Bottom line for anyone reading this - document everything, try to resolve issues through proper channels first, and be prepared for a long adjudication process. Good cause quits are possible but Washington ESD makes you work for it.

Just went through this exact situation last month. I quit due to workplace harassment and got approved for benefits. The key things that helped me were: 1) Keep detailed records with dates/times of every incident, 2) Email yourself summaries after each incident so you have timestamps, 3) Save any text messages or emails from your supervisor, 4) Try to get witness contact info if coworkers saw the behavior. I also wrote a formal complaint to HR specifically stating that the harassment was creating an unsafe work environment and kept a copy. When I filed my UI claim, I submitted all this documentation upfront rather than waiting for them to ask. My adjudication took about 4 weeks but I was approved. The investigator told me the detailed timeline I provided really helped my case. Don't let them make you feel like you're asking for something you don't deserve - if you have legitimate good cause, fight for it.

man this whole thread is making me grateful I haven't had to deal with this stuff yet but also worried about what happens when my parents get older. scary to think about

This is such valuable information! I'm actually in a similar situation - my father-in-law has been declining rapidly and we're starting to think about care options. It's reassuring to know that Washington recognizes family caregiving as good cause for unemployment benefits. I had no idea this was even a possibility. Thanks for sharing your story and best of luck with your claim, Samantha. Your mom is lucky to have someone who cares so much about her wellbeing.

Bottom line for OP: 1) Create SAW account, 2) File initial claim through eServices, 3) Start weekly claims after approval, 4) Keep job search records. Don't worry about account numbers - Washington ESD handles all that automatically.

I went through this exact process last month and can confirm what others have said. Create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first - this is just the login portal. Then use that to access eServices where you'll file your actual unemployment claim. The system will automatically assign you an account (using your SSN as the identifier) when you submit your initial claim. No separate account number needed! The whole thing took me about an hour, and I had my monetary determination letter within 3 business days. Make sure you have all your employment history ready before you start - company names, addresses, dates, and reason for leaving each job. Good luck!

The whole system is honestly pretty straightforward once you understand it. File weekly claim → wait 1-2 days → money hits your account. The problems usually come from missed weekly claims or verification issues.

One thing to watch out for is that if you miss filing your weekly claim by the Sunday midnight deadline, you can't go back and file it later - that week's benefit is just lost. I made that mistake once when I was out of town and forgot to file. Now I set a reminder on my phone every Sunday to make sure I don't miss it again.

If you're still worried about it, you could try using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Better to get confirmation from an actual ESD representative than guess and potentially get an overpayment.

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. The rule is definitely that you stop claiming the week you start work, not when you get your first paycheck. I know it creates a financial gap, but it's way better than dealing with an overpayment situation later. One thing that helped me was asking my new employer if they could do a small payroll advance to help with the transition - many companies are understanding about this kind of situation. Also, make sure to keep all your documentation showing your last claim date and first work date, just in case ESD ever asks questions down the line.