Just want to echo everyone else - file immediately. I work in HR and see people make this mistake all the time. The filing date is what matters, not when benefits start flowing.

As someone who just went through this exact situation 3 months ago, I can't stress enough - FILE NOW! I had 6 weeks severance from my marketing job and made the mistake of listening to my former employer who told me to wait. Big mistake. When I finally filed, Washington ESD told me I should have filed immediately after separation regardless of severance. I lost about 3 weeks of potential benefits because of the delay. The severance just affects when payments start, not your eligibility to file. Don't make the same mistake I did - get your claim in the system ASAP and let them sort out the timing details.

This whole thread is incredibly helpful - I wish I had found this information months ago! I'm currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and my spouse just got out of the Air Force in January. We're staying in Washington for now, but seeing all these stories about military spouses getting denied benefits is concerning since we might get orders to move soon. One thing I'm wondering about - does the military spouse provision work both ways? Like if I (active duty) get PCS orders and my civilian spouse has to quit their job to move with me, they're covered. But what if my spouse gets a great job offer in another state and I have to request a compassionate reassignment or something? Would that still qualify under the same provision, or is it specifically only for PCS orders? Also, thank you to everyone sharing the specific RCW citation and practical tips about continuing to file weekly claims during appeals. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice that you can't find in the official ESD documentation!

As someone who works in military family services, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help others going through this process: 1. **Documentation is key** - In addition to PCS orders, keep copies of your resignation letter/separation paperwork that specifically mentions the military move. This helps establish the direct connection between your job separation and the PCS. 2. **State-specific variations** - While Washington has strong military spouse protections, each state handles this differently. If you're moving TO Washington from another state, you might need to file in your previous state of employment initially. 3. **Base resources** - Most bases have Family Readiness Group coordinators or Military Family Life Counselors who have dealt with this exact situation. They often have contacts at state unemployment offices and can provide guidance on the process. 4. **Timeline expectations** - Even with perfect documentation, allow 4-6 weeks for the entire process. The interstate coordination between unemployment systems adds complexity and time. For anyone currently dealing with this: don't let initial denials discourage you. The military spouse provision exists specifically because lawmakers recognized that military families shouldn't be penalized for serving our country. Persistence pays off!

my cousin works for the militarey and he said they have a special number u can call for this stuff. did u try the military support line?

I just went through this exact same issue last month! As a veteran myself, I can confirm that using 12/31/2099 is absolutely the right approach. I was initially hesitant too because it felt weird entering a "fake" date, but when I finally got through to ESD (took forever), the representative assured me this is their standard procedure for military IDs. One tip - take a screenshot of your completed application showing that date, just in case you need to reference it later if they ask any questions during processing. My claim went through without any issues and I never heard anything more about the expiration date. Also, if you're a military spouse like me, make sure you have both your military ID and your spouse's military documentation handy in case they need additional verification. Sometimes they ask for proof of your spouse's service status to confirm your dependent ID is valid. Good luck with your claim! The 2099 date trick definitely works.

I went through this exact same situation last year! ESD made a misconduct determination without ever contacting my employer too. It's incredibly frustrating but definitely fixable. Here's what saved me time: 1. File your appeal ONLINE immediately - don't mail it, the online system is faster 2. In the appeal, be very specific that your employer disputes the misconduct finding 3. Have your HR manager write a detailed letter explaining the actual reason for separation (layoff, position elimination, etc.) 4. Request your complete personnel file from HR - this shows your work history and any disciplinary actions (or lack thereof) The good news is that having your HR manager willing to represent you puts you in a much stronger position than most people. Most employers don't want to deal with unemployment hearings, so having someone from your company actively supporting your case is huge. One thing I learned: ESD sometimes defaults to "misconduct" when they don't receive employer information within their timeframe, even if that's not what actually happened. Your appeal hearing will be much more thorough than their initial determination process. Keep filing your weekly claims while you appeal - this is crucial for getting backpay if you win!

I had this exact same issue happen to me in December! ESD denied me for "misconduct" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. My employer never even got contacted by ESD either - it's like they just pick random reasons sometimes. Here's what worked for me: I filed my appeal online the same day I got the denial letter, and I had my former supervisor write a letter on company letterhead stating I was laid off, not fired for misconduct. The letter specifically said "This employee was not terminated for misconduct" and explained the actual reason (workforce reduction in my case). The appeal hearing was scheduled about a month later, and it was pretty straightforward. The judge asked my supervisor a few questions, looked at the documentation, and overturned ESD's decision immediately. I got all my backpay for the weeks I had filed claims during the appeal process. Having your HR manager willing to represent you is amazing - most people don't have that kind of support. Make sure she has all the details about your separation and can speak to your work performance. You're in a really good position to win this appeal! Also, definitely keep filing those weekly claims. I almost stopped filing because I thought there was no point, but thankfully someone on here told me to keep going. Would have lost thousands in backpay otherwise.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I've decided to: 1. Stop filing UI claims during my recovery 2. Apply for PFML (already checked and I have enough hours) 3. Use Claimyr to reach ESD before my surgery to confirm everything 4. Reopen my UI claim once I'm cleared to work Really appreciate all the guidance - this community is amazing!

Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're planning to apply for PFML, make sure you get all your medical documentation ready BEFORE your surgery. You'll need forms filled out by your doctor, and it's much easier to get these done during your pre-op appointment than trying to chase down paperwork while you're recovering. Also, PFML benefits are only about 90% of your average weekly wage (with caps), so it might be less than your UI benefits depending on your situation. Budget accordingly! The good news is that stopping and restarting UI claims is pretty straightforward once you know the process.