Hope your claim goes smoothly! The waiting is the worst part but once you get through the initial processing it gets more routine. File early and often (your weekly claims) and you should be good to go.

I went through this exact same situation last year after getting laid off from my tech job. The key thing is to file immediately - don't second guess yourself! I filed the day after my last day of work and was glad I did because the whole process took longer than expected. Make sure you have your Social Security card handy and write down all your previous employer info before you start the application. The online system will time out if you take too long gathering documents mid-application. Also, set up direct deposit right away so you don't have to wait for checks in the mail once your benefits start. Good luck!

Bottom line - file immediately, don't wait another day. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file your initial claim, so every day you wait is money you're losing. The process is pretty straightforward online and you can always get help if you run into issues.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - file TODAY if you haven't already! I made the same mistake when I got laid off from my marketing job last year. Waited almost 3 weeks because I thought I needed to "try harder" to find work first or something. Huge mistake. Lost out on nearly $2,000 in benefits that I could never get back. Washington State makes it super clear that you can't backdate claims, so every day you wait is literally money out of your pocket. The online application at esd.wa.gov is actually pretty user-friendly - took me about 45 minutes when I finally did it. Have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your last employer's info ready. Don't overthink it, just get it done!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating when the system fails people like this. As someone who's been through similar bureaucratic nightmares, I wanted to mention that you should also document every single interaction you have with ESD from here on out. Keep records of call times, agent names if you get them, reference numbers, and summaries of what was discussed. If you end up in an appeal hearing, having a detailed log of your attempts to resolve this can really strengthen your case and show you acted in good faith throughout the process. Also, don't let them discourage you - 8 months of approved weekly filings followed by a blanket denial is NOT normal procedure, and you deserve answers about what changed and why.

This situation sounds incredibly frustrating and unfortunately way too common with ESD. One thing I'd suggest checking - did you receive any "fact-finding" notices or questionnaires during those 8 months that you might have missed or that went to the wrong address? Sometimes ESD sends these out automatically when certain flags are triggered in the system, and if they don't receive a response within their timeframe, they can retroactively deny all claims back to the triggering event. Also, when you do speak with an agent (definitely pursue that route), ask them specifically to check for any "non-monetary determinations" on your claim that might not have been properly communicated to you. The fact that you were filing successfully for 8 months suggests the system was accepting your claims, which makes this sudden blanket denial even more suspicious. Document everything as others have said, and don't give up - this really does sound like an internal processing error rather than a legitimate eligibility issue.

Bottom line - file with Washington ESD since you worked in Washington. Living location doesn't matter for which state's unemployment system you use.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year! I lived in Bellingham but worked in Seattle, and I was equally confused about where to file. Like everyone else has confirmed, you definitely file with Washington ESD since that's where you earned your wages. The online application is pretty user-friendly once you get started. One tip - if you get stuck during the application process, don't refresh the page or you might lose your progress. Save frequently as you go through each section. Also, make sure you have your last day of work date handy - they'll ask for that early in the process. Good luck with your claim!

Update us when you get it filed! Always good to hear success stories for people who are still figuring out the process.

Just wanted to add that I went through this exact same situation last year - lived in Bellingham but worked in Vancouver, WA. Filed with Washington ESD and it was totally straightforward. The system doesn't care about distance within the state, just that your wages were earned in Washington. One tip: make sure you have your Social Security card handy when you file online, they ask for it during the verification process. Don't let the fear of making a mistake stop you from filing - you can always correct information later if needed, but you can't get back the time you lose by waiting!