I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I had a medical emergency and completely forgot to file. The online reopening process worked fine for me - took about 10 minutes to complete all the questions. Just make sure you have all your recent job search activities documented because they'll ask for those details. One thing that helped me avoid this happening again was downloading the ESD mobile app and turning on push notifications. It sends me a reminder every Sunday morning to file my weekly claim. The lost week still stings financially, but at least you caught it after just one missed filing instead of letting it go longer.

I had a similar situation last year when I missed filing due to a death in the family. The good news is that reopening your claim is pretty straightforward, and you won't have to serve another waiting week since it's just one missed week. Here's what worked for me: log into eServices, click "Restart your claim," answer all the questions (they're mostly the same as your original application), and submit. Your new effective date will be this coming Sunday, so you can file your weekly claim normally starting then. The hardest part is accepting that you'll lose that one week's payment - there's unfortunately no way to backdate it. But your total benefit amount and benefit year end date stay the same, so it doesn't affect the overall length of your claim. Make sure you have your job search activities ready because they'll ask about those during the reopening process.

One last thing - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even during adjudication. Don't wait until you get approved or you could miss out on benefits for those weeks. The system is pretty specific about this requirement.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year - got fired from my logistics job for "performance issues" but it was really just unrealistic expectations and constantly changing metrics. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 10 days because there was no documentation of misconduct. The key thing is that performance struggles aren't the same as willful misconduct. Since you were genuinely trying to do your job and they never gave you proper written warnings, you should be in good shape. Don't let the stress get to you too much - file that claim ASAP and focus on your job search. You've got this!

MAKE SURE you keep doing your job search activities during the severance period!!! I messed this up and lost weeks of benefits because I thought I didn't need to do job search until my benefits actually started. You need 3 job search activities each week even during the severance period if you want to claim those weeks later.

One more thing to be aware of: When you report your severance on your initial application, make sure you select the correct classification. There's a difference between "severance pay" and "continuation of wages" in how ESD treats them. Since you're staying on payroll with benefits for 8 weeks, this sounds like continuation of wages. Be very specific when reporting this to avoid adjudication delays.

Summary for anyone else in this situation: You can't collect unemployment while medically unable to work, but once you're cleared by your doctor you can file if you meet all other eligibility requirements. Make sure you have childcare arranged and are genuinely available for work. Document everything and be prepared for potential delays in processing.

I went through something similar with my second baby. One thing that really helped was getting familiar with WorkSource Washington's online resources before I was ready to file. They have career assessment tools and job search workshops that you can access from home. I did some of their online modules during maternity leave so I'd be better prepared when I was ready to actively job search. Also, if you're in a rural area, remember that you can apply for jobs anywhere in the state - remote work options have really expanded since the pandemic. The key is showing Washington ESD that you're serious about finding work once you're physically able. Good luck mama!

Pro tip from someone who's been through this multiple times - keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. Every phone call, every document you submit, every email. You'll thank yourself later if issues come up.

Based on my experience, the timeline really depends on whether your claim goes into adjudication or not. I filed in November after a layoff from a manufacturing plant and got my first payment exactly 17 days later. The one-week waiting period is mandatory, then you file your first weekly claim, and if everything processes smoothly you should see payment within 7-10 business days after that. Make sure you have your direct deposit set up and keep filing those weekly claims even while your initial claim is still pending - that's crucial. Also, since you mentioned the layoff was due to reduced orders, that should be a straightforward separation reason that won't trigger any red flags. Just be patient and keep checking your online account for updates.