Instead of just entering 12/31/2099, wouldn't it be better to leave it blank? Or maybe enter all zeros? I'm concerned about entering false information on a government form. Could that be considered fraud?

my cousin works for the militarey and he said they have a special number u can call for this stuff. did u try the military support line?

Just want to echo everyone else - file immediately. I work in HR and see people make this mistake all the time. The filing date is what matters, not when benefits start flowing.

As someone who just went through this exact situation 3 months ago, I can't stress enough - FILE NOW! I had 6 weeks severance from my marketing job and made the mistake of listening to my former employer who told me to wait. Big mistake. When I finally filed, Washington ESD told me I should have filed immediately after separation regardless of severance. I lost about 3 weeks of potential benefits because of the delay. The severance just affects when payments start, not your eligibility to file. Don't make the same mistake I did - get your claim in the system ASAP and let them sort out the timing details.

Following up on reopening your claim - it's not complicated, but there will likely be a gap. When you return and reopen, you'll need to: 1. Log into your ESD account 2. Select "Restart your claim" 3. Answer all questions truthfully 4. Remember there's typically a waiting week (where you must file but won't be paid) So in total, you might experience about a 2-week gap in payments (the waiting week plus processing time). Make sure you have finances to cover this period. And definitely try to resolve the WorkSource situation before leaving!

I went through something similar last year when I had to travel for a family emergency. Here's what worked for me: I called WorkSource about 3 weeks before my trip and explained the situation. They were actually pretty understanding and let me reschedule my RESEA appointment for after I returned. The key is calling them well in advance and having a legitimate reason. Don't just no-show! Also, when you reopen your claim after travel, make sure to document the exact dates you were unavailable for work. I kept receipts from my trip just in case they asked for proof later. The waiting week when you restart is annoying but it's standard procedure. Good luck!

One important thing to know: If you win your appeal, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you continued to file claims. So don't stop filing your weekly claims just because you've been initially denied! I've seen so many people make this mistake and lose out on thousands of dollars of benefits they were entitled to. Also, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) handles unemployment appeals, not ESD directly. They're generally more thorough and less overwhelmed than ESD. Your hearing will likely be scheduled 3-6 weeks after you file your appeal. Having your HR manager as your representative is golden - make sure they're available for the hearing date when it's scheduled.

I went through this exact same situation last year! ESD made a misconduct determination without ever contacting my employer too. It's incredibly frustrating but definitely fixable. Here's what saved me time: 1. File your appeal ONLINE immediately - don't mail it, the online system is faster 2. In the appeal, be very specific that your employer disputes the misconduct finding 3. Have your HR manager write a detailed letter explaining the actual reason for separation (layoff, position elimination, etc.) 4. Request your complete personnel file from HR - this shows your work history and any disciplinary actions (or lack thereof) The good news is that having your HR manager willing to represent you puts you in a much stronger position than most people. Most employers don't want to deal with unemployment hearings, so having someone from your company actively supporting your case is huge. One thing I learned: ESD sometimes defaults to "misconduct" when they don't receive employer information within their timeframe, even if that's not what actually happened. Your appeal hearing will be much more thorough than their initial determination process. Keep filing your weekly claims while you appeal - this is crucial for getting backpay if you win!

mine is working now btw. just filed my claim. try again. i think they fixed whatever was wrong

I've been dealing with similar issues all morning! What worked for me was switching to mobile data instead of WiFi - seems like the security system might be flagging certain IP ranges. Also, if you're still having trouble, try accessing the site through the mobile app if you have it downloaded. The app seems to handle their server load better than the web version. Hope this helps and glad to see others were able to get through!