Final reminder for anyone reading this - make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' vs 'standby' status. If you're laid off temporarily and expecting to return to the same job, you might qualify for standby which has different job search requirements.

Hey there! I'm in a similar situation and have been researching Washington ESD benefits. Based on everything I've read here, it looks like you'd be looking at around $400-450 per week with your $800 weekly wages. The formula is pretty straightforward: they take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. Just make sure to file your weekly claims right away even while waiting for approval, and definitely register with WorkSourceWA for the job search requirements. Good luck if you end up needing to file!

I just went through this exact same situation! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and was constantly refreshing my account trying to figure out if I was approved. What finally clued me in was when I logged in one morning and suddenly saw a "File Weekly Claim" button that wasn't there before, plus my weekly benefit amount showed up under the claim summary section. That's basically Washington ESD's way of telling you you're approved without actually saying it directly. The determination letter came in the mail about 3 days later confirming everything. If you can see your weekly benefit amount ($421 sounds right for approval!) and can file weekly claims, you're definitely good to go. Just make sure to file those weekly claims every Sunday - that's when the money actually starts flowing!

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about a week ago and have been anxiously checking my account multiple times a day! This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding what to look for. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like the key indicators are: 1) seeing your weekly benefit amount appear in the claim summary, 2) being able to file weekly claims, and 3) getting that official determination letter in the mail. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment, but it's reassuring to know that most straightforward claims get approved within 2-3 weeks. I'm going to stop obsessively checking my account and just be patient - though I'll definitely keep an eye out for that "File Weekly Claim" button to appear!

Just remember that even if you get denied initially, it's not the end of the world. The appeals process exists for a reason and lots of people win their appeals when they have the right documentation.

Since you were laid off due to budget cuts, you should definitely qualify! That's a clear case of job separation through no fault of your own. Just make sure when you file your claim that you're completely accurate about the reason for separation - select "laid off" or "lack of work" rather than anything that might suggest you quit. The key things to focus on now are: 1) File your claim as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting week, 2) Register with WorkSource immediately after filing, 3) Start documenting your job search activities right away (3 contacts per week minimum), and 4) report any income honestly, even small amounts. Washington ESD can be slow to process claims, so don't panic if it takes a few weeks to hear back. Your situation sounds straightforward compared to some of the complicated cases people have shared here. Good luck!

Bottom line - be honest about all final payments from your employer, keep good records, and don't be discouraged if you have a waiting period. Your benefits will start eventually and you can usually get through the process if you stay on top of your weekly filings.

This is such valuable information! I'm in a similar situation where I received 3 weeks of pay in lieu of notice and was completely confused about how to report it. Reading through everyone's experiences really helps clarify that I need to be upfront about it even though it might delay my benefits. It's frustrating that the system works this way, but at least now I understand the logic behind it. Going to make sure I have all my documentation ready before I complete my application. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else running into this issue, I've found that the ESD system sometimes has session timeout problems that can cause these weird loops. If you've been on the site for a while trying different things, the logout/login trick that worked for Andre often clears up these glitches. Also worth noting - if you're in a similar situation where you have orientation but delayed start date, you might want to call your new employer's HR to confirm when they're reporting your hire date to ESD. Sometimes there's a mismatch between when they report it and when you actually start work, which can cause these reporting issues.

I went through something very similar last month! The ESD system definitely has issues handling the gap between orientation and actual start dates. What finally worked for me was being very specific about the sequence - I reported attending the orientation as a "work activity" initially, then on subsequent weeks I made sure to answer "Yes, I am still employed" but entered 0 hours worked and marked that I was "available for work" for the entire week. The key seems to be that once you've reported any connection to an employer (even just orientation), the system expects you to account for that relationship every week until you either start working regular hours or actually separate from the company. If you get stuck in the separation loop again, try answering the employment questions in reverse order - sometimes going back and re-answering the "still employed" question first helps the system logic work properly.