I'm so sorry you're going through this - being kept on standby for months only to find out your company is permanently closing is really tough. I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Yes, you absolutely must report your severance pay on your weekly claims. The key thing is how your HR department words it in the paperwork. If they say it covers specific weeks (like "4 weeks severance pay" or "payment in lieu of notice"), ESD will spread it over that time period and you won't get unemployment benefits during those weeks. If it's just described as a lump sum without being tied to specific weeks, it typically only affects the week you receive it. The good news is that severance doesn't reduce your total benefit amount - you'll still be eligible for your full maximum weeks of unemployment, just potentially delayed. For your standby status, definitely be proactive about contacting ESD to switch to regular unemployment once your company makes the closure official. Don't wait for them to automatically figure it out - I made that mistake and it caused delays. You can update this through eServices or by calling directly. Keep all your severance documentation organized in case ESD has questions later. I know this whole situation is overwhelming after 11 years with the same company, but the job market is actually pretty decent right now. You'll get through this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation - being told a layoff is temporary for months only to find out the company is permanently closing is such a frustrating experience, and unfortunately it's becoming more common. You've gotten excellent advice here about reporting your severance pay. I just wanted to add that when you do receive your severance paperwork, take extra time to read through all the fine print. Sometimes there are clauses about repayment if you find work within a certain timeframe, or other conditions that could affect your unemployment benefits. Also, since you've been with the same company for 11 years, you might want to reach out to former colleagues who have moved on to other companies - they could be valuable networking contacts as you start your job search. LinkedIn is great for this, and many people are happy to help someone who's been laid off. One more practical tip: when you transition from standby to regular unemployment status, make sure you understand exactly when that transition happens. Sometimes there can be a gap where you're not sure if you should be doing job search activities yet, and it's better to start a week early than be late and potentially face issues with your claim. The uncertainty is finally over, and while that's scary after so many years with one employer, you now have the clarity to move forward with a real plan. Best of luck with everything!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process twice now. The first time (2022) was a disaster - took 7 weeks and multiple calls to get sorted. But the second time (last summer) went much smoother, only about 8 days. The big difference was that I learned to be proactive the second time around. Here's what I did: 1. Immediately after filing the subsequent claim, I called ESD and spoke to an agent to confirm they received it and there were no obvious red flags 2. I checked my account messages twice daily instead of just once 3. I kept detailed notes of every interaction and reference numbers One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that sometimes they'll request additional documentation even for subsequent claims. In my first experience, they wanted updated job separation paperwork from my most recent employer, which delayed everything by weeks because no one told me. The system has definitely improved since 2022, but it's still not perfect. The key is staying on top of it rather than just waiting and hoping. Oliver, sounds like you're already being proactive by researching here, so you're probably going to have a smoother experience than some of the horror stories people have shared.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my subsequent claim 4 days ago after my benefit year ended this past Monday. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and anxiety-inducing at the same time. Like Oliver, I'm really stressed about the timing - my car payment is due next week and I've got maybe 10 days before I'm in real trouble financially. I worked construction for about 8 months during my benefit year, so I should meet the hour requirements, but the waiting is killing me. One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if the job search requirements change during the subsequent claim review period? I've been keeping up with my 3 activities per week, but I want to make sure I'm not supposed to be doing something different while this processes. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. It's so much more helpful than anything on the official ESD website. Fingers crossed we all get through this smoothly!

I'm in a very similar situation - my hours just got reduced from 38 to 25 per week and I wasn't sure if I qualified for anything. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the Shared Work program or that there were alternatives to just applying for jobs to meet the search requirements. One question I have after reading everything: If I file my initial claim now but my hours reduction doesn't start for another two weeks, do I still need to file weekly claims during those two weeks when I'm still working full time? Or do I wait until my hours actually get cut to start the weekly filing process? Also, has anyone had experience with how long the adjudication process typically takes for partial unemployment claims? I'm trying to plan my budget around when I might actually start receiving benefits.

I went through partial unemployment when my hours were reduced from 40 to 24 per week about 6 months ago. A few tips that might help: First, definitely file your initial claim as soon as you know about the reduction - don't wait until it actually happens. The effective date matters for when benefits can start. Second, the weekly benefit calculation can be tricky to estimate beforehand. I was making about $18/hour and thought I wouldn't qualify for much, but between the partial benefit and the new $25 weekly supplement, I was getting around $180/week which really helped cover my rent shortfall. Third, keep really good records of everything - your old schedule, new schedule, pay stubs, any documentation from your employer about the hours reduction being involuntary. ESD may ask for proof that this wasn't your choice. The job search requirement was annoying but manageable. I mostly did online workshops and updated my resume/LinkedIn rather than actually applying places since I wanted to keep my current job. Just document everything properly. One last thing - if you have any issues with your claim getting stuck, don't waste weeks trying to call ESD. Use one of those callback services or try contacting your local WorkSource office for help navigating the system. The sooner you get it resolved, the better.

