I was in a nearly identical situation! Got laid off 4 months ago while doing freelance writing work and was told by HR that any "side income" would disqualify me from unemployment. Turns out that was completely wrong - Washington ESD actually considers your total work history and the reason for your main job separation. I successfully got back pay for all 4 months by filing online and thoroughly documenting the misinformation I received. The process took about 3 months total but I got every penny I was owed. My advice: file your initial claim at esd.wa.gov right away, then in the backdating section be very detailed about who told you what and when. Even if you only have your own written recollection of conversations, that can be enough - I had mostly verbal conversations too but documented them with dates and names. The key is showing you reasonably relied on what you were told. Don't let the potential wait time discourage you - employer misinformation about gig work eligibility is one of the strongest "good cause" reasons they recognize!

Alice, I just went through almost the exact same situation and want to give you some hope! I was doing gig work through multiple apps when I got laid off 7 months ago, and my employer's HR department told me the same thing - that any gig income would automatically disqualify me from unemployment benefits. This turned out to be completely false information. I successfully got back pay for 6 of those 7 months after filing my claim and explaining how I was misinformed. The key is that Washington ESD recognizes "good cause" for delays when you reasonably relied on incorrect information from employers or other authoritative sources. I filed my initial claim online at esd.wa.gov and was very thorough in the backdating section about documenting who told me what and when. Even though most of my conversations with HR were verbal, I wrote down everything I could remember with approximate dates and names, which ESD accepted. The adjudication process took about 4 months, which felt like forever, but I eventually received a lump sum for all the eligible weeks. Don't let the potential wait time discourage you - employer misinformation about gig work eligibility is exactly the kind of situation ESD's backdating provisions are designed for. File as soon as possible to establish your filing date, then focus on gathering any documentation you have about being told you wouldn't qualify. Good luck!

I've been keeping track of my job search activities for about 8 months now and got audited once around month 5. The process was actually pretty straightforward - they sent me a letter requesting documentation for 10 specific weeks. I had everything organized in a Google Sheet with columns for date, company name, position, contact method, and any follow-up actions. The whole review took about 2 weeks and my benefits weren't interrupted since I responded quickly with complete records. My advice is to treat every week like you might get audited - it takes the stress out of the whole thing when you know your documentation is solid.

I've been on unemployment for about 3 months now and this whole thread has been super educational! I was getting really anxious about the audit possibility but hearing everyone's experiences makes it seem much more manageable. I've been keeping a basic notebook but after reading about the Google Sheets approach and the "treat every week like an audit week" mindset, I'm definitely switching to digital records this weekend. It sounds like as long as you're actually doing the job search work and documenting it properly, the audit process is pretty straightforward. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's way more helpful than the vague official guidance!

Just to add another layer of reassurance - I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I landed a new job. Filed my final claim for the partial week I was unemployed, reported it accurately, and then simply stopped filing. No issues whatsoever. The key things that worked for me: 1) Made sure I had no pending issues on my account before stopping, 2) Kept detailed records of my final claim submission, and 3) Monitored my account for a few weeks to make sure everything looked normal. Washington ESD's system handled the transition smoothly once I stopped filing weekly claims. Congrats on the new job - you're doing all the right things by asking these questions upfront!

Just want to echo what others have said - you're being really smart to ask about this upfront! I made the mistake of just stopping cold turkey when I got my last job without filing for my partial week, and I left about $200 on the table that I was legitimately entitled to. Washington ESD won't retroactively pay you for weeks you didn't claim, so definitely file for any days you were unemployed in that final week. Also, since you mentioned your last day of work search was yesterday, make sure you report that accurately on your final claim too. The system tracks work search requirements right up until you're employed full-time. Best of luck with the new position - sounds like you're handling this transition exactly right!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about filing my weekly claims now. Going to set up a reminder and file my first one this Sunday. Really appreciate this community!

Just wanted to add that you should also keep track of your weekly benefit amount and make sure it's consistent from week to week. If you notice any sudden changes in your payment amount, that could indicate an issue with how you answered the weekly questions or a problem with your claim that needs attention. I caught an error once where they were deducting taxes differently than expected, and addressing it early saved me from a bigger headache later. Also, make sure your direct deposit information is correct in your account - nothing worse than filing on time but having payment issues because of outdated banking info!

Thanks everyone for all this information. As someone who might be facing this choice soon, it's really helpful to understand that these are mutually exclusive benefits in Washington state. Better to know now than find out the hard way later.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add some perspective as someone who works in benefits counseling. The frustration here is totally understandable - the system really does put people in impossible positions. One thing that might help is looking into local disability advocacy organizations or legal aid clinics. Many offer free consultations to help people understand their options and navigate the application process. They can also help you understand if there are any other safety net programs you might qualify for during gaps in coverage. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) also has caseworkers who can do benefits planning - they can walk you through all available programs and help you strategize the best approach for your specific situation.