The bottom line is that Washington ESD wants to know about all income you receive while claiming benefits. It's always better to over-report than under-report. They can adjust your benefits if needed, but unreported income can lead to serious consequences.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also facing a potential layoff situation and had no idea that the way severance is structured and labeled in the agreement makes such a big difference. It sounds like the key is really understanding whether it's considered "wages in lieu of notice" versus a true severance payment. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's given me a much better roadmap for navigating this if it happens to me. The advice about filing for UI benefits right away and reporting everything accurately seems crucial.

One more thing to keep in mind - after you report your work hours for this week, you should continue filing weekly claims until you receive your first full paycheck. This ensures there's no gap in your claim if something happens with the new job (like if it falls through during training or probation period). If you're working full-time hours, your weekly claims will show $0 benefit once you're working all days in the week, but keeping your claim active is important just in case. Once you're established at the new job and have received a couple of paychecks, then you can stop filing altogether.

Just wanted to add my experience from when I transitioned off unemployment last year - make sure you save all documentation about your start date and hours worked! I kept screenshots of my work schedule and a copy of my offer letter with the start date. ESD sometimes asks for proof later during audits, especially if there are any discrepancies in their system. Also, don't be surprised if your partial payment takes an extra day or two to process since the system has to calculate the prorated amount. Congrats on the new job - that's awesome news!

Just wanted to add that Washington state is generally pretty worker-friendly when it comes to unemployment claims. Even if your employer contests it, don't get discouraged - ESD will do a fair investigation. I've seen plenty of people approved even after being fired for performance issues. The key is being honest and cooperative throughout the process. Also, if you do get denied initially, you have the right to appeal within 30 days. Don't give up if the first decision doesn't go your way!

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Got fired for "not meeting expectations" after working at a company for 3 years. I was really worried about applying for unemployment but decided to do it anyway. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 4 weeks of investigation. The adjudicator told me that performance issues don't usually count as misconduct unless there's clear evidence of willful disregard for job duties. My advice: file immediately, be completely honest in your application, and don't let your former employer discourage you from applying. You paid into the unemployment system through your paychecks - you have every right to use it when you need it. Also, start your job search activities right away and keep detailed records. Good luck!

did u check ur eServices account messages? sometimes ESD asks for additional info but they dont actually email u about it. i missed an important request buried in my eServices messages and it delayed my claim for weeks!

I went through something similar in 2023 and want to share what helped me win my appeal. Beyond the documents others mentioned, try to get a reference letter from someone at your old job (coworker, supervisor if possible) confirming you left for another position. Also, if you have any text messages or emails with friends/family from when you got the new job offer mentioning the salary increase or excitement about the opportunity, those can help establish the timeline and your good faith in taking the position. The hearing officer wants to see that you genuinely believed the new job was a substantial improvement, not just that you were trying to quit. Also remember to emphasize the $7,800 salary increase - that's significant and clearly shows good cause. You've got this!

Quick tip - if you're calculating your base period wages, make sure to include ALL employers you worked for during that time, even if it was just a few weeks. Every dollar counts toward meeting those minimum requirements Washington ESD has.

Bottom line from everything I've read here - it's about total wages earned over time, not how long you stayed at any one job. As long as you've been working and earning decent money over the past year or so, you probably qualify. The 8 months at your current job plus previous work should put you in good shape OP.