Bottom line: take the contract work! Report everything accurately, keep filing your weekly claims, and don't overthink it. The partial unemployment system exists exactly for situations like this.

I went through this exact situation last year! Took a 10-week contract while on unemployment and it worked out great. Just remember that Washington ESD calculates your partial benefits automatically once you report your earnings - you don't need to do the math yourself. The hardest part is just remembering to file every single week even when you're busy with contract work. Also, keep a simple spreadsheet of your weekly hours and earnings - makes the reporting so much easier. The contract income actually helped me stretch my unemployment benefits longer since I wasn't using them up as quickly. Win-win situation!

That's awesome that you finally got through and have a timeline! The not knowing is honestly the worst part of this whole process. I'm in a similar boat - had my waiver approved 3 weeks ago and still waiting. Might have to try that Claimyr service myself since I've been striking out with the regular phone line. Hope your refund comes through next week as scheduled!

I'm going through something similar right now - had my overpayment waiver approved about 10 days ago and also paid back around $3,800 while waiting for the decision. Like you, I'm really stressed about the timeline since I have some urgent bills coming up. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 3-6 weeks is pretty typical, which is longer than I was hoping for. I've been trying to call ESD but haven't had any luck getting through yet. Might try that Claimyr service that @Fatima Al-Sayed mentioned since it seems like actually talking to someone is the only way to get real information about when to expect the refund. Thanks for starting this thread - it's really helpful to hear everyone's experiences even though the wait times are frustrating!

Sorry you're going through this. Closing a business is hard enough without having to worry about financial support afterward. Hope you find some assistance through other programs even if unemployment doesn't work out.

I'm in a very similar situation - had to close my consulting business last year when my main client contract ended. Like others have mentioned, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD and confirm I wasn't eligible since I was taking distributions rather than W2 wages. What really helped me was connecting with my local WorkSource office - they have business transition workshops and helped me understand what retraining programs were available. Also check with your local SCORE chapter if you're considering starting something new. The transition is rough but there are more resources out there than you might think. Definitely get that official determination from ESD first though so you know exactly where you stand.

I just wanted to update everyone. I finally managed to reach someone at ESD after trying for 3 days straight. They confirmed that for our company's Shared Work plan, I should continue filing through my existing Shared Work claim even during the full shutdown week. I won't need to file a new claim or serve another waiting week! Apparently different Shared Work agreements have different terms, which explains why there's so much conflicting information out there. Such a relief to know I won't miss that week of pay. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a perfect example of why the ESD system is so confusing! I'm dealing with something similar at my retail job - we're on Shared Work but they're talking about closing completely for inventory week. Reading through all these responses, it's clear that every company's Shared Work agreement can be different, which explains why people are getting conflicting information. Really glad you got through to ESD directly and got it confirmed for your specific situation. For anyone else reading this, it sounds like the key takeaway is that you MUST verify with ESD directly for your company's specific Shared Work terms rather than assuming it works the same for everyone. Thanks for sharing your outcome - this thread is going to help so many people!

Don't forget that you'll need to register with WorkSourceWA as part of the unemployment requirements. It's the same for federal employees as everyone else - you have to show you're actively looking for work.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I just went through this process as a federal employee myself. The information everyone's shared is spot on - you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD under the UCFE program. One thing I'd add is that when you call Washington ESD, specifically mention that you're a federal employee filing under UCFE. This helps them route you to the right specialist who understands federal employment separations. Also, if you're having trouble getting through by phone, you can start the application online at esd.wa.gov, which might be easier than waiting on hold. The online system will ask for the same information and you can always call later if you need help with specific questions about your federal employment history.