Glad we could help clarify the process for you. The Washington ESD system works pretty well once you understand the timing.

Based on everyone's experience here, it sounds like the 2-3 business day timeline is pretty standard for Washington ESD. I've been filing my weekly claims on Sunday evenings and usually see the payment hit my account by Wednesday. The key seems to be filing consistently at the same time each week and making sure all your account info is up to date. If you're seeing delays beyond that normal window, definitely worth checking for any account issues or using one of those callback services people mentioned.

Bottom line is Washington ESD has a lot of rules and they're not always clear about them upfront. The best advice is to be completely honest on your application and weekly claims, keep detailed records of everything, and don't hesitate to ask questions if you're unsure about something. Getting disqualified is way worse than getting clarification beforehand.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the base year earnings requirement. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base year to even qualify for benefits in the first place. Also, if you're collecting Social Security Disability, that can affect your eligibility since you're essentially saying you can't work. Washington ESD considers this when determining if you're "able and available" for employment. The appeals process is also worth understanding - you have 30 days to appeal any disqualification decision, and having documentation ready can make a huge difference in your hearing.

Update: I managed to get through to ESD yesterday! The agent confirmed that properly structured SUB Program payments under Revenue Ruling 90-72 are NOT reportable as income for UI purposes in Washington State. However, she emphasized that the program must meet all the requirements: 1. Payments can't be in a lump sum 2. Payments must be linked to UI eligibility 3. The program must be properly registered with the state She advised me to get written confirmation from my employer that their program meets these criteria and to keep it for my records. She also noted this in my claim file. Thank you all for your help! For anyone else facing this situation, definitely try to get an official answer directly from ESD rather than relying on secondhand information.

Thanks for sharing your update! This is really helpful for others who might face the same situation. I'm glad you were able to get official confirmation from ESD directly - that's exactly what I would have recommended. Your experience highlights how important it is to get answers straight from the source rather than relying on conflicting information from different representatives. The fact that the agent noted it in your claim file is huge - that documentation could save you a lot of headaches if any questions come up during a future audit or review. For anyone else reading this thread, Anastasia's approach is the gold standard: get written confirmation from your employer about the program structure, get official guidance from ESD (preferably documented), and keep everything for your records. SUB programs are uncommon enough that not all reps will be familiar with them, so persistence in reaching the right person really pays off.

Bottom line - with $900/week earnings you should get close to maximum benefits. File immediately after your last day, keep detailed job search records, and don't stress too much about the process. Washington's system works pretty well once you understand it.

I went through something similar last year when my company downsized. With your $900/week income, you should definitely qualify for close to the maximum weekly benefit. One tip that really helped me - start gathering all your employment documentation now (pay stubs, tax forms, employer contact info) so you're ready to file immediately if the layoff happens. Also, I'd recommend checking your wage history on the ESD website periodically to make sure everything looks accurate. The whole process was less stressful than I expected once I had all my paperwork organized. Hope it works out and you don't actually need to file, but at least you'll be prepared!

Thanks everyone for the incredibly helpful advice! Just to update - I went ahead and filed my initial claim today. The ESD website actually had a specific section for reporting upcoming severance pay, so that was easier than expected. I reported that I'll be receiving the lump sum next week representing 8 weeks of pay. I've also started my job search log since I need to report activities each week even during the severance period. The ESD agent I spoke with (finally got through!) confirmed that once the 8-week severance allocation ends, my regular benefits should start automatically as long as I keep filing my weekly claims. Really appreciate all the help navigating this!

Great job getting everything filed! That's exactly the right approach. Just a heads up - make sure you keep detailed records of your weekly job search activities during those 8 weeks even though you won't be getting benefits. ESD can audit your job search log at any time, and you don't want any issues when your regular benefits kick in. Also, if you find a job before your severance period ends, you'll need to report that too. Sounds like you're on the right track though!