Just want to echo what others have said about Claimyr - I used them last month when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. It really works and saved me hours of calling. Worth checking out their demo video if you're having trouble reaching an agent.

I went through something similar last year. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD overpayment notices can look scarier than they actually are. In many cases, there are legitimate reasons for the determination that can be resolved once you understand what happened. The most important thing is to read the notice carefully to see if it specifies the reason for the overpayment - was it unreported wages, eligibility issues, or something else? Don't panic, but do act quickly since you only have 30 days to appeal if you disagree with their decision. I'd recommend calling them as soon as possible to get clarification on exactly what triggered the overpayment determination.

Bottom line is Washington ESD takes good cause quits seriously but you need solid evidence. Don't quit on impulse - build your case first with documentation, complaints to HR or management, and clear evidence of how the situation is unreasonable.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're dealing with a hostile work environment, check if your company offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Sometimes they have resources for workplace conflict resolution or can help document incidents properly. Also, if the toxic management is affecting your mental health, that could potentially be another angle for good cause since Washington recognizes health-related reasons for quitting. Just make sure to get medical documentation if you go that route. The key is really building that paper trail before you make any moves.

Hey Riya! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I got laid off from my tech job. The advice you're getting here is spot on - definitely answer NO to the notice period question since severance is completely different. One thing I wish someone had told me early on: create a simple spreadsheet to track all your severance payments, dates received, and what you reported to ESD each week. It saved me so much headache when I had questions later. Also, if your severance payments are substantial like mine were, don't be surprised if you get $0 benefits for several weeks - that's totally normal and expected. The most important thing is to keep filing those weekly claims religiously, even when you're getting nothing. I made the mistake of skipping a few weeks thinking "what's the point if I'm getting $0" and it created issues when I tried to restart later. Just keep filing and everything will smooth out once your severance period ends in March!

I'm going through a similar situation right now after being laid off from my marketing job in September. Just wanted to add that when you're reporting your severance payments, make sure you're clear about whether they're taxable or not - this can affect how much gets deducted from your benefits. Also, if your company is providing any continuing benefits (like health insurance coverage) during your severance period, that doesn't need to be reported as income, but it's worth noting in case ESD asks about it later. One tip that helped me: I took a screenshot of each weekly claim submission showing exactly what I reported and when. It creates a paper trail in case there are any questions down the road. The whole process is stressful enough without worrying about documentation issues later! Good luck navigating this - it sounds like you're being really thorough about getting it right, which is exactly the right approach.

Quick update on this issue: I'm seeing several similar reports this week. It appears there may be a system-wide delay in updating the Decision tab after disqualification statuses are applied. Important: If you reported ANY work during the week you were disqualified, carefully check if you provided: - Exact hours worked each day - Complete employer information - Correct gross earnings (before taxes) Many claimants are being auto-disqualified right now if the work details section is incomplete. You can often get this quickly resolved by calling, but as others have mentioned, reaching an agent is the challenge.

Glad to see you got it resolved @Charlie Yang! This is such a common issue and your experience highlights why it's so important to categorize work correctly when reporting. For anyone else dealing with this - if you did ANY type of gig work, contract work, or freelance work during your claim week, make sure you're selecting the right employer type. The system treats regular W-2 employment very differently from 1099/contractor work, and getting that wrong can trigger an automatic disqualification flag. Also want to echo what others said about calling right at 7:30am - that really is the sweet spot for getting through to an actual person at ESD.

awesome! now make sure u keep doing ur weekly claims on time so u dont have more delays!

So happy to hear it finally came through! 🎉 That must be such a huge weight off your shoulders after 7 weeks of stress. For anyone else reading this thread who's still waiting - this gives me hope that the system does eventually work, even if it's painfully slow. Zara, enjoy that financial breathing room and thanks for updating us with the good news!