This whole thread is incredibly helpful - I wish I had found this information months ago! I'm currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and my spouse just got out of the Air Force in January. We're staying in Washington for now, but seeing all these stories about military spouses getting denied benefits is concerning since we might get orders to move soon. One thing I'm wondering about - does the military spouse provision work both ways? Like if I (active duty) get PCS orders and my civilian spouse has to quit their job to move with me, they're covered. But what if my spouse gets a great job offer in another state and I have to request a compassionate reassignment or something? Would that still qualify under the same provision, or is it specifically only for PCS orders? Also, thank you to everyone sharing the specific RCW citation and practical tips about continuing to file weekly claims during appeals. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice that you can't find in the official ESD documentation!

As someone who works in military family services, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help others going through this process: 1. **Documentation is key** - In addition to PCS orders, keep copies of your resignation letter/separation paperwork that specifically mentions the military move. This helps establish the direct connection between your job separation and the PCS. 2. **State-specific variations** - While Washington has strong military spouse protections, each state handles this differently. If you're moving TO Washington from another state, you might need to file in your previous state of employment initially. 3. **Base resources** - Most bases have Family Readiness Group coordinators or Military Family Life Counselors who have dealt with this exact situation. They often have contacts at state unemployment offices and can provide guidance on the process. 4. **Timeline expectations** - Even with perfect documentation, allow 4-6 weeks for the entire process. The interstate coordination between unemployment systems adds complexity and time. For anyone currently dealing with this: don't let initial denials discourage you. The military spouse provision exists specifically because lawmakers recognized that military families shouldn't be penalized for serving our country. Persistence pays off!

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?

I just went through this exact same issue last month! As a veteran myself, I can confirm that using 12/31/2099 is absolutely the right approach. I was initially hesitant too because it felt weird entering a "fake" date, but when I finally got through to ESD (took forever), the representative assured me this is their standard procedure for military IDs. One tip - take a screenshot of your completed application showing that date, just in case you need to reference it later if they ask any questions during processing. My claim went through without any issues and I never heard anything more about the expiration date. Also, if you're a military spouse like me, make sure you have both your military ID and your spouse's military documentation handy in case they need additional verification. Sometimes they ask for proof of your spouse's service status to confirm your dependent ID is valid. Good luck with your claim! The 2099 date trick definitely works.

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!

I've been through a similar situation and want to emphasize what others have said - definitely contact WorkSource ASAP! I had to travel unexpectedly last summer and called them about 4 weeks before my scheduled RESEA appointment. They were able to reschedule it without any issues. The agent I spoke with said they get requests like this fairly often and can accommodate them as long as you call in advance rather than just not showing up. When I called, I just explained that I had pre-planned travel and wouldn't be available, and they rescheduled me for about a week after I returned. No documentation was required over the phone, just a clear explanation of why I couldn't make the original date. For the weekly claims, you're absolutely right not to file while you're unavailable for work - that would be fraud. The inactive claim situation is manageable, just budget for that gap in payments when you return. The whole process of reopening took me about a week once I was back and ready to job search again.

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!

I had this exact same issue happen to me in December! ESD denied me for "misconduct" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. My employer never even got contacted by ESD either - it's like they just pick random reasons sometimes. Here's what worked for me: I filed my appeal online the same day I got the denial letter, and I had my former supervisor write a letter on company letterhead stating I was laid off, not fired for misconduct. The letter specifically said "This employee was not terminated for misconduct" and explained the actual reason (workforce reduction in my case). The appeal hearing was scheduled about a month later, and it was pretty straightforward. The judge asked my supervisor a few questions, looked at the documentation, and overturned ESD's decision immediately. I got all my backpay for the weeks I had filed claims during the appeal process. Having your HR manager willing to represent you is amazing - most people don't have that kind of support. Make sure she has all the details about your separation and can speak to your work performance. You're in a really good position to win this appeal! Also, definitely keep filing those weekly claims. I almost stopped filing because I thought there was no point, but thankfully someone on here told me to keep going. Would have lost thousands in backpay otherwise.

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!