One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Washington ESD also has a waiting week, which means your first week of unemployment won't be paid even if you're approved. So when you're calculating your finances, factor in that you'll get your first payment in week 2, not week 1. Also, if you end up needing to appeal any decision or if there are issues with your claim, it can add weeks to the process. I'd recommend having some emergency savings set aside just in case there are delays. With your $1,000/week earnings for 14 months though, you should qualify without any major issues - that's a solid work history that ESD likes to see.

Anna, I went through this exact calculation when I was making similar wages. With your $1,000/week for 14 months, you're actually in a pretty good spot. Washington will look at your highest earning quarter from your base year - so if you've been consistent, that's around $13,000 quarterly. The formula they use typically results in about 50-60% of your weekly wage, so you're probably looking at $600-700 per week in benefits. The fact that you have 14 months of steady earnings means you'll have solid quarters in your base year, which is exactly what their system needs. Don't stress too much about the website being confusing - the actual application process walks you through everything step by step, and with your work history you should qualify without major issues.

Update us on how it goes! I'm sure other people in similar situations would benefit from hearing about your experience with the dispute process.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. My former employer claimed I was terminated for "policy violations" when I was actually laid off due to restructuring. The key is to respond quickly and thoroughly to their dispute. I submitted my termination paperwork, email communications with my supervisor, and even got a statement from a coworker who witnessed the layoff announcement. It took about 6 weeks to resolve, but I won the case and received all my back benefits. Don't let them intimidate you - if you were truly laid off due to budget cuts and have documentation proving it, you should prevail. The adjudicator will look at all the evidence from both sides before making a decision.

I'm about 10 weeks into my claim after being laid off from a UX design role, and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Like many others here, I completely missed the SEAP opportunity (never even knew it existed until reading this), but I've been successfully building my freelance design business while meeting the regular unemployment requirements. A few practical tips I've learned for balancing business development with job search requirements: 1. I treat industry meetups and design conferences as networking for BOTH potential clients AND potential employment - they count toward job search activities while building my business network 2. I schedule most client calls during lunch hours or after 5pm to avoid conflicts with potential interviews 3. I'm upfront with potential clients that I'm currently between positions but actively building my practice - most people respect the hustle The hardest part honestly has been the mental shift from "looking for a job" to "building a business" while still having to apply for positions I don't really want. But reading everyone's experiences here has been so encouraging! @Elijah Knight - I'd love to hear how your SEAP application turned out! And for those considering the SCORE training independently, I actually did their free business mentoring program and it was surprisingly helpful even without the paid course. Might be worth exploring as a lower-cost starting point. This thread should honestly be pinned - it's become the most comprehensive resource I've found on navigating unemployment while pursuing entrepreneurship in Washington!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been lurking and learning from this amazing thread! I'm about 4 weeks into my unemployment claim after being laid off from a digital marketing role, and I'm working on starting a social media consulting business. Like many others here, I didn't get the SEAP notification and honestly didn't even know it existed until finding this discussion. But reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful for figuring out how to build a business while on regular unemployment. One thing I've found useful is using LinkedIn strategically - I can do "job searching" activities like connecting with potential employers while simultaneously building my professional network for consulting opportunities. It's amazing how much overlap there is between legitimate job search activities and business development when you think creatively about it. I'm definitely planning to look into the SCORE mentoring program that @GalacticGladiator mentioned, especially since the free version sounds like a great starting point. Even without SEAP, it seems like there are still plenty of resources available for those of us determined to make this entrepreneurship thing work. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - this thread has honestly been more helpful than anything I've found on the official ESD website! Would love to hear updates from @Elijah Knight and others as your journeys progress.

Wait I'm confused, don't you have to do 3 job searches every week even though it's just seasonal? Like won't they expect you to find a new job instead of just waiting for construction to start again? I thought that was how it worked...

hey just checking did u get paid yet? im in kinda the same boat right now and wondering how long its taking people

I went through this exact situation with Walmart last year - they absolutely will contest your claim, but don't let that discourage you from filing. I was terminated for what they called "policy violations" but it was clearly retaliation for reporting safety issues to management. The adjudication process took about 7 weeks, but I ultimately won my case because I had solid documentation. Make sure you keep copies of all your safety complaint emails, any responses from management, and try to get witness statements from coworkers who can verify the timeline of events. Washington ESD adjudicators are experienced with these types of cases and can usually spot legitimate retaliation claims. File your claim today - every day you wait is money lost, regardless of whether they contest it or not.

I just went through this same thing with Walmart in Washington state. They contested my claim aggressively, but I still won after about 6 weeks of adjudication. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD makes the final decision based on the facts, not what Walmart wants. Since you have emails documenting your safety complaints, you're already in a much better position than I was. Make sure to file your claim immediately - don't let fear of their contest delay you. I actually had to use a service called Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD during my adjudication because their phone lines were so jammed, but it was worth it to get updates on my case status. The important thing is that retaliation for safety complaints is illegal, and Washington ESD adjudicators are trained to recognize these situations. Document everything, file today, and don't let Walmart intimidate you out of benefits you're entitled to.