I just went through this same cleanup process last month! After reading through Washington ESD's official guidance and talking to a few people who've been through audits, I decided on keeping everything for 5 years just to be extra safe. The way I organized it was pretty simple - got a banker's box for each year and divided everything into manila folders: "Job Search Activities," "Weekly Claim Confirmations," "ESD Correspondence," "Payment Records," and "Miscellaneous." I also created a simple spreadsheet listing what's in each folder and the date ranges, which helps me find stuff quickly. The peace of mind is worth the storage space, especially after hearing about people getting hit with overpayment demands years later. One thing I learned is to keep any documents related to appeals or disputes permanently - apparently those can be referenced even longer than regular claim records.

I actually just dealt with this exact situation a few months ago when I was moving apartments! I had boxes and boxes of unemployment paperwork from 2020-2023 and was debating what to keep. After doing some research and talking to a friend who works at a law firm that handles employment issues, I ended up keeping everything for the full 4 years. Here's what I learned: Washington ESD has up to 4 years to recover overpayments in most cases, and they can audit your job search activities even after your claim ends. I organized everything chronologically by claim year, then separated each year into categories: weekly certifications, job contact logs, all correspondence with ESD, and benefit payment records. I also made sure to keep any 1099-G forms with my tax documents (7 years for those). It's definitely a pain to store all this paperwork, but after reading about people getting surprise overpayment notices years later, I'd rather have the documentation and not need it than the other way around. The horror stories about trying to reach ESD by phone to resolve issues without proper documentation convinced me it's worth the storage space!

I'm a newcomer to this community but have been following temp work discussions closely since I'm considering making the switch from permanent employment. This thread has been incredibly informative! It's really reassuring to see how many people have successfully navigated the unemployment system as temp workers. One question I haven't seen addressed - do temp workers typically have any issues with the "able and available" requirement if they're being selective about which types of assignments they'll accept? I'm thinking about specializing in administrative temp work but wondering if that could limit my options when filing for benefits later. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here!

As someone who's been doing temp work on and off for the past few years, I can confirm that you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits! I've filed successfully multiple times when assignments ended. The most important thing is to file your claim right away - don't wait thinking you might get a new assignment quickly. Washington ESD processes temp worker claims regularly and they understand how the industry works. Make sure you have your wage information from the staffing agency handy when you file, and be clear that your assignment ended due to lack of work rather than any performance issues. Also, keep in touch with your temp agency about new opportunities while you're collecting benefits - that actually counts toward your job search requirements. The online application at esd.wa.gov is pretty straightforward, and since you worked consistently for 8 months, you should easily meet the earnings requirements. Good luck with your claim!

This thread is absolutely incredible and has become such a comprehensive resource! I'm currently going through a similar situation with my company's "operational restructuring" (yet another creative euphemism to add to the collection). Reading through everyone's experiences has been both educational and emotionally validating - it's clear that no matter what fancy language these companies use, position elimination is position elimination. What really stands out to me is how this community has collectively created a step-by-step guide for handling these manipulative corporate tactics. The key takeaways are so consistent: focus on facts over corporate spin, use exact language from separation paperwork, select "laid off due to lack of work" for position elimination, and don't let euphemisms confuse you about what legally happened. My separation documentation says "role discontinuation due to business realignment" - and thanks to all the advice shared here, I feel confident about including that exact wording in my ESD claim. It's honestly disgusting how these companies try to make involuntary separations sound like employee choices, but seeing all the successful outcomes when people stayed truthful about the reality gives me so much hope. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences, timelines, and outcomes. This community support during such a stressful time is invaluable, and I'll definitely update with my own results to help future people facing similar corporate "initiatives"!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently dealing with my company's "workforce transformation" (adding another euphemism to the collection), and I was completely overwhelmed about how to handle my ESD claim. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity and confidence. What really strikes me is how every company uses different fancy language - Pivot, strategic alignment, workforce rebalancing, operational efficiency, business transformation, organizational optimization - but they're all just creative ways to avoid saying "layoffs." The consistent advice throughout this thread is crystal clear: if your position was eliminated, you were laid off, regardless of corporate spin. My separation paperwork says "position elimination due to company restructuring," so based on all the excellent guidance here, I'll include that exact language when filing my claim. It's so reassuring to see that being straightforward about the facts leads to successful outcomes, even when companies try to muddy the waters with fancy terminology. The emotional validation in this thread has been just as important as the practical advice. It's easy to start questioning yourself when companies work so hard to make involuntary separations sound voluntary, but this community proves we're not imagining the manipulation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - this support makes navigating unemployment so much less intimidating during an already stressful time!

The whole system seems designed to be confusing honestly. Between figuring out benefit amounts, work search requirements, and actually getting through to talk to someone when you have questions, it's like they don't want people to get benefits. At least there are resources now like that Claimyr service to help navigate the phone system.

Bottom line for the original question - your unemployment benefit will probably be somewhere between $300-600 per week based on your wage history. The exact amount depends on your highest earning quarter, but that manufacturing job at $22/hour should qualify you for a decent benefit. File as soon as possible and keep detailed job search records from day one.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share another resource that helped me when I was stuck in ESD hell for 8 weeks last year. In addition to all the excellent advice already given, consider contacting the Office of the Insurance Commissioner's Consumer Advocacy team at 1-800-562-6900. While they primarily handle insurance issues, they also assist with certain ESD matters and have dedicated staff who understand the unemployment system. What really made the difference in my case was creating a "hardship packet" - a single PDF document that included: 1) chronological timeline of all ESD contact attempts, 2) screenshots of my claim status showing weeks in adjudication, 3) photos of eviction notice and overdue bills, 4) brief summary of my employment separation circumstances. I sent this identical packet to the Governor's office, my state rep, state senator, and the Labor Council all on the same day. Within 48 hours, I had callbacks from two different offices, and my claim was resolved within a week. The key is making it easy for these offices to understand your situation quickly and see the urgency. Having everything in one organized document shows you're serious and makes their job easier when they advocate for you with ESD. Don't give up - you've already shown incredible persistence with those 37 calls. Now it's time to work smarter, not harder. You've got a whole community pulling for you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly stressful situation. Six weeks in adjudication while facing eviction is absolutely unacceptable, and you have every right to escalate this aggressively. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I'd recommend taking action on multiple fronts simultaneously tomorrow morning. The combination approach seems to be most effective: contact the Governor's office (360-902-4111) and specifically ask for ESD escalations, email both your state representative and senator through leg.wa.gov, and call the Labor Council hotline at (206) 281-8901 for coaching on how to present your case. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're a veteran, contact the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs at (360) 725-2169. They have a dedicated employment specialist who can sometimes expedite ESD cases for veterans. Even if you're not a veteran, they might be able to point you toward additional resources. Also, when you create your documentation packet, include a one-page summary at the very beginning that highlights: your claim number, how many weeks you've been waiting, your financial hardship (eviction date), and exactly what you need (immediate adjudication review). Government staffers are overwhelmed, so making your key information scannable at a glance increases your chances of getting prioritized. Stay strong and keep fighting - you've earned the right to demand action after 37 failed attempts through normal channels. This community is rooting for you!