I'm so sorry about your father's stroke and the difficult position you're in. As someone who works in social services, I want to emphasize that Washington state does recognize family caregiving as potential "good cause" for voluntary separation. The key is documentation and showing that you exhausted other reasonable alternatives. Beyond what others have mentioned, also gather any written communication with your employer about your situation - emails discussing your need for time off, their response about FMLA eligibility, etc. This creates a paper trail showing you tried to work with them first. Also, if possible, get a statement from your father's medical team specifically addressing why he requires family care rather than just professional services - sometimes family members can provide continuity and emotional support that's medically beneficial. The adjudicator will be looking for evidence that a reasonable person in your situation would have made the same choice. Stay strong - you're doing the right thing for your dad.

I went through a very similar situation when my mother had a severe heart attack and needed round-the-clock care. Washington ESD did approve my claim, but it took about 6 weeks and required extensive documentation. Here's what really helped my case: I got a detailed letter from her cardiologist explaining not just her medical needs, but specifically why family supervision was medically necessary for her recovery and mental health. I also documented every attempt I made to find alternative care - I got quotes from three home health agencies and two assisted living facilities to show they were either unavailable immediately or financially impossible on my salary. The adjudicator told me later that showing I had genuinely explored all other options before quitting was crucial. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - start applying for your dad's Medicare/Medicaid benefits now if you haven't already, as some of those services can take months to kick in. Also keep detailed records of his daily care needs and your caregiving activities, as this helps demonstrate the full-time nature of the care required. The financial stress is real, but don't give up on the claim - caregivers deserve support too.

Thanks everyone for all the info. This thread has been way more helpful than anything I found on the official Washington ESD website!

One thing I've noticed is that if you file your claim really early Sunday morning (like midnight to 6 AM), sometimes the payment processes a bit faster than if you file in the evening. I think it might be because those early claims get into the first batch when they start processing Monday morning. Could just be coincidence though - has anyone else noticed timing differences based on when during Sunday you file?

Back pay from Washington ESD usually shows up on the same day of the week as your regular benefits. So if you normally get paid on Wednesday, check for back pay on Wednesday too.

I had the exact same situation last month - approved after 5 weeks in adjudication but only saw recent payments at first. It took about 8 business days for all my back pay to hit my account. Washington ESD processes retroactive payments in a separate batch system, so they don't always show up immediately with your regular weekly benefits. Keep checking your payment history daily and don't panic if it takes a full week or two. The system is slow but the money will come through as long as you filed all your weekly claims during adjudication (which it sounds like you did). Hang in there!

Good luck! From what I've seen, Washington ESD is usually reasonable about backdate requests when there's a legitimate reason like not understanding the weekly filing requirement. Just be honest and thorough in your explanation.

I went through this exact same situation last year and can offer some hope! I missed 4 weeks because the website made it seem like weekly filing was optional after approval. Here's what worked for me: I submitted a backdate request through the secure messaging system explaining that the instructions weren't clear to me as a first-time claimant. I included a timeline of when I filed my initial claim, when I realized my mistake, and when I started filing weekly. They approved it in about 3 weeks and I got all my back pay. The key is being honest about the confusion and showing you're now complying with weekly filing. Don't give up - they deal with this situation more often than you'd think!

The benefit amount calculator is pretty straightforward once you understand it. Take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 13, then multiply by 0.5. That gives you a rough estimate of your weekly benefit before hitting any caps.

I just went through this process last month after getting laid off from my construction job. With Washington ESD, your weekly benefit is calculated using your highest earning quarter from your "base period" (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). They take that quarter's wages, divide by 13 weeks, then you get roughly 50% of that amount. So if you made $11,700 in your highest quarter, that's $900/week average, and you'd get around $450 weekly in benefits. The minimum is $295/week and maximum is $999/week for 2025. Make sure to apply online through SecureAccess Washington - it's much faster than calling. Also remember there's a one-week waiting period before you get your first payment, so budget for that gap.