I'm going through something very similar right now - had to quit my retail job last month due to panic attacks that were getting worse every day. The constant stress was making my depression unbearable. I haven't filed my Washington ESD claim yet because I wasn't sure if quitting for mental health reasons would qualify, but reading through all these responses gives me hope. It's scary not having income coming in, but I know staying at that job would have made things so much worse. Thanks for posting this question - it's helping more people than just you!

I went through this exact process with Washington ESD about 6 months ago after quitting due to severe depression and anxiety. Here's what helped my case get approved: 1) I had my psychiatrist write a detailed letter explaining how my mental health condition made it medically necessary to leave work immediately, 2) I documented all my symptoms and how they were affecting my job performance, and 3) I filed my claim online within a few days of quitting. The adjudication took about 10 weeks, which was stressful, but they ultimately approved it. The key is having solid medical documentation that shows continuing work would have been harmful to your health. Your therapist's records will be crucial - make sure they can provide a letter stating that immediate separation from work was medically necessary for your recovery. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying - mental health is just as valid as physical health conditions. Good luck!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Filed in late December, went through weeks of adjudication, and now I have that mysterious "processing web" status after filing my weekly claims. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening, especially when you're counting on that money for basic expenses. Reading through everyone's responses here is giving me some hope though. It sounds like being able to file the weekly claims is actually a positive sign, even without the official approval letter. I've been afraid to get my hopes up but maybe I should be more optimistic. Has anyone here had experience with how long the "processing web" status typically lasts before it changes to something more definitive? I'm in a similar boat with rent coming due and trying to figure out if I should expect payment this week or if I need to make other arrangements.

I just wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours! I filed in mid-December and went through the same "processing web" limbo after adjudication. The good news is that after about 4 business days of that status, everything suddenly switched to "paid" and I received payment via direct deposit 2 days later. One thing that really helped me was setting up text notifications through the ESD website if you haven't already - I got a text the moment my status changed, which was way less stressful than constantly logging in to check. Also, I discovered that even though I never got a formal approval letter, there was actually a brief notice buried in my correspondence inbox that I had missed. The fact that you can file weekly claims is definitely a strong indicator that your initial eligibility looks good to them. Just make sure to keep filing every single week regardless of what the status shows - that was advice I got here that saved me from missing any potential payments. Hang in there, it sounds like you're really close!

Just a reminder that if you're having ongoing payment issues, you can also try contacting your bank to make sure there aren't any holds or flags on incoming ACH transfers from government agencies.

I'm also dealing with payment delays right now - my claim has shown 'paid' for 6 business days but still no deposit. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful though. It sounds like delays of 4-6 days aren't uncommon lately, even if the official timeframe is 2-3 days. I'm going to double-check my direct deposit info and maybe give it a couple more days before trying to contact ESD. Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone!

Bottom line: your manager was wrong, employers pay all unemployment taxes, and you don't need to worry about additional deductions from your paycheck for this. Case closed!

I'm new to Washington state employment too and this thread has been super enlightening! One thing I'm curious about - if employers are paying all these unemployment taxes, does that mean businesses with higher turnover rates end up paying more? Like, does Washington ESD track which companies have more former employees filing for benefits and adjust their tax rates accordingly?

Thanks everyone for all this information! I feel much more confident about starting my part-time job now. The earnings disregard rules make way more sense after reading through all these explanations.

Just to add another perspective - I've been using the earnings disregard for about 6 months now and it's been a game changer. Started with a small retail job making around $150/week while collecting $400 in unemployment benefits. The extra income really helps with groceries and gas while I continue looking for full-time work. The key is being consistent with reporting - I set a reminder on my phone every Sunday to file my weekly claim and always double-check my earnings calculation. It's become routine now and gives me peace of mind knowing I'm doing everything by the book.