Another thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD considers your field of expertise when determining suitable work. Since you were a warehouse supervisor with management responsibilities, they understand that's a specialized skill set that commands higher wages. A regular warehouse worker position isn't just a pay cut - it's also a significant step down in responsibility level. You're absolutely within your rights to decline this offer and continue searching for supervisory roles that match your experience and previous salary range. Just make sure to keep detailed records of your job search efforts and any offers you receive or decline.

My husband has been outta work since last week of July, with one phone interview and one in person. We’re about to go to 13 weeks of benefits. He might have to take a job that pays 60% less than what he was earning, as nothing in tech industry employment is panning out - 29 yrs software development. We’re concerned if he doesn’t take this and nothing in the next 13 weeks…we’re homeless! So we figure better to be able to pay mortgage and food on table, and to declare bankruptcy coz we cant pay our bills!

Did you check your messages in the ESD portal? Sometimes they send specific document requests there but the notification doesn't show up properly. Also, did you work for multiple employers during your base year? That often triggers the missing employment info alert because they need to verify all sources of income.

I went through this same nightmare last year! The key is uploading documentation for ALL employment during your base year period. Since you mentioned having that 3-week job at another construction site, that's definitely what's triggering the alert. ESD needs to verify every single employer, even short-term ones. I'd suggest uploading: 1) W2s from both construction companies, 2) paystubs from your main employer showing consistent work, 3) whatever documentation you have from the 3-week job (even just a paystub or two), and 4) your layoff letter. Label each file clearly with the employer name and document type. Once I provided documentation for a brief temp job I'd almost forgotten about, my claim got approved within days. The system is definitely frustrating but hang in there!

@OP - You should keep your job search logs for at least one year after your benefit year ends. ESD can audit your job search activities for quite some time after you receive benefits, so it's better to be safe.

As someone who just started receiving benefits last month, this is really helpful information! I had no idea about this change and was wondering why the job search section disappeared from my weekly claim. I've been keeping my own informal notes but clearly need to switch to the official form. Does anyone know if there's a grace period for people who are new to the system and didn't know about this requirement? I'm worried I might have already messed up my first few weeks by not using the proper documentation format.

Bottom line: severance can affect unemployment but it doesn't have to if it's structured right. Get clarification from Washington ESD, be completely honest when filing your claim, and keep good records. You'll get through this!

I went through something similar last year when my tech company did layoffs. The $8,000 severance amount is pretty typical, and the good news is that Washington state is generally more worker-friendly than some other states when it comes to severance and UI benefits. Here's what I learned: if your severance agreement doesn't specifically mention covering a certain number of weeks or acting as "pay in lieu of notice," you're probably in the clear to start collecting right away. The fact that yours just says it's "in appreciation of service" sounds promising. One tip I wish someone had told me - when you file your UI claim online, there's a section where you can upload documents. Include your severance agreement there from the start, even if they don't explicitly ask for it. It saved me from having to deal with follow-up requests later. Also, start your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, regardless of the severance situation. Washington ESD can always adjust things retroactively if needed, but you don't want to lose out on potential benefit weeks while you're figuring everything out.

One more important point your friend should be aware of: When an employee's FMLA ends and the employer states they have no work available, this is generally considered a layoff, not a termination for cause or voluntary separation. This distinction is crucial for UI eligibility. Your friend should save any communications (emails, texts) where the employer stated no work was available. If the conversation was verbal, he should follow up with an email summarizing their conversation to create a paper trail. Something like: "As discussed on [date], I understand that when my FMLA leave ends on [date], there will be no position available for me to return to, and you've advised me to apply for unemployment benefits." This documentation will be invaluable if his claim gets flagged for adjudication, which happens frequently with FMLA-to-unemployment transitions.

I went through this exact situation when my FMLA ended last year. Your friend is smart to ask about timing - it really matters! Here's what I learned: Wait until the day AFTER his FMLA officially ends to file. Filing while still technically on leave can trigger red flags in the system. When he applies, he should select "laid off due to lack of work" as his separation reason since the employer specifically told him no positions are available. A few things that helped me: - I took screenshots of all my communications with HR about no work being available - I prepared a clear timeline of events for the application - I had my employment history ready (last 18 months of jobs, dates, wages) One thing to watch for - if his FMLA was unpaid, it might affect his benefit calculation since they look at your highest earning quarters. But ESD can sometimes use an alternative base year if the standard one doesn't work in your favor. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me to start getting benefits, so tell him to apply as soon as his FMLA ends. Good luck to your friend!