This whole thread has been eye-opening. I had no idea you could potentially get unemployment after quitting. Definitely saving this information for future reference!

I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago and want to share what I learned. The Washington ESD adjudication process for good cause quits is really thorough - they'll interview you, your former employer, and sometimes witnesses. Make sure you can clearly articulate not just what happened, but also what steps you took to try to fix the situation before quitting. I kept a detailed journal of incidents and my attempts to resolve them, which the adjudicator said really helped my case. Also, don't be discouraged if you get an initial denial - about 60% of good cause quit claims get approved on appeal according to what the ESD rep told me.

The Washington ESD really needs to invest in better phone infrastructure. This is ridiculous for a state agency.

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for weeks! What finally worked for me was calling exactly at 7:59am and hitting redial continuously until I got through the busy signal. Also, I found that Tuesday and Wednesday mornings seem to be slightly less busy than Mondays. Another trick - if you get the "we're experiencing high call volume" message, don't hang up! Stay on the line because sometimes it will still put you in the queue even though it sounds like they're telling you to call back later. Hang in there everyone, it's frustrating but persistence really does pay off eventually.

One more tip - if you do get through to someone but they say they can't help with your specific issue, politely ask them to transfer you to a claims specialist instead of hanging up and trying again. Sometimes they can put you in a priority queue if you're already in the system. Also, make sure you're caught up on all your weekly claims while waiting. Even if your initial claim is pending, you need to keep filing each week or you'll lose benefits for those weeks.

I feel your pain - I went through this exact same nightmare last year! What finally worked for me was calling the main number at 7:58am sharp and when the automated system starts, I pressed 1-1-2 instead of following the normal prompts. This sometimes bypasses the "high call volume" message and puts you in a different queue. Also, try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings - Mondays are absolutely brutal because everyone calls then. And if you get the "goodbye" message, call back immediately. Sometimes the system will let you through on the 2nd or 3rd attempt right in a row. One last thing - keep a notepad ready with your claim number, SSN, and specific questions written down. When you finally get someone, they move fast and you don't want to waste time fumbling for information. Good luck!

Update: Thank you all for the helpful advice! I went back and checked my weekly claim filing and realized I did mess up two things - I answered "no" to being able and available for work (I misunderstood the question) AND I didn't report any job searches. I've now started properly documenting my job searches (applied for 4 positions already) and will make sure to answer all questions correctly for this week's claim. I'll keep filing weekly claims while waiting for my determination letter. Is there any way to correct last week's form, or is that just a lost week now?

Great to see you figured out what went wrong! Those weekly claim questions are definitely confusing at first - I made similar mistakes when I started. The "able and available for work" question trips up a lot of people because it sounds like they're asking if you have a job lined up, but they actually mean are you physically/mentally ready to work if offered a position. You're doing the right thing by documenting your job searches now. Pro tip: keep detailed records of each application (company name, position, date applied, method of application) because ESD can audit your job search activities at any point. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything. Since you're being proactive about fixing these issues going forward, you should be in good shape once your determination letter arrives. Just stay consistent with your weekly filings!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about applying now. I'll make sure to be clear about my availability and school schedule when I file my claim.

Just wanted to add that timing matters too - if you're between semesters or on break, that can actually strengthen your case since you're fully available during those periods. I filed during winter break and had no issues getting approved. When the new semester started, I just made sure to update my availability status and continued receiving benefits as long as I could prove I was actively job searching around my class schedule.