Update: I called ESD this morning (took forever) and finally got through. For anyone who needs this info in the future: YES you can backdate if you were eligible during those weeks, but you MUST provide a "good cause" reason for not filing. The agent said job searching is considered good cause. They're sending me a form for each week I missed, and I'll need to provide 3 job search activities per week. Once approved, they'll issue payments for those weeks. Thanks for all the advice everyone!

This is such helpful information! I'm in a similar situation where I was laid off in December but didn't file right away because I had some freelance work lined up that fell through. I've been putting off calling ESD because the wait times are so brutal, but seeing that you actually got through and they were able to help gives me hope. Quick question - when you say they're sending you forms for each week, do they mail those or send them through eServices? And roughly how long did they say the processing would take once you submit everything back? I'm looking at potentially 8-10 weeks to backdate so I want to make sure I'm prepared for the timeline. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on getting through the whole process!

So, If I am a contractor with a company from a different state do they pay into SUTA?

No, contractors typically don't have unemployment taxes paid on their behalf. SUTA (State Unemployment Tax Act) is only paid by employers for their W-2 employees. As a contractor, you're considered self-employed, so the company you work for doesn't pay unemployment taxes to any state for your services - whether they're in Washington or another state. This means you generally wouldn't be eligible for traditional unemployment benefits. However, during the pandemic there was PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) for contractors and gig workers, but that program ended in 2021.

Just remember to check your SecureAccess Washington account regularly for updates on your claim status. Washington ESD will post their determination there first, and you'll get a written notice in the mail with the full explanation of their decision.

I went through a similar misconduct review with Washington ESD about 8 months ago. My employer claimed I was fired for poor attitude and insubordination, but it was really just disagreements about unrealistic deadlines and understaffing issues. Washington ESD approved my benefits after about 3 weeks of review. They seemed to understand that workplace conflict doesn't automatically equal misconduct. The key thing that helped my case was showing that I tried to resolve issues through proper channels first - like emailing HR about my concerns. Do you have any documentation of trying to address the childcare/scheduling issues with your employer before they escalated?

Just to close the loop on this discussion - if anyone experiences similar technical issues in the future, remember that Washington ESD has policies in place to protect claimants when system outages prevent timely filing. Always attempt to file as soon as possible once the system is restored, and keep documentation of your attempts during the outage period.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been dealing with Washington ESD for a while now - these website outages unfortunately happen more often than they should, especially during busy periods like holidays or when there are system updates. The good news is that Washington ESD is generally understanding about late filings when it's due to their technical issues. I've learned to always try filing during off-peak hours first (early morning or late evening), and if that doesn't work, I document everything with screenshots showing the error messages and timestamps. It's also worth signing up for their email alerts if you haven't already - they sometimes send notifications about planned maintenance or known issues. Hang in there, and don't stress too much about missing the deadline when it's clearly on their end!

One last tip - if you ever have problems with your weekly claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about claim issues, don't waste time trying to call them directly. The wait times are ridiculous and they hang up constantly. Services like Claimyr are worth it when you need actual help.

Just wanted to add that you should also make sure your bank account information is up to date in your Washington ESD profile before filing your first weekly claim. If your direct deposit info is wrong, your payments will get delayed or sent to the wrong account. I had to wait an extra 2 weeks for my first payment because my old bank account was still on file. You can update it in the "Payment Method" section of your account dashboard.