UPDATE 2: I found more evidence! I discovered that my company filed a WARN notice with the state about the layoffs, which completely contradicts their claim that I was fired for misconduct. This should be pretty solid proof that they're lying to Washington ESD.

Wow, finding that WARN notice is huge! That's basically an official government document proving your company laid people off for business reasons, not misconduct. I'd recommend making multiple copies of it before your appeal hearing and maybe even sending a copy to Washington ESD ahead of time. At this point, your employer is going to have a really hard time explaining how someone can be simultaneously laid off (per the WARN notice) and fired for misconduct (per their unemployment claim). You've got a rock-solid case now.

I've been following this thread and it's been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - my restaurant job cut my hours from 35 to about 20 per week due to the slow winter season. I had no idea about partial unemployment benefits until reading these comments. I've been working there for over a year, so I should definitely meet the 680 hours and wage requirements. Does anyone know if tips count toward the wage calculation for Washington ESD? I make most of my income from tips and I'm not sure if those are included when they calculate eligibility.

This is such a helpful thread! I just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I applied for Washington ESD benefits - make sure you apply online early in the week if possible. I noticed when I filed my weekly claims on Sundays or Mondays, the system seemed less busy and I had fewer technical issues. Also, keep screenshots of your confirmation pages just in case there are any system glitches. The Washington ESD website can be a bit slow during peak times, but don't let that discourage you from applying. Based on what you've described with your retail job and consistent work history, it sounds like you have a really good chance of qualifying for partial benefits. The fact that your hours were cut due to business reasons (not your fault) should definitely work in your favor for the separation requirements.

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first unemployment claim experience. Reading through this entire conversation has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I've been in adjudication for 8 days now and was starting to panic, but seeing @Gianni Serpent's successful resolution after 24 days and hearing from others like @ApolloJackson and @Ella Lewis who are going through the same thing makes me feel so much better. The advice about keeping up with weekly claims, documenting job searches, and taking screenshots is invaluable. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share real experiences and practical tips during what is honestly one of the most stressful times. It's amazing how much anxiety gets reduced just by understanding that this waiting period is normal and that claims do eventually get processed!

As someone who went through adjudication hell for 5 weeks last summer, I want to add a few more tips that helped me stay sane during the wait: 1. Set up a simple spreadsheet to track your job search activities - date, company, position, how you applied, and any follow-up. Makes it way easier if you need to reference them later. 2. If you're really struggling financially, look into local food banks and utility assistance programs while you wait. Many cities have emergency rental assistance too. 3. Don't refresh your ESD account 20 times a day like I did - it just increases anxiety and the status rarely changes more than once per day anyway. The changing date thing is super frustrating because it gives you hope that something is happening, but like others said, it could just be automated system maintenance. My date changed probably 15 times during my 5-week wait with no actual progress being made. Stay strong everyone - the system is slow and frustrating but most claims do eventually get approved!

Bottom line: yes you have to search for work, 3 activities per week minimum, log everything in WorkSourceWA, keep detailed records. There's no getting around it unless you have a specific exemption like standby status. Better to overcomply than risk losing your benefits.

I just went through this exact situation last month! Yes, you absolutely must do job search activities - it's 3 per week minimum. I was also confused at first because there's so much conflicting information out there. What really helped me was setting up a simple routine: I spend Monday morning applying to jobs, Wednesday doing networking or attending virtual workshops, and Friday following up on applications or doing skills training. The key is logging EVERYTHING in WorkSourceWA immediately after you do it. Don't wait until the end of the week like I did initially - it's much harder to remember all the details. Also, keep a backup folder with screenshots and emails just in case. The system seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature.

I just wanted to add my experience to help others in similar situations. I was furloughed for 10 weeks last year and successfully collected unemployment benefits the entire time through Washington ESD. The key things that helped me were: 1) Filing immediately when the furlough started - don't wait thinking you might not qualify, 2) Being completely transparent about it being a temporary layoff with a return date, and 3) Keeping detailed records of all communications with my employer about the furlough. The weekly claims were straightforward, and I just had to consistently report that I was still on furlough each week. When my company called me back to work, I simply reported my return date on that week's claim and everything wrapped up smoothly. The financial support was a lifesaver during those months, and it really is designed for exactly these kinds of situations. Don't hesitate to apply - furloughs are considered qualifying unemployment events in Washington!

I'm currently dealing with a furlough situation myself and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! My employer just notified us about a 7-week furlough starting next month, and I was really stressed about how I'd manage financially. Reading all these success stories about collecting unemployment benefits during furlough in Washington gives me so much confidence. I love how everyone's emphasized filing immediately when the furlough starts and being completely honest about the temporary nature of the situation. The tip about keeping all employer documentation is something I definitely need to do. It's also good to know that the online filing process works well - I was dreading having to deal with phone wait times. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these challenging situations!