I went through something similar a few years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed budget to figure out exactly how much I needed vs how much I wanted to withdraw. I ended up taking out just $3,000 instead of the $8,000 I originally planned, and it was enough to bridge me until I found work. Also look into whether your 401k provider offers any hardship withdrawal options - some have reduced penalties for unemployment situations. The regular early withdrawal penalty is brutal but every little bit helps when you're already in a tough spot.

Hey, I'm in a similar boat - been unemployed for about 4 months now and had to make this exact decision. I ended up withdrawing $5,000 from my 401k last month and it didn't affect my Washington ESD benefits at all. The tax hit was painful though - about 32% total between federal taxes, state taxes, and the 10% early withdrawal penalty. What I wish I had done differently was withdrawing smaller amounts as needed rather than one lump sum, because once you withdraw it, you can't put it back and the compound interest you lose over time is significant. Also, definitely exhaust other options first if you haven't already - I found some local emergency assistance programs through United Way that helped with utilities, which let me stretch my UI benefits further. The 211 number that someone mentioned earlier is legit - they connected me to resources I didn't even know existed.

I'm a benefits counselor who works with displaced workers, and I see this confusion all the time. Let me give you some clarity on your situation. Based on what you've described - a one-time $8,500 withdrawal from your 401k for emergency medical bills after being laid off from construction - this should NOT be considered reportable income for unemployment purposes in Washington state. Here's why: 1. It's a one-time withdrawal, not regular pension payments 2. It's from YOUR own contributions (construction jobs rarely have significant employer matching) 3. It's not "new income" - it's your own previously-earned money accessed early due to emergency The 6 weeks you've already claimed without reporting it shouldn't be a problem since you weren't intentionally hiding anything - you were just confused by unclear guidance (which happens to almost everyone). I strongly recommend calling ESD to get official confirmation. Use this exact phrasing: "This is a one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions due to emergency medical expenses - not regular pension payments." Ask for a supervisor if the first agent seems uncertain, as they have better training on these distinctions. Don't second-guess the medical emergency withdrawal - that's exactly what these funds are for when facing urgent situations with no other viable options. Focus on getting the ESD question resolved so you can have peace of mind moving forward. You're going to be fine - this is a common situation with a clear resolution once you get the right ESD representative on the phone.

I just wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their experiences and advice in this thread! As a newcomer to this whole unemployment process, I was really overwhelmed and scared about potentially messing up my benefits over something I didn't understand. After reading through all your responses, I finally worked up the courage to call ESD this morning. I used the exact phrasing several of you recommended: "This is a one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions due to emergency medical expenses - not regular pension payments." The first agent I spoke with seemed uncertain, so I politely asked to speak with a supervisor (thanks for that tip!). The supervisor was incredibly knowledgeable and confirmed that my $8,500 withdrawal should NOT be reported as income for unemployment purposes since it was my own contributions from previous paychecks, not new income. She also assured me that the 6 weeks I'd already claimed without reporting it was completely fine since I wasn't trying to hide anything - just genuinely confused by the rules (which she said happens all the time). I documented everything - got her name, ID number, date and time of the call - so I have it all on record now. This community is amazing! The fact that so many people took time to share their personal experiences and professional expertise really made all the difference. I went from panicking about potential fraud accusations to having complete peace of mind. You all are lifesavers! 🙏

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was panicking when I couldn't find the job search section during my weekly claim filing yesterday. I thought maybe my browser was glitching or something. It's frustrating that they made such a big change without making it super obvious WHERE the new section is located. For anyone else looking for it - when you log into eServices, it's under the "Unemployment Services" menu, then "Job Search Log." It took me forever to find it! I wish they had put up a banner or something during the transition period to let people know about the change.

I'm a new claimant and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just started filing unemployment claims last week and was confused when I didn't see the job search section during my second weekly filing. I was worried I had done something wrong or missed a step. It's reassuring to know this is a recent system change and not user error on my part. I found the separate Job Search Log section thanks to the navigation instructions here - it's definitely more detailed than I expected. One question though: if I've already been doing job searches but haven't logged them in the system yet, how far back should I go to enter them? Should I just start fresh from this week or try to backfill previous weeks?

Wednesday gang checking in! Set up alerts on your bank app so you know exactly when it hits. My credit union sends me a text the second any deposit comes through.

Just wanted to add that if you're switching from paper checks to direct deposit, there might be a one-time delay while they update your payment method in the system. When I made the switch, my first direct deposit came on Thursday instead of Wednesday, but after that it was back to the normal Wednesday schedule. Washington ESD customer service told me this is pretty common when changing payment methods.

Bottom line: file your claim if you're eligible. Don't let worry about your former employer stop you from getting benefits you've earned through your work history. The system is designed to be fair to both sides.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. Yes, your employer will be notified, but honestly it turned out to be much less dramatic than I expected. I was terrified my former manager would make things difficult, but Washington ESD handled everything professionally. The key thing is to be truthful in your application and keep any documentation about your termination. Even if your employer does respond to the notification, it doesn't automatically mean they'll contest your claim. Most of the time they just acknowledge receipt and that's it. Don't let fear keep you from filing - you've paid into this system and deserve the support while you're looking for new work.