One last tip - consider setting up a separate business bank account even before you start earning money. Makes it much easier to track business income and expenses for both Washington ESD reporting and taxes.

I went through this exact situation last year! Filed my LLC while collecting unemployment and had zero issues. The most important thing is understanding that Washington ESD only cares about actual work performed and income earned - not just the business formation itself. I spent about 2 months doing all the setup work (LLC filing, EIN, business bank account, basic website) while still collecting full benefits. Once I started actively pursuing clients and doing actual consulting work, that's when I began reporting it on my weekly claims. The transition was smooth and I was able to gradually reduce my unemployment benefits as my business income increased. Just make sure you keep detailed records of when you transition from "business setup" to "active business operations" in case they ever ask questions.

Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations. I had no idea there were so many economic factors involved. It makes sense now why some unemployment is actually necessary for a healthy economy, even though it's tough for individuals going through it.

This is such a helpful discussion! As someone currently navigating the Washington ESD system myself, I appreciate learning about the economic theory behind unemployment rates. It's fascinating that what seems counterintuitive - that some unemployment is actually good - makes perfect sense when you break down frictional, structural, and seasonal unemployment. I never realized that 0% unemployment could indicate an overheated economy or lack of job mobility. While I'm still frustrated waiting for my adjudication to complete, understanding that unemployment benefits serve as a bridge during these natural economic transitions makes the system feel more purposeful rather than just bureaucratic hassle.

Bookmarking this thread for future reference. And that Claimyr service sounds useful - I'm going to check out their demo video.

I'm dealing with the same issue right now - my payment was supposed to come yesterday but still nothing. Reading through all these comments is really reassuring though. It sounds like Washington ESD is just having system delays this week and everyone's payments are slowly coming through. I'll keep checking my account and wait until Monday before getting too worried. Thanks for starting this thread - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in this!

Great thread here! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're doing your weekly claims and reporting vacation pay, make sure to save screenshots or print copies of your submissions. I had a situation where Washington ESD claimed I didn't report some vacation pay correctly, and having those records saved me from having to pay back benefits. The online system can be glitchy sometimes, so documentation is your friend!

I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Had about 60 hours of vacation pay coming after getting laid off. The key thing is to file your claim immediately - don't wait for the vacation pay to run out. I made the mistake of waiting a week thinking I should, and it just delayed everything unnecessarily. When you do your weekly claims, just be completely honest about the vacation pay amounts and dates you receive them. Washington ESD's system will automatically calculate how it affects your benefits. The vacation pay didn't cause any adjudication issues for me, and once it was done, my regular unemployment payments started right up. Also, keep really detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, pay stubs from the vacation payout. You'll thank yourself later if any questions come up!

One last thing - if you're approved for SNAP while on unemployment, you might also qualify for reduced-cost utilities through LIHEAP. It's worth looking into all the assistance programs available, not just food and unemployment.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation and have been hesitant to apply for SNAP because I wasn't sure how it would interact with my unemployment benefits. Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to move forward with the application. It's reassuring to know that so many people have successfully received both types of assistance without any issues. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it really makes a difference for those of us navigating these systems for the first time.