One last thing - if your claim gets approved, don't spend the money assuming it's guaranteed. Sometimes employers win appeals even after initial approval. Keep some money set aside just in case, but don't stress too much about it.

I went through something similar last year - got terminated for "not being a cultural fit" after reporting safety violations. Washington ESD approved my claim because they determined it wasn't misconduct. The key thing to remember is that Washington law is actually pretty employee-friendly when it comes to unemployment eligibility. Even if your employer contests it (which they probably will), as long as you weren't fired for willful misconduct like theft, violence, or repeatedly refusing to follow reasonable instructions, you should be eligible. Performance issues, personality conflicts, or just not being good at the job typically don't disqualify you. File your claim today and make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even during the adjudication period. Good luck!

Once you get the approval, notice your payments are automatically sent out. Natalie, I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. I know a lot about the unemployment system, and when I was in adjudication, and I got the approval letter, my payments were issued immediately.

This is exactly why ESD needs better transparency in their system. You shouldn't have to pay a third-party service or wait hours on hold just to find out there's a "quarterly review flag" blocking your payments. It's ridiculous that these blocks aren't visible to claimants in the portal. At minimum, they should show a status like "Payment under review" instead of just leaving everyone hanging with "pending" and no explanation. Glad you finally got it resolved, but the fact that you had to go through all that stress and expense just to get money you were already approved for is unacceptable. Hopefully your experience helps others who are stuck in the same situation realize they need to be persistent about actually reaching someone at ESD rather than just waiting and hoping the payments will magically appear.

Good luck with your claim filing! Based on everything discussed here, it sounds like you have a reasonable case since they stated it was a layoff due to restructuring. Just make sure to be completely honest about everything, keep detailed records of your job search activities from the start, and don't panic if you get an initial denial - the appeal process exists for a reason. The fact that you're being proactive and researching this beforehand shows you're taking it seriously, which will help you in the long run.

I went through a similar situation last year where I had some performance issues but was ultimately laid off due to "budget cuts." What really helped me was gathering any documentation that supported the employer's stated reason for the layoff - things like company-wide emails about restructuring, news articles about the company's financial situation, or even just the official termination letter that cited layoff as the reason. Washington ESD will contact your former employer to verify their story, so if they consistently told you it was a layoff due to restructuring, that should work in your favor. The attendance issues might be a red herring if they weren't the official reason for your separation. Just be prepared to explain the timeline clearly if asked.

This thread is really helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just got a job offer and wasn't sure about the reporting requirements. Thanks everyone for the detailed answers.

One thing I learned the hard way is to take screenshots of your weekly claim submissions showing that you reported your work and earnings correctly. I had a situation where ESD claimed I hadn't reported something properly, but having those screenshots saved me from a potential overpayment issue. It's just extra peace of mind to have that documentation showing exactly what you submitted and when.

That's correct. Your 4 weeks of severance would be allocated to the first 4 weeks after separation, so UI benefits wouldn't begin until after that period - assuming your claim is approved. But you absolutely need to file weekly claims during those 4 weeks anyway, even though you won't receive payment for them. You'll report your severance and ESD will allocate it accordingly. As others have mentioned, the email documentation you have is very important. If your claim does go to adjudication and you have trouble reaching someone at ESD (which is unfortunately common), don't give up. Keep calling early in the morning when the queue is shorter. Use the online message center in your eServices account as backup. Document all your attempts to contact them.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. My employer gave me the exact same choice - resign with severance or be terminated without it. I was terrified I'd lose my unemployment benefits, but ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks in adjudication. The key thing that helped me was having clear documentation (like you do with that email) showing the employer initiated the separation. During my fact-finding interview, I just explained exactly what happened - that I was given an ultimatum and chose the option that provided some financial cushion. The adjudicator understood that this wasn't a voluntary quit in the traditional sense. My advice is to stay calm, be completely honest if they interview you, and keep filing those weekly claims even while waiting. You've got good documentation on your side!