Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like there's an identity verification or employer separation issue that's not being displayed properly in your account. This is unfortunately common with ESD's system. Since you mentioned severance pay, that could absolutely be triggering the disqualifications if the system thinks you're still receiving it. When you do get through to an agent, ask them specifically to check for: 1. Any identity verification holds 2. How your severance was processed in the system 3. Whether your employer contested the claim 4. If there are any adjudication issues not displaying in your account Request that they send you any pending questionnaires or forms immediately while you're on the phone. Also ask them to check if you have any "able and available" issues flagged on your weekly claims.

I'm going through something very similar right now! Got approved in September but every weekly claim shows "disqualified" with zero explanation. I've been calling ESD for weeks with no luck getting through. One thing I noticed - when I log into eServices and look at my weekly claims, there's sometimes a tiny "i" icon next to the disqualified status that you have to hover over to see additional info. It's super easy to miss, but it might give you a clue about what's causing the disqualification. Also, have you tried reaching out to your local WorkSource office? They sometimes have direct lines to ESD or can help escalate cases. I'm planning to visit mine in person this week since the phone system is basically useless. Keep us posted on what you find out - dealing with this while unemployed is so stressful!

One last thought - if your appeal is successful, Washington ESD should pay you retroactively for all the weeks you were denied. So even though this is stressful now, you won't lose those benefits permanently if you win your appeal.

I went through this exact situation last year with Washington ESD. They initially classified my layoff as "voluntary quit" which was completely wrong. For your appeal letter, make sure to include: 1) A clear statement that you're appealing the misconduct determination, 2) Your layoff documentation from HR, 3) Evidence that this was a group layoff (like a company announcement or news article if available), 4) Your positive performance review, and 5) Contact info for coworkers who were also laid off. I'd also recommend sending it both online through your eServices account AND by certified mail to cover all bases. The key is being very specific about why their determination is factually incorrect. Good luck!

Another critical thing to remember - make absolutely sure you start filing your weekly claims right away, even if you're still sorting out the severance/non-compete stuff. You can always go back and adjust info if needed, but if you miss filing weeks, it's nearly impossible to claim them retroactively without a major appeal process. I know several people who waited until their severance ran out to start filing, thinking they couldn't collect both, and they permanently lost weeks they could have claimed.

Just wanted to add my experience from when I was laid off from a fintech company in Bellevue last year. I had a very similar situation - 4 months severance with a 9-month non-compete that covered pretty much every major tech company in the area. I applied for unemployment immediately and was approved while receiving severance payments. The key things I learned: 1) ESD really doesn't care about your non-compete - that's between you and your former employer 2) You MUST report the severance on your weekly claims, but it won't reduce your UI benefits 3) Keep detailed records of your job search activities, especially when you have to pass on opportunities due to the non-compete The trickiest part was documenting "suitable work" searches when so many positions were off-limits due to the non-compete. I ended up applying for roles at startups, consulting positions, and even some adjacent industries like healthcare tech and education tech that weren't direct competitors. One thing that really helped was attending virtual networking events and job fairs through WorkSource - those count toward your job search requirements and helped me find opportunities outside my usual network that wouldn't violate the agreement. Definitely don't wait to apply - I know people who lost weeks of benefits thinking they had to choose between severance and unemployment. You can have both!

One more thing - if you had any issues with your 1099-G or need clarification on amounts, definitely try to resolve it before filing. Much easier than dealing with amended returns later.

Just wanted to add that if you're using tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or FreeTaxUSA, they'll usually have a specific section for unemployment income where you enter your 1099-G information. Don't try to manually calculate the tax - let the software do it for you. It will automatically add the unemployment benefits to your other income and calculate your total tax liability. The key is just making sure you have that 1099-G from Washington ESD before you start filing.

UPDATE: I was finally able to get in! For anyone who has this issue in the future, here's what worked for me: 1. I went to the SecureAccess Washington page directly (secure.esd.wa.gov) 2. Clicked on 'Forgot Password' even though I knew my password 3. Reset my password through the email link 4. Logged in with the new password 5. Had to answer my security questions again 6. Then it finally let me in and I could file my weekly claim Thanks everyone for your help! The system is definitely frustrating but at least I got it resolved without having to spend hours on the phone.

So glad to see this got resolved! For anyone else dealing with similar issues, I'd also recommend bookmarking the direct SecureAccess Washington login page (secure.esd.wa.gov) instead of going through the main ESD site. I've noticed the main site sometimes has redirect issues that can cause authentication problems. Also, if you use a password manager like the OP, make sure to update it with your new password right away so you don't run into this cycle again. The forgot password reset trick is definitely a lifesaver when the system gets confused about your credentials!