UPDATE: Just wanted to share that I received my determination letter today - exactly 8 days after speaking with the adjudicator. My claim was approved! The letter says I should see payments within 48 hours for all my back weeks. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice during the wait.

Congratulations on getting your claim approved! 8 days is actually a pretty quick turnaround. Your update gives me hope - I'm in a similar situation waiting for adjudication on my claim. It's so stressful not knowing when (or if) the money will come through, especially when bills keep piling up. Did you get the full backpay for all 5 weeks you were waiting, or did they only approve certain weeks? Thanks for sharing your experience!

In summary: keep claiming your benefits, don't report the loan as income, and keep doing your job search activities. You'll be fine! And hopefully you find work soon so you can start paying off that loan and getting back on your feet financially.

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's been through this situation twice. The most important thing is to KEEP FILING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS no matter what. Even if you're unsure about something, it's always better to file and potentially make a correction later than to skip filing altogether. Missing even one week can create a break in your claim that's a nightmare to fix. I've seen people wait months to get their benefits restored after skipping weeks. The ESD system is set up to assume you're no longer unemployed if you don't file, regardless of the reason. So definitely take the loan if you need it for rent, don't report it as income, but absolutely keep filing every single week!

Good luck with this. It's a tough situation to navigate but there might be options available to you.

I went through something similar a few years ago. The key thing I learned is that Washington ESD looks at your "able and available" status very carefully when you have any kind of disability benefits. They'll want documentation showing exactly what kind of work you can do, how many hours, and proof that you're actively searching for jobs within those parameters. I had to provide letters from my doctors, keep detailed job search logs, and be prepared for a longer adjudication process. It's definitely worth exploring if you can truly work part-time - just be very thorough with your documentation from the start.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and information. I'm going to proceed with my claim and see what happens. Even if I don't qualify, at least I'll know for sure. Appreciate all the help!

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago as a graphic designer. Washington ESD's determination really comes down to the specific details of your working relationship. The non-compete agreement you mentioned is actually a strong indicator that you might have been misclassified - true independent contractors typically shouldn't be restricted from working with competitors. Also, if they provided training specific to their processes (not just general industry training), that's another factor in your favor. Document everything you can find - emails where they directed your work methods, any company policies you had to follow, whether you had set work hours, etc. The adjudication process took about 6 weeks for me, but I was ultimately approved after they determined I was functioning more like an employee than a contractor.

Just want to add - make sure you're emotionally prepared for this process. Dealing with Washington ESD can be stressful even when you have a strong case. Having good documentation helps but the waiting is still tough.

Final thought - consider the timing of when you quit. If you can, try to quit at a time when you'll have the best chance of finding new employment. The job market varies throughout the year.