Good luck with whatever you decide to do next. The entrepreneurial spirit is admirable even when things don't work out.

Definitely. Starting a business takes guts and most people never even try.

@Aiden Chen I m'really sorry you had to close your business too. It s'such a tough situation when you ve'put years of work into something. Have you looked into whether you might qualify for any SNAP benefits or other basic assistance programs while you re'transitioning back to traditional employment? I know it s'not the same as unemployment insurance, but it might help bridge the gap. Also, since you were doing freelance design work, you probably have a portfolio and client relationships that could help you find contract or permanent positions with agencies or companies. The skills transfer even if the business structure didn t'work out.

I'm really sorry to hear about your design business closing - that must be incredibly difficult after putting three years into it. You're absolutely right that the self-employment tax situation is frustrating since it feels like you were paying into the system, just not the right part of it for unemployment purposes. I've been researching other options myself since realizing I won't qualify for regular UI benefits either. One thing I discovered is that some local workforce development boards have special programs for displaced business owners or entrepreneurs transitioning back to traditional employment. They sometimes offer job search assistance, retraining opportunities, or even temporary financial support that's separate from the regular unemployment system. It might be worth reaching out to WorkSource Washington to see if they have any programs specifically for people in our situation. Also, since you mentioned you were doing freelance design, have you considered reaching out to temp agencies that specialize in creative services? They might have contract opportunities that could provide some income while you're figuring out your next steps.

Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2020. Benefits start with your first week of unemployment as long as you file your weekly claim on time.

awesome, thats one less thing to worry about when budgeting

Totally agree! I've been lurking here trying to understand my own benefit calculation and this thread has been incredibly helpful. The step-by-step breakdown with actual examples really makes the difference. Government websites are usually so hard to navigate and understand.

I'm new here but this thread really saved me! I've been stressing about my unemployment calculation for weeks and couldn't make sense of the Washington ESD website. The formula everyone explained (highest quarter × 0.0385) is so much clearer than anything I found online. Just did my math and I should get around $420/week which will help a lot while I job hunt. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge!

I'm definitely going to try them if I run into issues. Seems like a lot of people here have had good experiences.

Anything beats sitting on hold for hours. Time is money when you're running a business.

Great summary! One thing I'd add is don't wait until tax time to set up your unemployment account with Washington ESD. You need to register as soon as you have your first employee, even before you pay them. The penalties for late registration can be steep. Also, if you're doing payroll yourself, make sure you understand the difference between regular wages and things like bonuses or commissions - they might be treated differently for unemployment tax purposes.

That's really helpful to know. I'll keep an eye out for any correspondence and check all those potential issues.

The letters often get buried in the correspondence section of your account too, not just mailed to you

This gives me so much hope! I'm literally the original poster dealing with this exact situation right now. The back and forth between pending and denied has been driving me crazy all week. You're right that I reported part-time work last week, so it sounds like that's definitely what triggered the review. Did Washington ESD send you any specific correspondence about what they needed, or did it just resolve automatically after they finished their review? I'm trying to figure out if I need to take any action or just wait it out.

This is super helpful! I'm actually the OP Josef dealing with this exact issue right now. The status flip between pending and denied has been stressing me out all week. You're spot on - I did report part-time work on my last weekly claim, so that's definitely what triggered this review. Did you have to submit any additional documentation during the process, or did Washington ESD just review what you had already reported? Also, roughly how long did your review take to complete? I'm really hoping to get this resolved soon since I need those benefit payments.

Same here! I had no idea about the dependency allowance or how the quarterly calculations worked.

I noticed the same confusion! From what I've been able to piece together from this thread, it looks like there might be some outdated information floating around. The most recent posts seem to indicate it's $1,015 for 2025, but I'd recommend double-checking on the official Washington ESD website to be absolutely sure before you file. These amounts do change annually so it's always best to verify with the source.