Bottom line - file your claim, be honest about what happened, and don't assume you won't qualify. Washington ESD deals with these situations all the time and they're pretty good at distinguishing between genuine misconduct and isolated incidents with valid explanations.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got terminated for being late 4 times over 3 months due to various legitimate issues (sick child, car breakdown, etc.). I was really stressed about whether I'd qualify since I was technically fired, but Washington ESD approved my claim without any issues. The fact that you had valid reasons for each incident and weren't formally disciplined beforehand really works in your favor. They understand that life happens and occasional tardiness with legitimate explanations isn't the same as willful misconduct. I'd definitely recommend filing as soon as possible - even if there's any uncertainty, you want to get your claim date established. The worst they can do is say no, but from what you've described, I think you have a solid case. Don't let the termination scare you away from applying for benefits you're likely entitled to.

Update: IT WORKED!!! Just got my determination letter today - claim APPROVED and all my backpay will be deposited next week. Total time from emailing my legislators to approval was just 3 days. I honestly can't believe how fast it happened after months of nothing. For anyone else trying this route, I emailed all three of my district representatives (both house reps and the senator). The senator's office responded first, within hours, but all three offices eventually replied saying they'd help. I'm literally crying right now thinking about being able to catch up on rent and bills. This forum has been a lifesaver - thank you all for the support!

This is incredibly helpful, thank you for sharing! I've been stuck in adjudication for 8 weeks now and was starting to lose hope. I had no idea that contacting state legislators was even an option - I thought they only dealt with big policy issues, not individual cases like this. Just to clarify - when you say you emailed them about your "financial situation," did you include specific dollar amounts for things like rent, utilities, etc? I'm trying to figure out how detailed to be without making the email too long. Also, did you mention how many times you'd already tried calling ESD directly? I'm definitely going to try this approach. At this point I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Thanks again for giving those of us in adjudication hell some actual hope!

The bottom line is: be honest, report everything, and you'll be fine. Washington ESD isn't trying to trick you - they just want accurate information.

I went through this exact situation last year! Washington ESD definitely tracks gig work income through their data matching systems, so hiding it isn't worth the risk. I started with just weekend Lyft driving while job searching and it worked out fine. Just make sure to report your gross earnings (before expenses) on your weekly claims, and keep detailed records of when you worked versus when you got paid. The partial benefit system actually lets you supplement your income without losing all your UI benefits, which was a lifesaver for me during my job search.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to set up the 10% withholding and also use the IRS calculator to see if I need to make any estimated payments. Really appreciate all the guidance.

Just wanted to add that if you're collecting unemployment benefits and also have a spouse who's working, you might want to have them adjust their W-4 withholding at work too. We found out the hard way that my unemployment income pushed us into a higher tax bracket, and my husband's regular paycheck withholding wasn't enough to cover the extra tax liability from both incomes combined. It's another option to consider if changing your unemployment withholding percentage doesn't feel like enough.

Also remember that even if you get denied initially, you can appeal the decision. A lot of people give up after the first denial but the appeals process exists for a reason.

Just to add another perspective - if you're working multiple part-time jobs and one of them cuts your hours or lets you go, you can still file for partial unemployment benefits even if you're still working the other job(s). Washington ESD will calculate your benefits based on the reduced income. A lot of people don't realize this and think you have to be completely unemployed to file a claim.