The same thing happened to me... I was so depressed I couldn't get out of bed but they still said I didn't have "good cause" to quit. I appealed and lost because my doctor's note wasn't "specific enough" whatever that means. The whole system is designed to deny people benefits. Im still mad about it. Hope you have better luck than I did :

I went through almost the exact same situation last year and won my appeal! Here's what made the difference: I had to get a very specific letter from my psychiatrist that stated 1) my exact diagnosis (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety), 2) that the workplace conditions were directly worsening my symptoms, and 3) that it was medically necessary for me to leave that specific job to prevent further deterioration of my mental health. The judge at my hearing emphasized that it couldn't just say I had depression - it had to connect my condition to why I couldn't continue THAT job specifically. Also document everything about your supervisor's behavior if you can remember dates/incidents. I kept a journal of the toxic interactions which really helped my case. Don't give up - mental health IS a valid reason to quit if you have the right documentation!

Thanks for posting this question! I've been wondering about the same thing with a potential settlement from a workplace accident (not workers comp related). Good to know these types of settlements generally don't affect unemployment benefits.

I went through something similar last year with a personal injury settlement from a slip and fall. Washington ESD didn't reduce my benefits at all since it wasn't work-related income. The key is being upfront about it when you file your weekly claim. I reported it under "other income" with a brief explanation that it was a personal injury settlement unrelated to employment. They reviewed it for about 10 days and then confirmed it wouldn't affect my benefits. Just make sure you keep all your settlement paperwork in case they ask for documentation later. The transparency really helps avoid any issues down the road.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. One thing I'd add for anyone still struggling - if you're using Safari on Mac, try switching to Chrome or Firefox. Safari has some weird compatibility issues with the ESD site that cause similar login loops. Also, make sure your browser is updated to the latest version. I spent hours troubleshooting only to find out my Chrome was like 6 months out of date and that was causing the redirects to fail. The whole SAW integration is honestly a mess, but at least there are workarounds!

Just wanted to add another potential fix that worked for me when I had the same issue last year - if you're still getting stuck in loops even after following all the great advice here, try logging into SAW from an incognito/private browser window. Sometimes cached session data from previous login attempts can interfere with the authentication process. Also, I noticed that if you have multiple Washington state services linked to your SAW account (like licensing, voting registration, etc.), it can sometimes cause conflicts. In my case, I had to temporarily remove my business license service from SAW, add the unemployment insurance service, complete the setup, and then re-add the business license later. It's a pain but it worked when nothing else did!

When I had my standby issue I couldn't get through to ESD on the phone for nearly a week... every morning I'd call right when they opened and still couldn't get through. If you're having trouble, try that Claimyr service I mentioned - it saved me so much frustration and time. What I learned is that it's super important to deal with these issues fast before they turn into bigger problems with your claim!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I was able to get through to ESD this morning (after many attempts) and explained the situation. They were actually understanding about the confusion. I have to retroactively submit job search activities for the past weeks, but they're giving me time to do it. And I've started the proper standby request process now. Lesson learned - always verify everything in the ESD system and don't just take your employer's word for it!

UPDATE: After trying everything suggested here, I finally got through to ESD using the Claimyr service. The agent confirmed my ID docs were fine and just needed review. She expedited my case and THREE HOURS LATER my account updated to "paid"! All 4 weeks of backpay should hit my account tomorrow. For anyone dealing with this - keep filing weekly claims, be persistent about calling, and document everything. Thanks everyone for your help and advice during this stressful time.

Wow, Carmen, congratulations on getting your claim resolved! Your experience gives me hope. I'm currently on week 3 of ID verification adjudication and getting really anxious about my finances. It's reassuring to hear that the agent was able to expedite your case once you actually got through to them. I've been hesitant to try third-party services but seeing your success story makes me think it might be worth it. Did the Claimyr service cost anything? And for others still waiting - Carmen's story proves that sometimes the documents are just sitting there waiting for review, not because there's actually an issue with them. Keep pushing!