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Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the online application or need to check your claim status, Washington ESD also has a mobile app that can be easier to use than the website sometimes. Also, make sure you keep copies of everything you submit - I learned that lesson when they asked me to resubmit documents I thought they already had. Good luck with your claim!
Thanks for mentioning the mobile app! I didn't even know Washington ESD had one. And good point about keeping copies - I'll make sure to screenshot or save everything I submit. Really appreciate all the helpful advice from everyone in this thread.
One more thing to keep in mind - if you receive any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers severance as wages, so depending on how it's structured, you might have a delay before benefits kick in. I had a friend who got 4 weeks severance and couldn't collect unemployment until after that period ended. Just something to check on if you're getting any kind of separation package from your tech company.
This severance pay issue is so confusing! I'm in a similar situation - getting laid off from a startup and they're offering me 2 weeks severance. I was planning to file for unemployment immediately but now I'm wondering if I should wait. Has anyone dealt with this recently? I'm worried about missing out on benefits if I wait too long, but I also don't want to mess up my claim by filing at the wrong time. The Washington ESD website doesn't make this very clear at all.
@Connor Rupert I went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my previous job with 2 weeks severance. Here s'what I learned: you should definitely file your unemployment claim right away, even with the severance. Washington ESD will just delay your benefit start date to account for the severance period. If you wait to file, you re'actually losing out on establishing your claim date, which can affect your overall benefit year. When I filed, I reported the severance honestly and they automatically calculated that my benefits would start 2 weeks later. The key is being upfront about it in your initial application. Don t'try to game the system - just file immediately and let them handle the timing. You can always call to confirm, but in my experience the online system handled it correctly once I provided all the severance details.
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I'm a former ESD claims processor and this thread has some really good advice, but I want to add one important point that might help you feel more confident about your situation. The $8,500 you withdrew - given that you mentioned construction work, this was most likely almost entirely YOUR own contributions rather than employer matching funds. Most construction jobs either don't offer matching or have very limited matching with long vesting periods. So you're probably dealing with money that came directly out of your own paychecks. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience processing these types of cases: 1. Call ESD and use the exact phrasing others mentioned: "one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions for emergency medical expenses" 2. If you get an agent who seems unsure, politely ask for a supervisor - they have much better training on retirement fund distinctions 3. Get everything documented - agent name, ID, date, and their specific guidance From what you've described, this almost certainly shouldn't be reportable income for UI purposes. The 6 weeks you've already claimed without reporting it shouldn't be an issue - you weren't trying to hide anything, you were just unclear on rules that even ESD agents sometimes get wrong. Don't stress too much about this. Medical emergencies are exactly why early withdrawal options exist, even with penalties. You made the right call given your circumstances. Just get the ESD piece clarified so you can move forward with confidence!
Chris, this is incredibly helpful insight from someone who actually processed these claims! Your point about construction jobs typically having limited or no employer matching makes so much sense - I honestly hadn't even thought about that aspect, but you're probably right that the vast majority of my $8,500 was my own contributions. That makes me feel a lot more confident about the situation. I really appreciate the step-by-step guidance and the reassurance that the 6 weeks I've already claimed shouldn't be an issue since I wasn't trying to hide anything - I was just genuinely confused by the rules. It's such a relief to hear from someone with actual inside knowledge of how these cases are processed. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about calling ESD with that specific phrasing and asking for a supervisor if needed. Thank you for taking the time to share your professional experience - it's exactly the kind of authoritative guidance I was hoping to find!
Hey Sean! I just went through this EXACT same situation about 3 months ago - laid off from my electrician job and had to pull $7,400 from my 401k for emergency dental work that couldn't wait. I was just as confused and stressed as you are right now! After reading through all these responses and based on my own experience calling ESD multiple times, here's what I learned: Since you took a ONE-TIME withdrawal of your own 401k contributions for emergency medical expenses, this should NOT be reportable income for unemployment purposes. The key is that it's not "new income" - it's your own money that you already earned and contributed from previous paychecks. I'd definitely recommend calling ESD to get it officially documented though. When I finally got through (took about a week of trying), I used the exact phrase: "one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions for emergency medical expenses." The supervisor I spoke with confirmed it didn't need to be reported and even said the 8 weeks I had already claimed without reporting it was fine since I wasn't trying to hide anything. Don't beat yourself up about the withdrawal - medical emergencies are exactly what these accounts are for when you have no other options. Construction work typically has minimal employer matching anyway, so that $8,500 was almost certainly your own money. Just call ESD to get peace of mind and document everything. You're going to be fine!
PrinceJoe, thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's such a relief to hear from another construction worker who went through almost the exact same situation. Your point about construction work typically having minimal employer matching is really reassuring - I hadn't really considered that angle but you're absolutely right. Most of that $8,500 was definitely my own money from my paychecks. I really appreciate you sharing the exact phrase that worked when you called ESD - "one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions for emergency medical expenses" - and it's encouraging to know that the supervisor you spoke with said the weeks you'd already claimed without reporting were fine since you weren't trying to hide anything. That's exactly my situation too. I'm feeling so much more confident about calling now that I have all this guidance from people who've actually been through it. Thanks for the encouragement about the medical emergency decision too - you're right that this is exactly what these accounts are for when you're facing urgent situations with no other options. Really appreciate you taking the time to help out a fellow construction worker!
