Washington ESD customer service told me that 'not ineligible' is the standard wording they use for approved claims. Took me forever to get through to them to ask, but at least I got a clear answer. Might be worth calling if you need more details about your specific claim.

This exact same thing happened to me last year! I got the "not ineligible" letter and spent the whole day thinking I was denied until my neighbor explained it to me. It's honestly cruel how confusing they make something so important when people are already stressed about money. Congrats on your approval though - that's great news! Just make sure to keep filing those weekly claims and doing your job search activities. The first payment should hit your account within a week or two.

Also remember that if you do get better and are able to work again, you can always file a new unemployment claim at that point if you're still job searching. Missing out on benefits now doesn't hurt your future eligibility.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - had to leave my job due to a chronic condition that flares up unpredictably. From what I've learned, Washington ESD is pretty strict about the "able and available" requirement, but there might be some wiggle room depending on your specific circumstances. If your doctor says you could do certain types of work (like sedentary office work) even if you can't do your previous job, that might help your case. I'd definitely recommend getting a detailed letter from your doctor about your limitations and capabilities. Also, look into Washington State's Paid Family and Medical Leave program - it's separate from unemployment but might provide some income support during your recovery period. The application process is through the ESD website but it's a different program entirely.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This thread has been way more useful than the Washington ESD website for understanding how this all works.

I just went through this same confusion last month! The key thing that helped me was realizing that Washington ESD automatically calculates both the standard base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters) and the alternate base period (last 4 completed quarters) to see which one gives you a higher benefit amount. So you don't have to worry too much about figuring it out yourself - they'll use whichever calculation is better for you. The quarters are definitely 3 months each as others have said. My advice is to gather all your pay stubs from the last year and a half just in case they need wage verification, but let their system do the heavy lifting on the calculations.

Hang in there - being laid off is stressful but you're already being proactive by asking questions and preparing. That's exactly the right approach. You'll figure this out and hopefully find an even better opportunity!

I went through a similar layoff situation about 18 months ago and wanted to share a few practical tips that really helped me. First, when you file your claim, take screenshots of every page - the system occasionally glitches and you'll want proof of what you submitted. Second, set up a dedicated email folder for all ESD communications so nothing gets lost in your inbox. Third, if you have any side income (freelance work, gig economy stuff), make sure you understand how to report it properly on your weekly claims - even small amounts need to be reported and can affect your benefits. The whole process is definitely overwhelming at first, but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes much more manageable. You've got good instincts asking questions ahead of time!

Pro tip: bookmark the direct link to your documents section once you find it. The Washington ESD website navigation can be a maze.

I just went through this same process recently and it took me forever to find the right document! One thing that helped me was using the search function within the eServices portal - I searched for "monetary" and "determination" and that brought up the document I needed. Also, if you're still having trouble, try looking under different date ranges in case the document was filed under a different time period than you expected. The Washington ESD system can be really counterintuitive about where things are stored.