checking my account every few hours. Your update gives me hope that I won't have to wait much longer. Quick question - did you get any notification or message in your ESD account when it was approved, or did you just notice the payment showed up? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything important while I wait for mine to process.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually in a similar situation but with a twist - my benefit year ended last week but I started a temporary job right before it ended. I worked for 5 days and then got laid off again when the project finished. Now I'm not sure if I should file a subsequent claim or if those 5 days of work somehow reset everything? I'm worried that working those few days might have messed up my eligibility or created some kind of gap in my claim. Has anyone dealt with working briefly right around when their benefit year ended? I don't want to file the wrong type of claim and cause delays.