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this whole thread has been super helpful! i'm in the same situation and now i know exactly where to look for my employer registration number. thanks everyone!
Glad it helped you too! This forum is great for getting real advice from people who've been through the same thing.
Yeah way better than trying to figure it out from Washington ESD's confusing website alone.
Another thing to try - if you have any old W-2 forms from your employer, sometimes the registration number appears in the state wage reporting section. It might be labeled as "State ID Number" or "SUTA Account Number" (State Unemployment Tax Act). I found mine there when I couldn't locate it anywhere else. Also, if you received any notices about workplace injuries or workers comp in the past, those documents sometimes include the employer's various state registration numbers too.
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I'm currently in week 3 of my unemployment claim after being laid off from my retail management position, and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea SEAP even existed until stumbling across this discussion. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the selection process is pretty opaque and competitive. I've been considering starting an online boutique since I have experience in retail buying and customer service, but now I'm wondering if I should focus more on documenting my qualifications and market research while I wait to see if I get selected. One question for those who've been through the process - do they give you any feedback if you're NOT selected? Like, do they tell you why you didn't qualify or is it just radio silence? I'm trying to manage my expectations here since it sounds like not everyone gets picked even if they seem to meet the basic criteria. Also, has anyone tried reaching out to WorkSource centers for general small business guidance while waiting for potential SEAP selection? I'm wondering if getting some preliminary advice might help strengthen a future application if I do get invited. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is way more useful than anything I could find through official channels!
@Derek Olson From what I ve'experienced and heard from others, ESD typically doesn t'provide detailed feedback if you re'not selected for SEAP - it s'usually just a standard rejection letter or sometimes no communication at all if you weren t'initially profiled. It s'frustrating because you don t'know if it was due to limited spots, your business idea, or other factors. Your retail management background could actually be a strong fit for an online boutique, especially with the buying and customer service experience. I d'definitely recommend reaching out to your local WorkSource center - they often have small business counselors and can connect you with Small Business Development Centers SBDCs (for) free consulting. Even if you don t'get into SEAP, this groundwork will be valuable. Since you re'only in week 3, you re'right in the window where selections typically happen weeks (4-8 from what others have shared .)Keep documenting your business research and market analysis - it can only help whether you pursue SEAP or regular self-employment later on!
I'm in week 8 of my claim and just received my SEAP invitation letter yesterday! Reading through this thread has been so helpful in understanding what to expect. For those still waiting - don't give up hope. I was starting to think I wouldn't get selected since I'm in construction like @Brielle Johnson, but apparently they do consider our industry. A few things I learned from my initial call with the SEAP coordinator: - The business plan doesn't have to be super detailed in the application, but you need to show you've thought it through - They really want to see how your existing skills transfer to the new business - Local market need is important - they asked specific questions about competition in my area For anyone doing research while waiting, I found the SCORE mentorship program really helpful for getting free business advice. Also, the SBA website has tons of resources for market analysis and financial projections. I'm nervous about the approval process after the invitation, but feeling more confident after reading @Gael Robinson's experience. Will definitely emphasize the project management angle in my application. Thanks everyone for sharing - this community is way more helpful than the official ESD resources!
@Yuki Yamamoto Congratulations on getting your invitation letter! That s'so exciting and gives me hope since I m'in a similar construction background. Week 8 seems to be on the later end of when people get selected, so I m'glad you didn t'give up. Your point about SCORE mentorship is really smart - I hadn t'thought about leveraging free resources like that while I m'waiting. Do you mind sharing what specific questions they asked about local market competition? I m'trying to prepare as much as possible in case I get selected. It sounds like emphasizing the skills transfer is key. For my handyman/consulting idea, I m'thinking about highlighting project scheduling, vendor management, quality control, and client communication - basically all the behind-the-scenes coordination that clients don t'usually see but that s'crucial for running any service business. Thanks for the update and best of luck with your application process! Definitely keep us posted on how it goes - this thread has become such a valuable resource for understanding the real SEAP experience.
StarStrider
Just wanted to add that you should also think about healthcare if you're on any kind of state assistance or Medicaid. That stuff doesn't transfer between states like unemployment does, so you'll need to reapply in Oregon if you're using those services.
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Sean Flanagan
•I'm not on Medicaid but that's good to know for anyone else reading this thread.
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Dylan Campbell
•Yeah, healthcare is totally separate from unemployment. Good point to bring up.
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NebulaNomad
One thing I'd add is to make sure you keep detailed records of your job search activities, especially during the transition period while you're moving. Washington ESD might ask for documentation, and having everything organized will make your life easier if any questions come up. Also, consider setting up a Google Voice number or similar service that forwards to your cell phone - that way you have a consistent contact number for potential employers even if you're switching phone plans or providers during the move. The job market for graphic design in the Pacific Northwest is definitely interconnected between Seattle and Portland, so networking contacts you've made in Washington might actually help you in Oregon too.
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