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.

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.

This thread convinced me to appeal my disqualification instead of just accepting it. Submitted everything yesterday and feeling optimistic. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I went through this exact same situation two years ago and it's so frustrating! The key thing that helped me win was getting a letter from HR confirming the layoff was due to company restructuring, not performance issues. If you still have contacts at your old company, see if HR can provide an official statement about the layoffs. Also, keep detailed records of every interaction with ESD - dates, times, who you spoke with. The appeal process worked for me but it took about 8 weeks total. Stay persistent and don't let them discourage you from fighting this!

Just wanted to share that I finally got my call back yesterday! They apologized for the delay and said they're prioritizing cases based on hardship level and claim date. The rep asked if I had immediate hardship (like eviction risk) and when I said yes, they expedited my case. Maybe call the Governor's office back and specifically mention your rent situation? That might bump you up in priority.

I'm in a similar boat and wanted to add another option that worked for me - contacting the ESD Customer Resolution Team directly through their secure messaging system on eServices. It's buried in the menu but if you go to "Send ESD a Secure Message" and select "Adjudication Question" as the category, I've found they respond faster than phone calls sometimes. I got a response within 3 business days and they were able to move my case forward. Worth trying while you wait for the Governor's office callback! Also echoing what others said about answering ALL calls - they called me from a weird 360 number that almost looked like spam.

Just file online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. Don't wait thinking your hours might get restored - you can always stop claiming if they do.

I went through a similar situation a few years ago when my retail hours got slashed. The partial unemployment benefits were a lifesaver during that tough period. One tip that really helped me - when you're doing your weekly claims, keep track of all your earnings in a simple spreadsheet or notebook. It makes reporting so much easier and you'll have records if they ever ask questions. Also, don't stress too much about the job search requirements - looking for positions with more hours at other retail stores totally counts toward your weekly activities. The whole process seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of weekly claims it becomes pretty straightforward.