You're going to be fine. The first time is always scary but thousands of people go through this process every week. Just take it one step at a time and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I got laid off from Amazon. Here's my step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click "File a Claim" - you can do it 24/7 online. 2) Have your SSN, driver's license, and last 18 months of employment info ready (dates, addresses, reason for separation). 3) Your benefit amount is calculated as roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, capped at $999/week currently. 4) File your initial claim ASAP - there's a mandatory one-week waiting period before payments start. 5) You MUST file weekly claims every week (starting Sunday) even while your initial claim is being processed. 6) Register with WorkSource Washington within your first week. The whole process took about 3 weeks for my first payment to hit my bank account. Don't stress too much - layoffs are usually approved quickly since it wasn't your fault. The tech industry layoffs are super common right now so Washington ESD is used to processing these claims.

I just went through this exact transition last month! Here's what worked for me: I filed my weekly claim as usual but reported zero hours and selected "laid off" when asked about my work status. The system automatically flagged my claim for review, but I didn't wait - I called ESD the same day using the callback feature on their website (early morning works best, around 8 AM). The agent confirmed my WorkShare claim would convert to regular UI and updated my job search requirements in the system. My weekly benefit amount did increase from $285 on WorkShare to $420 on regular UI since I was now getting my full benefit instead of partial. The whole process took about 10 days total, and I didn't miss any payments. Also make sure to update your job search log immediately - you'll need those 3 weekly activities documented right away!

I'm in a similar situation - been on WorkShare for about 6 weeks and just heard rumors that layoffs might be coming to our department too. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful but also shows how inconsistent the process can be. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Keep filing weekly claims no matter what, 2) Call ESD as soon as possible after the layoff (don't wait for the system to figure it out), 3) Get everything in writing from your employer, and 4) Start job search activities immediately. @Libby Hassan your timeline breakdown is super useful - knowing it took 10 days total but no missed payments gives me some peace of mind about what to expect if this happens to me. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just guessing!

Just remember that getting a nonmon determination doesn't automatically mean bad news. It's just ESD doing their due diligence to verify eligibility. Stay positive and respond appropriately.

I went through a similar nonmon determination situation last year and it was really stressful at first. Mine ended up being about whether I was actively searching for work during a specific week. The key thing is to read the letter very carefully - it should specify exactly what type of determination it is and what they need from you. Don't panic! Most of these get resolved quickly once you provide the requested information. Make sure you respond before the deadline and keep copies of everything you submit. If you need to talk to someone at ESD about it, that Claimyr service people mentioned might be worth trying since the regular phone lines are nearly impossible to get through on.

anybody else notice that esd's website always says their gonna make a decision in like 2-3 weeks but it ALWAYS takes longer lol

Just wanted to update everyone - I'm now at week 3 and still waiting! My claim status finally changed from "pending" to "under review" yesterday, so maybe that's progress? I tried the Claimyr service that Diego mentioned and actually got through to an ESD agent today. She confirmed that my employer never responded to their request, but said there's now an "adjudication backlog" that could add another 1-2 weeks. At least I know what's happening now instead of just wondering. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice - I'll keep filing my weekly claims and hopefully this gets resolved soon!

Thanks everyone for all the input! This has been really helpful. I think I'm going to take the severance package and file for unemployment right after my last day. I'll make sure to document everything and be completely honest about the circumstances on my application. Fingers crossed Washington ESD sees it as involuntary separation!

I went through this exact situation in Washington about 6 months ago. The key thing that helped my case was getting a letter from HR stating that the severance was offered as part of a "workforce reduction program" rather than just calling it voluntary separation. Even though I chose to take the package, Washington ESD approved my claim because they recognized it was essentially a layoff with the option to take severance or wait to be terminated. I'd suggest asking your HR department for documentation that clearly states this is related to company downsizing/layoffs, not just a voluntary departure program. That documentation made all the difference for me.