I'm currently going through this exact situation too! Was let go from my retail management position 2 weeks ago with them saying "we're going a different direction with leadership" and now they're claiming I had "communication issues" to contest my UI claim. Never once was this mentioned in my 2+ years there. What's really helped me so far is understanding that Washington's unemployment law is pretty clear - they have to prove WILLFUL misconduct or policy violations, not just vague "performance" claims. Being let go because they want to go a different direction is literally the textbook definition of what unemployment benefits are for! I've been gathering everything I can - my performance reviews (which were all good), any positive feedback emails, even text messages from coworkers thanking me for help. The more documentation you have showing you were doing your job properly, the better. Also, don't let them intimidate you! I learned that many employers automatically contest claims as a cost-saving measure, hoping people will give up. But we paid into this system for exactly these situations. Stay strong and keep filing those weekly claims - you earned these benefits!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress on top of already losing your job! I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago - got let go from my healthcare admin job after 2.5 years with them saying it was "budget restructuring," then they contested my UI claim saying I had "productivity issues" that were never once mentioned to me. The whole process was nerve-wracking, but I want to reassure you that you're in a really good position. Washington ESD takes these cases seriously and they see right through employers who suddenly invent performance problems after termination. The fact that you have 3 years with no documented issues is huge in your favor. My adjudication took about 7 weeks (this was during a busy period), but I was ultimately approved and received back pay for the entire waiting period. The key things that helped were: keeping detailed records of everything, responding immediately to any ESD requests, and being very specific about the lack of any prior performance discussions or warnings. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - start documenting everything now. Screenshot your claim status, save any positive work communications you still have access to, and write down exactly what was said when you were terminated. The more concrete details you can provide to ESD, the stronger your case becomes. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what! You paid into this system and absolutely deserve these benefits. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up - you've got this!

One more important thing to know about PFMLA weekly claims - if you miss filing for a week, you generally have up to 4 weeks to backdate your claim. This is different from unemployment where you can only backdate in very limited circumstances. Just make sure when you log in to complete all the prior weeks you need to claim. The system should show you all available weeks that you haven't yet certified for.

I went through this exact same confusion a few months ago! The key thing to remember is that PFMLA is handled through a completely separate portal from regular unemployment. Once you log into your SAW account, look for "Paid Family and Medical Leave" (not unemployment services). The weekly certifications are much simpler - they mainly just ask if you were still on leave and if you received any other income. No job search requirements at all! I'd recommend setting a weekly reminder on your phone to file since it's easy to forget when you're recovering from surgery. Hope your recovery goes smoothly!

Pro tip from someone who's been through this multiple times - keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. Every phone call, every document you submit, every email. You'll thank yourself later if issues come up.

Based on my experience, the timeline really depends on whether your claim goes into adjudication or not. I filed in November after a layoff from a manufacturing plant and got my first payment exactly 17 days later. The one-week waiting period is mandatory, then you file your first weekly claim, and if everything processes smoothly you should see payment within 7-10 business days after that. Make sure you have your direct deposit set up and keep filing those weekly claims even while your initial claim is still pending - that's crucial. Also, since you mentioned the layoff was due to reduced orders, that should be a straightforward separation reason that won't trigger any red flags. Just be patient and keep checking your online account for updates.

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my weekly claim from last week is showing "pending" instead of "paid" with no explanation. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm wondering if this might be related to the same system glitch that caused the disqualification issues. Has anyone else noticed claims getting stuck in "pending" status longer than usual? I'm going to try reaching out through that Claimyr service if it doesn't resolve in the next day or two. It's such a relief to know there are actual solutions and that these technical issues can be fixed quickly once you get through to the right person!

I just want to thank everyone in this thread for sharing their experiences! I'm new to dealing with ESD issues and was completely panicking when I saw "disqualified" on my claim yesterday with zero explanation. Reading through all your responses - especially Lucy's successful resolution - has been incredibly reassuring. It's so frustrating that these system glitches happen, but knowing that others have gone through the same thing and found solutions makes me feel less alone. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service if my determination letter doesn't show up by Friday. This community is such a lifesaver for navigating these confusing ESD problems!

I'm in a similar situation as a freelance graphic designer - been struggling with inconsistent income and wondering about my options. This thread has been really eye-opening about the W-2 wage requirements. I had a part-time marketing job last year that I totally forgot about. Going to look into filing a claim too. It's frustrating how the system works against independent contractors, but at least there might be some hope if you've had traditional employment recently. Thanks for asking this question OP - you've helped more people than just yourself!

This whole conversation has been incredibly helpful! I'm also a freelancer (photographer) and had no idea that previous W-2 wages could still count toward unemployment eligibility. I worked at a coffee shop for about 8 months in early 2023 before going full-time with my photography business. The creative industries have been hit hard lately and I've been barely scraping by. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that I might actually qualify for some benefits. It's really frustrating that the system doesn't recognize our self-employment income, but at least knowing about the W-2 wage option is something. Going to gather my old pay stubs and file a claim this week!