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!

Just went through this same process last month. One thing to watch for is if your claim gets flagged for adjudication - that can delay everything even if it initially looks approved. But if you see no red flags or pending issues, you should be fine.

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!

Just to follow up and clarify for everyone: If you're stuck in this loop where the system won't let you proceed without separation info, here's what's likely happening: 1. When you report the orientation, the employer gets added to your claim 2. When you later report 0 hours, the system sometimes misinterprets this as you no longer working there Try these specific steps: - Answer "Yes" to "Did you work for [employer]?" - Enter 0 for hours worked - When it asks if you're still employed there, select "Yes" - If it still forces separation questions, try logging out completely, clearing cache, and trying again If all else fails, call ESD and explain the situation clearly. They can override this in their system.

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.

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!