Hey Connor! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I was stuck in ESD review for 6 weeks with zero income, so I completely understand the desperation you're feeling. Here's what I did: Started doing Instacart immediately while continuing to file my weekly claims. The key is being 100% transparent - report every single dollar you earn, even if it's just $20 for the week. I kept a simple notebook with me in the car and wrote down each batch: date, time, earnings before Instacart's cut, and hours worked including wait time. One strategy that really helped - I focused on early morning weekend shifts (7am-12pm Saturdays and Sundays). Less traffic, better parking at stores, and I could usually hit that $200 sweet spot without going over the 25% threshold. Plus it left my weekdays free for job searching and interviews. The waiting is absolutely brutal, but when my claim finally got approved, I received full backpay for all the weeks I'd filed claims, minus the appropriate deductions for my reported Instacart earnings. Everything was calculated correctly because I'd been honest from day one. Hang in there - this phase will end and you're doing everything right by asking these questions upfront. The fact that you're being proactive about understanding the reporting rules shows ESD you're following the process properly.

Connor, I've been through almost this exact situation and wanted to share what worked for me. I was laid off from a factory job and stuck in ESD review for about a month with bills piling up, so I totally get the stress you're feeling right now. Here's what I learned: You can absolutely do Instacart during your review period, but documentation is everything. I created a simple system - took a photo of my phone screen after each day showing total earnings, then wrote down the gross amount (before Instacart's cut) and hours worked in a small notebook I kept in my car. The key insight for me was treating it like a part-time job with boundaries. I set a goal of earning about $180-200 per week (staying under that 25% threshold everyone mentioned) and would literally stop accepting orders once I hit that number. It was tempting to keep going when orders were flowing, but the math worked out better when I stayed disciplined. One thing that really helped - I focused on 3 specific time blocks: Friday evenings (people stocking up for the weekend), Saturday mornings (families doing their big grocery runs), and Sunday afternoons (people prepping for the week). This gave me predictable income while keeping weekdays mostly free for job applications and interviews. When my claim finally got approved, the backpay was calculated perfectly because I'd reported everything honestly from day one. The 4 weeks of gig work earnings I'd reported were properly deducted, but I still got substantial backpay that covered all the bills I'd been worried about. Hang in there - the review process is awful but you're asking all the right questions upfront, which puts you way ahead of people who figure this stuff out the hard way later.

This thread has been absolutely incredible - I'm blown away by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience everyone has shared! As someone new to this community but currently facing my own unemployment financial challenges, I wanted to add my voice to thank everyone for creating what's essentially become the most comprehensive survival guide I've ever seen. @Darcy's point about the long-term compound growth impact really drives home why exploring all these other options first is so crucial. That $50,000+ future cost calculation is sobering but exactly the kind of perspective that helps motivate finding alternative solutions. I'm particularly intrigued by the Roth IRA contribution withdrawal option you mentioned - I have a small Roth that I contributed to a few years ago and completely forgot you could access contributions penalty-free. That could be a much better bridge option than touching my 401k if I absolutely need to access retirement accounts. The HSA idea is interesting too, though I'm wondering how broadly "qualified medical expenses" might be interpreted for mental health services related to financial stress. Has anyone had experience with using HSA funds for stress/anxiety counseling during unemployment? What strikes me most about this entire discussion is how it started with one person's question about 401k withdrawals and became this amazing resource covering everything from emergency assistance programs to gig work strategies to creative financing options. The community knowledge-sharing here is exactly why forums like this are so valuable - real people helping real people with actionable solutions that can make a genuine difference in difficult times. Already bookmarking this thread to reference as I work through my own situation and to share with others who might be facing similar challenges. Thank you all for proving that even in tough financial situations, there really are more options available than we initially realize! 🙏

This thread has become an amazing resource! As someone who went through unemployment last year, I wanted to add one more option that hasn't been mentioned yet - **emergency assistance through your local Community Action Agency**. Every county in Washington has one, and they often have emergency funds specifically for people on unemployment who are facing eviction, utility shutoff, or other crisis situations. I got $400 toward my electric bill within 5 days of applying, no questions asked beyond proving my unemployment status. What's great about these agencies is they're designed to work quickly for people in immediate crisis, unlike some government programs that can take weeks or months. They also often coordinate with other services, so they can connect you to multiple resources in one visit. To find your local Community Action Agency, you can search "Community Action [your county name] Washington" or ask when you call 2-1-1. Many also have online applications now which can speed up the process. The combination approach everyone's talking about really works - between Community Action assistance, food banks, gig work within the 25% limit, and utility discount programs, you can often cover enough expenses to avoid touching retirement savings entirely. Your 401k will be there when you actually need it for retirement!