To answer your question about specific percentages - ESD doesn't publish an exact percentage that automatically qualifies as "substantial," but based on previous cases, a 20%+ reduction is generally considered significant enough to justify refusing work, especially if you can demonstrate that it would create financial hardship. When you file your claim, you'll need to explain the situation during the application process. There's a section asking if you've refused any work, and you'll need to provide details about why the work wasn't suitable specifically because of the wage reduction. Be factual and specific - don't just say it was "unfair" but instead focus on the concrete financial impact.

hey just wondering did u decide what ur gonna do yet? im in a similar spot rn and trying to figure out my options too

Wait does this mean if I've been reporting my gross from my side gig I've been getting LESS unemployment money than I should have been???

The official ESD guidance states you should report your NET self-employment income, which is calculated by taking your gross receipts and subtracting business expenses directly related to generating that income. This is different from how you report W2 employment, where you report gross. The confusion happens because many ESD phone representatives don't understand the distinction and give incorrect information. Make sure you're keeping detailed records of all business expenses. For rideshare, this includes: - Mileage (use the IRS standard mileage rate) - Platform fees - Portion of phone bill used for work - Car washes and maintenance - Any supplies (water, mints, etc.) Calculate these expenses weekly and subtract from your gross. That's the amount you should report.

Important update: I just checked with a colleague who specializes in plant closures. The key factor is whether your severance payment represents payment for a specific period of time or is truly a lump sum with no time allocation. If your severance agreement states that the payment covers X weeks or months after your termination, ESD may consider that allocated to those weeks and it could reduce your benefits during that period. If it's a true lump sum with no time allocation, then it shouldn't affect your benefits. Check your severance agreement documentation carefully!

One more thing - if your plant closure involves more than 50 employees, ESD might have a specialized rapid response team to help everyone. Ask your union rep if ESD has been notified of the mass layoff. Sometimes they set up special processes for large closures.

Since you mentioned you're in tech, have you checked out WorkSource's IT/tech retraining programs? Some of them qualify for Training Benefits and they can sometimes help place you in jobs after completion. They also have workshops specifically for tech workers transitioning to adjacent fields. It's worth connecting with a WorkSource specialist - they have more detailed information about potential benefit extensions and training programs than what's publicly available on the ESD website.

Something to consider: if your benefits will exhaust soon, you might qualify for other assistance programs while you continue your job search. Specifically: 1. SNAP benefits (food assistance) 2. Housing assistance through your county 3. Healthcare coverage through Apple Health 4. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (if you have kids) None of these are UI extensions, but they can help bridge the gap. The DSHS website has all the application info. Don't wait until your UI is completely exhausted to apply - the approval process can take weeks.

just got paid finally!! i submitted online last week but called ESD this morning after seeing this post. the lady checked my account and said something was "stuck" and she fixed it manually. money showed up 2 hours later!

Update from ESD: I just spoke with an agent again today, and they confirmed they're aware of the processing discrepancy between phone and online claims. They're working on implementing a fix by next Tuesday that should equalize processing times again. For anyone with urgent payment needs, phone claims are still processing faster for now. But if you can wait, the online system should be back to normal processing speeds by next week.

I'm kinda in the same situation but havent got my appeal date yet. Let us know how yours goes tomorrow if u dont mind! Good luck!

UPDATE: Had my hearing this morning and it went WAY better than I expected! The judge was actually really nice and just wanted to understand my situation. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. They asked when I dropped out, why I dropped out, and what jobs I've been applying for. I showed them my withdrawal email and my job search records. They said I should receive a decision within 10 days but seemed pretty positive about my case. Thanks everyone for all your advice - it really helped calm my nerves!

Update from my earlier comment: I just remembered that you can actually check the status of your payment in your PFML account. Go to the portal, log in, and under the "Payments" tab, it will show if your payment has been processed and when it was sent. That might give you a better idea of where things stand with your specific claim.

That's a good sign! "Payment Processing" typically means they've approved your weekly claim and are calculating your benefit amount. You should see it change to "Payment Sent" within the next 2-3 business days, and then it usually takes 1-2 more business days for the direct deposit to appear in your account. So based on that status, I'd estimate you'll see the money in about 3-5 days.

I got so confused with all this stuff too!!! My doctor filled out PFML paperwork for me last year when I had surgery but then I found out I wouldn't get paid for the first week anyway so I just used my vacation time instead. The application was super complicated!! Plus they wanted me to keep submitting paperwork every few weeks even though it was just a one-time surgery. Good luck figuring it out!

Based on everything you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. For simplicity, stick with your UI claim for reduced hours 2. When filing your weekly claim, report the 4 days you missed as "not able and available" (you won't get UI for those days) 3. Don't submit the PFML paperwork if it's just for those 4 days - the waiting period means you likely wouldn't receive benefits anyway 4. If you have more medical absences planned in the future, then PFML might be worth considering Just remember to always be truthful on your UI claims about days you weren't able to work due to medical issues. It's better to not receive benefits for a few days than to risk an overpayment determination later.

UGH the ESD payment system is SO BROKEN!!! My payments have been randomly delayed THREE TIMES this year with NO EXPLANATION!!! One time they told me it was "system maintenance" another time they said it was a "verification hold" and another time they just said "these things happen" 🤬 The worst part is you can NEVER get someone on the phone when you ACTUALLY NEED THEM!!! Meanwhile bills don't wait and landlords don't care about ESD's problems!!!

UPDATE: I called my prepaid card bank this morning and they told me there's an incoming ACH deposit pending for tomorrow morning! No idea why it took 6 business days when it usually takes 1-2, but at least it's coming. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. The holiday delay must have been longer than I expected.

just wondering did u get ur issue fixed? im having the exact same problem right now!!!! been getting benefits since January and now suddenly disqualified for no reason. so frustrating!!!!

For anyone else encountering this issue, I recommend documenting everything when you call. Get the agent's ID number or name, ask for a reference number for the call, and request they send you an email confirmation of any changes they make. ESD can be disorganized, and having documentation has saved me multiple times when issues weren't properly resolved the first time. Also, if calling doesn't work, remember you can submit a secure message through your eServices account. It takes longer to get a response, but creates a paper trail and sometimes works when the phone lines are impossible.