Nathan, congratulations on getting your claim approved! This is such great news and really gives hope to everyone else dealing with similar vague termination reasons. Your experience shows exactly why it's so important to keep filing weekly claims during adjudication - that 6-week backpay must be such a relief right now! I'm currently 2 weeks into adjudication after being terminated for "lack of alignment with company direction" following a management change at my workplace of 3 years. No warnings, no documentation, just suddenly not aligned anymore. Stories like yours help me stay optimistic that these weak employer justifications usually don't hold up under ESD's scrutiny. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone throughout your process - it's incredibly helpful for those of us still waiting to see how these cases typically play out. Enjoy having that financial stress lifted off your shoulders!

Nathan, huge congratulations on getting approved! Your story is exactly what so many of us needed to hear. I'm dealing with a very similar situation - got terminated last month after 4 years for being "no longer the right fit for the role" despite consistently good performance reviews. No warnings, no disciplinary actions, just a new supervisor who apparently wanted someone else. I've been in adjudication for 2.5 weeks now and your experience gives me so much hope that these vague termination reasons will work in our favor. The fact that your employer didn't even bother responding to ESD's requests for information really shows how weak their case was. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service - I've been trying to reach ESD for over a week with no luck. Thanks for sharing your entire journey with updates, it really helps those of us still in limbo to know what to expect and that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Enjoy that well-deserved backpay!

I'm in a similar situation with a $3,100 overpayment. Reading all these responses is actually making me feel a bit more hopeful that there might be options I didn't know about. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

I'm dealing with a similar overpayment situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I want to add is that if you're struggling financially, you might also want to look into free legal aid services in your area. Many legal aid organizations have experience with unemployment overpayment cases and can help you navigate the waiver process or appeals. I found that having someone who understands the system review my paperwork before I submitted it made a huge difference. Also, when you're gathering financial documents for the waiver, include everything that shows your monthly expenses - even things like prescription medications, transportation costs, and childcare. The more complete picture you can paint of your financial situation, the better your chances of approval.

Also worth noting that some employers offer direct deposit setup before your first day, which can speed up getting that first paycheck. Ask HR if they can expedite the paperwork so you get paid on the earliest possible pay cycle. Many companies are willing to help new hires with this kind of timing issue if you explain the situation upfront.

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago when I started my current job. The waiting period between starting work and getting that first paycheck is brutal, but you absolutely have to stop filing once you begin working. I made the mistake of thinking "well, I'm not getting paid yet so technically..." but Washington ESD doesn't see it that way at all. They care about when you're performing work, not when the money hits your account. Had to learn that lesson the expensive way when they caught it during a routine audit. Save yourself the headache and stop filing as soon as you clock in on Monday.

Also, be prepared that if you do qualify, the maximum weekly benefit amount in 2025 is $1075. Your actual amount will depend on your earnings during your base year. The formula is basically 3.85% of your average quarterly wages in your highest-paid quarters. So do the math before you make any decisions to see if you can actually survive on UI benefits while job hunting.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - workplace harassment and hostile environments are incredibly draining on your mental health. I've been in a similar situation and want to share what I learned from my experience with ESD. The key thing is that Washington does allow unemployment benefits for voluntary quits IF you can prove "good cause." For hostile work environment cases, ESD looks for: 1. **Clear pattern of harassment/hostile behavior** - Keep detailed records with dates, times, witnesses, and specific incidents 2. **Good faith effort to resolve** - You must give your employer a reasonable chance to fix the problem through formal complaints 3. **No reasonable alternative** - Show you explored other options (transfers, HR complaints, etc.) Since you mentioned talking to your hiring manager twice but only verbally, I'd strongly recommend putting your concerns in writing via email. Something like: "Following up on our conversations about the ongoing workplace issues I've experienced with [coworker's name]. As discussed, [specific examples with dates]. This behavior is creating a hostile work environment that's affecting my ability to perform my job duties. I need management to take action to resolve this situation." Give them 2-3 weeks to respond/take action after the written complaint. If nothing changes, you'll have much stronger documentation for an ESD claim. Also document any anxiety/health impacts with your doctor if possible. The process can be lengthy (adjudication often takes 4-8 weeks), but many people do successfully get benefits approved for hostile work environment quits when they have proper documentation.

Whatever you decide, don't delay filing your UI claim after you quit. You want to get in the system as soon as possible even if you expect to be denied initially.

I'm going through something similar right now. The stress is affecting my health but I'm scared to quit without knowing if I'll get benefits. This thread has been really helpful.