Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I withdrew $8,000 from my 401k while on unemployment - only reported the employer match portion (about $400 in my case) and it only affected that single week's benefits. The key thing I learned is to be VERY specific when reporting it. Don't just put "retirement withdrawal" - I wrote "401k withdrawal - employer match portion only" in the comments section. This seemed to help avoid any confusion on their end. Also, keep your 401k statement showing the breakdown between your contributions and employer match, just in case they ask for documentation later. The whole process went smoothly for me and benefits resumed normally the following week. Good luck with your medical expenses!

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add - if you're withdrawing for medical expenses, you might want to check if your withdrawal qualifies for the medical expense exception to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. The IRS allows penalty-free withdrawals for unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Since you're on unemployment, your AGI is probably lower this year, so you might qualify. It won't affect the ESD reporting requirements (still need to report that employer match portion), but it could save you some money on the tax side. Just something to discuss with a tax professional if the medical bills are substantial!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about filing my first weekly claim now. This thread should be bookmarked for other newbies.

Just want to add that you can also check your claim status and payment history in the eServices portal. Sometimes payments get delayed due to bank processing times too, not just ESD issues. I usually get my payments on Tuesday or Wednesday after filing on Sunday. Also, if you ever need to update your direct deposit info or address, do it through eServices rather than trying to call - it's much faster and you'll get a confirmation email.

I feel for you, this system is so frustrating! My claim was stuck for THREE MONTHS earlier this year with zero communication from ESD. I finally got desperate and contacted my state representative's office. They have staff who can help with ESD issues and got my claim resolved within a week. Might be worth trying if your appeal gets stuck too.

Hey Caesar, I went through something very similar last year! Got denied for "quitting without good cause" even though I had a legitimate job offer with better pay. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was being super explicit about the connection between quitting my old job BECAUSE I had secured the new position. ESD seems to default to denial unless you spell everything out clearly. In your appeal, make sure to emphasize that this wasn't just you quitting randomly - you had a concrete job offer in hand that provided better wages before you gave notice. The fact that the new employer let you go after 2 weeks is totally separate from whether you had good cause to quit your original job. Also, don't stress too much about the resignation date vs last day worked thing. That's pretty standard - most people give 2 weeks notice. What matters is that you can prove you had the job offer before quitting and that you actually started the new position. Your paystub should be perfect evidence for that.

Just remember that missing weekly claims can mess up your whole benefit year. I missed two weeks in a row once and it took forever to get it sorted out. Don't make my mistake!

I just went through this same process a few weeks ago and totally understand the confusion! Here's what worked for me: Set up a Sunday routine where you log into the SecureAccess Washington portal around the same time each week. Have a notebook ready to jot down your job search activities as you do them throughout the week - it makes filing so much easier. The questions are pretty straightforward once you do it a couple times. Don't stress too much about it, just be honest and consistent with your answers. You've got this!

Bottom line for OP: File your initial claim ASAP, set up direct deposit, register with WorkSource, file weekly claims on time every week, do your job search activities, keep good records, and be patient with the process. It's complicated but thousands of people navigate it successfully every week. You've got this!

One thing that helped me when I first filed was to treat it like a part-time job - set aside specific times each week to handle unemployment tasks. Sunday mornings for filing weekly claims, a couple hours during the week for job searching and updating your log. Having a routine made it feel less overwhelming and ensured I never missed deadlines. The Washington ESD system is definitely clunky, but once you get into a rhythm it becomes more manageable.