Thanks everyone for all the info. This has answered pretty much every question I had about working while on unemployment. Time to sign up for some delivery apps!

Another thing to keep in mind - make sure you understand the difference between gross and net pay when tracking your gig earnings. The apps will show you what you earned before their fees, but for unemployment reporting purposes you want to report what you actually received. So if DoorDash shows $50 in earnings but takes a $5 service fee, you'd report $45. Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries from each app to make filing your claims easier.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful info! I feel much more confident about filing now. It sounds like seasonal work ending definitely qualifies for unemployment benefits, which is a huge relief. I'm going to gather all my employment documents and file online this week. Really appreciate all the detailed advice about the job search requirements and wage calculations - this community is awesome!

I was in a similar situation after my seasonal job at a pumpkin patch ended last fall! The good news is that seasonal layoffs absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington. The application process was pretty straightforward - just make sure you have all your employment dates and wage information ready. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that you need to start your job search activities right away, even if you're hoping to get called back for next season. Washington ESD requires those 3 weekly job search activities regardless of whether your layoff is seasonal or permanent. Also, don't let the waiting week discourage you - file as soon as possible to get your benefit year started. The sooner you apply, the sooner you'll start receiving payments after that first unpaid week.

I'm in a very similar situation - worked in Portland for the past year and a half while living in Vancouver, just got laid off this week. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It's clear I need to file with Oregon, not Washington. A couple questions for those who've been through this: 1. When Oregon asks for employment verification documents, do they typically accept digital copies of pay stubs and termination letters, or do they require physical mail? 2. Has anyone had issues with Oregon recognizing Washington bank accounts for direct deposit? I'm hoping to avoid the debit card delay if possible. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - makes this whole process feel much less overwhelming when you know other people in our area have successfully navigated it!

I'm also dealing with this cross-state situation right now! Just got laid off from my job in Portland while living in Battleground. Based on everything I've read here and my own research, you definitely need to file with Oregon since that's where your wages were earned and where your employer paid unemployment taxes. One thing I learned that might help - Oregon's system has a "save and continue later" feature if you get timed out during the application process. Look for the small link at the bottom of each page that says "Save Progress" - it's easy to miss but can be a lifesaver if their system kicks you out partway through. Also, make sure you have your most recent pay stub handy when you file. Oregon asks for your gross wages from your last week of work, and having that exact number ready speeds up the process. The whole situation is definitely stressful, but seeing all these success stories from other Vancouver/Portland commuters is really reassuring. We're not the first people to deal with this cross-border unemployment situation, and Oregon's system is set up to handle it. You've got this Diego!

UPDATE 2: I found more evidence! I discovered that my company filed a WARN notice with the state about the layoffs, which completely contradicts their claim that I was fired for misconduct. This should be pretty solid proof that they're lying to Washington ESD.

Wow, finding that WARN notice is huge! That's basically an official government document proving your company laid people off for business reasons, not misconduct. I'd recommend making multiple copies of it before your appeal hearing and maybe even sending a copy to Washington ESD ahead of time. At this point, your employer is going to have a really hard time explaining how someone can be simultaneously laid off (per the WARN notice) and fired for misconduct (per their unemployment claim). You've got a rock-solid case now.

This thread has been super helpful! I was wondering about the same thing for my claim. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and resources.

Just wanted to add one more resource that might help - if your employer uses a payroll service like ADP, Paychex, or QuickBooks Payroll, sometimes the EIN is listed on their employee portal or in your digital pay stubs. I found mine this way when I couldn't locate my physical W-2. Many people forget about checking their online payroll accounts but they often have all the tax information you need for unemployment claims.