Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations! This clears up a lot of confusion I had about how unemployment works here. Now I understand why there's no deduction on my paystub.

This is really helpful information! I'm new to Washington state too and was wondering about this exact thing. It's actually pretty nice that we don't have to pay unemployment taxes like in other states. Does anyone know if Washington also has any unique rules about collecting benefits compared to other states? Like are there different waiting periods or anything?

For what it's worth, I've hired dozens of people over the years and unemployment history has never been a factor in any hiring decision. We care about skills and fit, not whether someone collected benefits between jobs.

I went through this exact same worry when I was job hunting after getting laid off from my tech job. Spent way too much time stressing about whether employers could see my UI claim. Turns out all that anxiety was for nothing - never came up in any of my interviews. The privacy protections in Washington are solid, and most employers are focused on whether you can do the job, not your benefit history. Just be prepared to explain any employment gaps honestly if asked, but don't overthink the UI privacy angle.

Good luck with your claim! Layoffs due to downsizing are exactly what unemployment benefits are designed for, so you should be approved without major issues once Washington ESD processes everything.

Just wanted to add that when you're filling out the job separation section, make sure you include the exact date of your last day worked, not just the month. Washington ESD uses this to calculate your benefit year and when payments can start. Also, if you received any final paychecks or vacation payouts after your last work day, you'll need to report those during your weekly claims since they can affect your benefit timing. The good news is that with a clear layoff due to company downsizing, you shouldn't face any eligibility issues - just make sure all your dates and details are accurate.

Thanks everyone for all the info. I'm bookmarking this thread in case I need to refer back to it if shutdown actually happens.

This has been such an informative discussion! As someone who just started receiving UI benefits last month, I was terrified when I heard about the potential shutdown. It's reassuring to learn that Washington ESD operates independently from federal funding for regular unemployment benefits. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims as usual and try not to stress about things beyond my control. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is amazing for supporting each other through these uncertain times.

I actually went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my tech job. Washington ESD does allow you to start a business while collecting, but you absolutely have to be meticulous about reporting. I kept a spreadsheet tracking every hour I worked on business stuff and every penny of income, no matter how small. The biggest thing that helped me was treating my business activities as part of my overall career development - I made sure to still apply for regular jobs and network in my industry. One tip: when you do your weekly claims, always answer honestly about your availability for work. If you spent 30+ hours that week on business activities, you might need to answer "no" to being available, which could affect that week's benefits. But being honest protects you from fraud issues down the road. The peace of mind is worth more than trying to game the system.

I'm in almost the exact same situation right now - got laid off from my job about 6 weeks ago and have been thinking about starting a freelance business. Reading through all these responses has been super educational! The consistent theme seems to be documentation and transparency. I'm definitely going to look into that Self-Employment Assistance Program that was mentioned, and if I can't get into that, I'll follow the advice about keeping detailed records and reporting everything. The Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth trying too since I've also been stuck in Washington ESD phone hell trying to get answers. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helpful to hear from people who have actually navigated this successfully.