I'm currently going through this exact situation too! Was let go from my retail management position 2 weeks ago with them saying "we're going a different direction with leadership" and now they're claiming I had "communication issues" to contest my UI claim. Never once was this mentioned in my 2+ years there. What's really helped me so far is understanding that Washington's unemployment law is pretty clear - they have to prove WILLFUL misconduct or policy violations, not just vague "performance" claims. Being let go because they want to go a different direction is literally the textbook definition of what unemployment benefits are for! I've been gathering everything I can - my performance reviews (which were all good), any positive feedback emails, even text messages from coworkers thanking me for help. The more documentation you have showing you were doing your job properly, the better. Also, don't let them intimidate you! I learned that many employers automatically contest claims as a cost-saving measure, hoping people will give up. But we paid into this system for exactly these situations. Stay strong and keep filing those weekly claims - you earned these benefits!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress on top of already losing your job! I went through almost the exact same situation about a year ago - got let go from my healthcare admin job after 2.5 years with them saying it was "budget restructuring," then they contested my UI claim saying I had "productivity issues" that were never once mentioned to me. The whole process was nerve-wracking, but I want to reassure you that you're in a really good position. Washington ESD takes these cases seriously and they see right through employers who suddenly invent performance problems after termination. The fact that you have 3 years with no documented issues is huge in your favor. My adjudication took about 7 weeks (this was during a busy period), but I was ultimately approved and received back pay for the entire waiting period. The key things that helped were: keeping detailed records of everything, responding immediately to any ESD requests, and being very specific about the lack of any prior performance discussions or warnings. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - start documenting everything now. Screenshot your claim status, save any positive work communications you still have access to, and write down exactly what was said when you were terminated. The more concrete details you can provide to ESD, the stronger your case becomes. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what! You paid into this system and absolutely deserve these benefits. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up - you've got this!

I've been doing seasonal forestry work (wildfire suppression in summer, tree planting in spring) for about 4 years and wanted to add something important that hasn't been covered much - the mental health aspect of cycling through unemployment claims. The constant uncertainty of income and having to prove you're "worthy" of benefits every week can be really draining, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of irregular seasonal employment. What's helped me is treating the unemployment filing process as just another part of my seasonal routine, like preparing gear for the next season. I set aside specific time each week for job searches and claim filing so it doesn't feel overwhelming. Also, connecting with other seasonal workers (like in communities like this) has been invaluable for both practical advice and emotional support. The system definitely works for us, but it's okay to acknowledge that the bureaucracy can be exhausting even when you're following all the rules correctly. Don't let the stress of the process make you feel like you're doing something wrong - seasonal workers absolutely deserve these benefits.

I'm new to seasonal work and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got my first seasonal job doing landscaping and tree care, and I was really stressed about what happens during the winter months when work slows down. Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity on how Washington ESD handles seasonal unemployment. It sounds like the key is being organized from the start - keeping detailed records, being transparent about your work pattern, and understanding that you'll need to do genuine job searches even if you're hoping to return to seasonal work. I'm definitely going to start that documentation folder system that several people mentioned and look into that Claimyr service if I need to actually speak with someone. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - knowing that so many people successfully navigate this system makes me feel much more confident about my first off-season filing!

I'm new to this whole unemployment + gig work situation and this thread has been super helpful! I just started doing Instacart deliveries while on partial UI benefits and was totally confused about the reporting. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like I should be tracking my mileage, keeping gas receipts, and calculating my net earnings each week rather than just reporting what Instacart pays me before their fees. Quick question - for mileage, do I track from my house to the store and back, or just the delivery portion? And do I need to use a special app or is writing it down enough for ESD's purposes? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's way more helpful than the vague info on the ESD website!

This is such a confusing topic and honestly ESD's guidance could be way clearer! I've been doing Uber Eats while on partial UI for about 3 months now and went through this exact same confusion. After reading through everyone's responses and doing my own research, here's what I've learned: You should report NET income for self-employment/gig work, BUT make sure you're only deducting legitimate business expenses that are directly related to earning that income. For Uber, this includes: - Uber's commission/fees (already deducted from what they pay you) - Gas for work miles only - Mileage deduction (I use the IRS standard rate) - Car maintenance proportional to work usage - Phone bill percentage if you use it for work What I do is track everything in a simple spreadsheet each week - gross earnings, total miles driven for work, gas purchased, any maintenance, etc. Then I calculate my net weekly profit and that's what I report to ESD. The key is being consistent and keeping detailed records. I take photos of all my gas receipts and use an app to track mileage automatically. Better safe than sorry if they ever want to review your calculations! One thing to note - don't deduct personal expenses or things like regular car insurance since you'd have those costs anyway. Only deduct the ADDITIONAL costs directly related to doing the gig work.

This is exactly what I needed to understand! I was so worried that I'd have to wait a whole week before I could even start the process, but now I see it's just that first week won't be paid. It's still frustrating when you're already stressed about money, but at least I know what to expect. I'll make sure to file that first weekly claim even though I won't get paid for it, and I'll start tracking my job search activities right away. Thanks everyone for breaking this down - the Washington ESD website really doesn't explain it clearly at all.

I just went through this exact same confusion when I filed my claim three weeks ago! The waiting week really threw me off too. What helped me was thinking of it this way: you're still "in the system" and following all the rules from day one, but Washington state just withholds payment for that first week. It's like they're testing to make sure you're serious about being unemployed and following through with all the requirements. The good news is that once you get past that first unpaid week, payments come pretty regularly if your claim is approved. Just remember to keep doing those 3 job search activities and log them in WorkSourceWA even during your waiting week - I made the mistake of thinking I could slack off that first week since I wasn't getting paid anyway, but you definitely can't!

honestly the whole ESD system is a mess right now. my friend had her worksource meeting and they never even checked if she was doing her job searches. then 2 months later she got audited and almost lost benefits cause she wasnt keeping good records!!! so unfair

I just went through this same process last month as a first-time claimant! I was also terrified about messing something up. Here's what helped me prepare: For the virtual meeting itself - they sent me a Zoom link about 24 hours beforehand via email. The meeting was pretty straightforward, mostly educational about WorkSource services and job search requirements. They didn't collect any documents during the session. Since you're filing by phone like I was, here's what I did for my job search logs: - Started using a simple notebook to track everything (date, company, position, how I applied, result) - Took photos of each page with my phone as backup - Asked a friend to help me type them up digitally once a week The most important thing I learned: keep doing your 3 job search activities every week and document EVERYTHING. The random audits are real - my neighbor got selected 6 weeks into her claim and had to submit all her logs within 5 days. One tip that saved me stress: I called ESD ahead of my WorkSource meeting to confirm exactly what I needed to bring (which was nothing) and what to expect. It took forever to get through, but it was worth the peace of mind. You've got this! The construction industry is tough right now but there are resources to help. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you.