Good luck with your job search. The 26 weeks will go by faster than you think.

Just wanted to add that it's really important to keep track of your weekly certifications too. I missed filing one week because I was sick and even though I called Washington ESD to explain, they still counted it against my 26 weeks. Make sure you set reminders to file every week on time - usually Sunday through the following Saturday. Missing even one week can mess up your benefit timeline.

Quick update on my similar situation - I finally got through to ESD (thanks to the Claimyr recommendation from someone above - total game changer). The agent confirmed that being required to move more than 50 miles is considered an unreasonable distance in Washington State, and my claim was approved. Just sharing in case it helps your situation - sounds like you're on the right track with how you're handling it.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now - my employer just announced they're eliminating all remote work and requiring everyone to relocate to their main office in another state. The stress of potentially uprooting my entire family while worrying about unemployment eligibility is overwhelming. Thank you for posting this question and to everyone who's shared their experiences and legal knowledge. The advice about documentation and specific language to use when filing is incredibly valuable. It's reassuring to know that Washington State recognizes forced relocation as an unreasonable change in working conditions. I'll be following this thread closely as I navigate my own situation.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more confident about understanding how severance works with unemployment benefits now.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a similar situation where I'm considering a severance offer but wasn't sure about the unemployment implications. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) File your UI claim immediately even with severance, 2) Be completely transparent about the severance amount and timing, 3) The delay period is calculated by dividing severance by your weekly benefit amount, and 4) You still need to do job search activities during the delay period. One question I have - does it matter if the severance is considered "pay in lieu of notice" versus regular severance? I've heard those might be treated differently by Washington ESD.

One thing to remember is that the SEAP program in Washington is highly competitive with limited spots. For 2025, they significantly reduced the number of available slots, which might be affecting processing times. While waiting for your appeal decision, make sure you: 1. Continue to meet with your SEAP counselor if you've been assigned one 2. Document any business startup costs you're incurring 3. Keep detailed notes from your business course 4. Check your eServices messages daily for any requests If approved, ESD should backdate the training benefits to when you first qualified. However, be aware that not all course costs may be covered - SEAP primarily provides income support while you're in training rather than paying for the training itself. If it's been more than 6 weeks, I'd recommend escalating through these channels in this order: 1. Appeals Office (360-570-5970) 2. ESD Commissioner's Office (360-902-9303) 3. Your state legislator's constituent services

I'm going through something similar right now with my SEAP appeal - submitted it 5 weeks ago and still waiting! The uncertainty is the worst part, especially when you're investing your own money upfront. One thing I learned from calling around is that you can actually request a "priority review" if you're facing financial hardship due to the delay. You have to submit a written request explaining why the delay is causing undue burden (like having to pay out of pocket for required training). I'm not sure how much it actually speeds things up, but it's worth a shot. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you submitted ALL the documentation they requested with your original SEAP application. Sometimes appeals get delayed because they're missing something from the initial file. The appeals reviewer has to look at everything together. Hang in there - from what I've read here it sounds like most people do eventually get approved if they meet the requirements, it just takes forever. Keep attending that course and saving those receipts!

This thread has been really helpful. I was panicking about this exact situation and now I at least know what to expect. Thanks everyone!

I'm in a similar boat - just got my unemployment approved and I'm behind on child support too. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening. It sounds like I should expect them to take around 50-60% since I'm behind on payments. The timing seems to be around 2-3 weeks after the first payment based on what others have shared. I'm going to start looking into those assistance programs people mentioned and maybe try that Claimyr service to get through to DCS before the garnishment kicks in. Better to be proactive than caught off guard. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know what to expect even if it's not great news.