Hey Drew, I just wanted to add my experience to this amazing thread that's clearly helping so many people! I was in almost exactly your situation about 4 months ago - terminated after 9 months for "performance issues" right after I started asking questions about some inventory discrepancies that didn't add up. No formal warnings, no write-ups, just suddenly I wasn't "meeting expectations." I was terrified to file because I thought being fired automatically disqualified me, but reading stories from others (just like all these encouraging responses you're getting) convinced me to apply anyway. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2 weeks! The investigator was really fair and thorough - they asked both me and my former employer detailed questions about what led to the termination. What helped my case was being completely honest about both the performance issues they claimed AND the inventory concerns I had raised. The investigator seemed to understand that questioning potential discrepancies is part of being a diligent employee, not grounds for termination. File immediately and don't second-guess yourself - you've been paying into this system for exactly these situations. Document everything you remember about your termination meeting and those sketchy practices you questioned. Based on your description and everyone's experiences here, you have a really strong case. The system really does work when you're honest and have legitimate grounds!

Drew, I'm so glad you decided to post this question - it's clearly helping way more people than just you! I went through almost the exact same situation about 3 months ago. Got terminated for "not being a team player" after I kept pushing back on some scheduling practices that seemed to violate break requirements. No formal disciplinary actions, no write-ups, just suddenly I was a problem employee after 10 months of good reviews. I was absolutely convinced that being fired meant I'd automatically get denied for unemployment, but after reading similar advice online, I finally worked up the courage to file. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 18 days of investigation! The investigator was really thorough and asked great questions about both what my employer claimed and the scheduling concerns I had raised. What really seemed to help was being completely transparent about everything - both their stated reasons and my legitimate workplace concerns. The investigator actually said that advocating for proper break times shows good employee judgment, not bad attitude. Don't let them scare you out of filing - you've been paying into unemployment insurance for exactly this type of situation. File tonight and document everything you can remember. Based on all these stories and your specific circumstances, you have a really solid case. This system does work when you're honest and fighting for what's right!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - just got over a nasty stomach bug that had me down for 3 days last week. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful! I was really torn between wanting to report honestly and being afraid of losing benefits I desperately need. The pattern here seems pretty consistent: ESD will prorate your benefits for partial weeks due to illness, but international travel means skipping the week entirely. What really convinced me was all the stories about people getting caught trying to hide things and facing way worse consequences than just taking the reduced payment upfront. I'm going to follow the advice here and report exactly which days I was sick on this week's claim. Better to get benefits for 4 out of 7 days than risk getting flagged for fraud later. The documentation tip is smart too - I actually do have an urgent care visit record from when the stomach bug got really bad, so I'll keep that handy just in case. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here. It's so much more helpful than trying to decode the official ESD language on their website!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to unemployment benefits and was actually dreading having to deal with situations like this, but all the real experiences shared here make it so much clearer than the official ESD guidance. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) For illness - report the exact days you weren't available and accept the prorated benefits 2) For international travel - don't file for that week at all 3) Keep documentation of everything 4) ESD has sophisticated cross-checking abilities, so honesty really is the safest approach What really stands out to me is how many people initially tried to "game the system" in small ways (not reporting a few sick days, filing while traveling) and ended up facing much worse consequences than if they'd just been upfront. The stories about investigations, overpayment notices, and penalties are pretty scary! I'm going to bookmark this thread as a reference guide. The practical advice from people who've actually been through these situations is worth its weight in gold. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's going to help a lot of us navigate these tricky situations properly!

One thing to watch out for - if there's a bank holiday on Monday, everything gets pushed back a day. So Tuesday deposits become Wednesday deposits that week.

Bottom line: if you filed Sunday night and it was processed Monday, you should see money Tuesday morning. If not Tuesday, then Wednesday. If still nothing Wednesday, time to call Washington ESD and figure out what's wrong.

I just want to add that it's really important to keep track of your ongoing job search activities too. Even if you refuse a job for valid reasons, ESD will still want to see that you're actively looking for other work. Make sure you're applying to your required number of jobs each week and documenting everything. The job refusal becomes much less of an issue when you can show you're genuinely engaged in finding suitable employment. Also, don't let one unsuitable job offer discourage you from continuing your search - there are better opportunities out there that will be a proper fit for your skills and situation.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - been on UI for about 8 weeks and just got offered a customer service job that's only 25 hours a week at $13/hour when my previous job was full-time at $22/hour. The scheduling is also terrible (nights and weekends) which would interfere with my kids' activities. Reading all these responses is so reassuring! I had no idea there were actual guidelines about suitable work - I thought you just had to take whatever was offered. Going to document everything about why this job doesn't work for my situation and be honest on my weekly claim. It's such a relief to know that actively job searching and having valid reasons for refusal is what really matters. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. I'm currently on unemployment and was terrified about potentially facing a similar situation with unsuitable job offers. Reading through all the real experiences shared here has been eye-opening. I had no idea that the "suitable work" guidelines actually protect us from having to accept jobs that are significantly below our qualifications and previous earnings. The advice about documenting everything, being transparent with ESD, and focusing on legitimate reasons for refusal is exactly what I needed to understand. @Harmony Love - your situation with the 41% pay cut and long commute is a perfect example of why these protections exist. It's clear from everyone's responses that you're handling this the right way by being strategic about your job search rather than just taking anything to get off benefits. I've bookmarked that ESD suitable work link and will definitely keep detailed records of my own job search activities. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex situations!

I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in since I just went through something very similar! I refused a job offer last month that was paying $14/hr when my previous position was $25/hr in customer service, and I was so worried about losing my benefits. Like everyone here has said, transparency is absolutely key. I documented everything - the job offer details, the 44% pay cut, even screenshots of similar positions in my area paying $22-27/hr to show this was below market rate. When I reported the refusal during my weekly claim, I got a questionnaire within a few days asking for details about why I considered it unsuitable work. I provided all my documentation and got approval to continue benefits within two weeks. The ESD representative I spoke with actually commended me for being thorough with my documentation and for continuing to pursue positions at appropriate wage levels. Your situation with the 41% pay cut from $29 to $17/hr, plus the 45-minute commute, sounds like a textbook case of unsuitable work. Don't try to hide it - embrace the fact that you have legitimate grounds to refuse and document everything thoroughly. The system really does protect people from having to accept jobs that are way below their qualifications and previous earnings. Good luck with your interviews next week! Sounds like you're taking exactly the right approach to your job search.