One more important thing: even if you have to report the full UI amount, make sure you're claiming all possible deductions on your DSHS application. Housing costs, utilities, childcare expenses, and medical expenses can all help you qualify for more benefits even with higher income. Don't leave any deductions on the table!

I went through a similar situation with ESD overpayment recovery a few months ago. Just wanted to add that when you call ESD to request a hardship reduction, be prepared with specific documentation of your monthly expenses - rent, utilities, food costs, etc. They'll likely ask for proof that the current recovery rate is causing genuine financial hardship. Also, if you qualify for reduced recovery, make sure to get the new rate in writing through your eServices account. The process took about 3 weeks for me, but I was able to get my recovery rate reduced from 25% to 15%, which made a huge difference in my ability to cover basic expenses while still paying back the overpayment.

This thread has been really helpful. I was also confused about where to apply and this cleared everything up. Sometimes the simple questions are the hardest to get straight answers for.

Just a heads up - make sure you have your Social Security number and driver's license ready when you apply. The SAW system will need those for identity verification. Also, if you've moved recently, use your current address but be prepared to explain any address changes from your last job. The system can flag mismatched addresses and cause delays.

Also wanted to mention that there are different types of unemployment benefits - regular UI, standby, and others. Most people qualify for regular UI but if you're in a union or certain industries, you might have different options. The application will help determine what you're eligible for.

One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you have your bank account information ready for direct deposit setup. Washington ESD strongly encourages direct deposit over paper checks, and it's much faster (usually 1-2 business days vs up to a week for checks). You'll need your routing number and account number. Also, don't be discouraged if the website is slow or crashes sometimes - it gets heavy traffic, especially on Sundays when people are filing their weekly claims. Just be patient and try again later if you run into technical issues.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed 3 weeks ago after my restaurant closed permanently and I'm also stuck with "disqualified" status during adjudication. Reading all these responses is really helpful because I was starting to panic that I'd been denied already. It's such poor system design to use "disqualified" when they mean "under review." I'm going to try uploading proof of the business closure like Effie suggested and maybe look into that Claimyr service if I can't get through by calling myself. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is normal even though it's incredibly stressful when you're behind on bills.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I know how anxiety-inducing it is to see "disqualified" when you know you should qualify! I went through almost the exact same situation 6 months ago when my company suddenly shut down. Like others have said, that status is just a terrible default while they review your case. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - screenshots of my claim status each week, copies of all the paperwork from my employer about the closure, and a log of every time I tried calling ESD. When I finally got through (took about 3 weeks of trying), having all that documentation ready made the call go much smoother. The agent was able to see exactly what was happening and got my case resolved that same day. Also, don't stop filing your weekly claims even though it feels pointless - you'll get backpay for all those weeks once it's approved. The waiting is awful but you will get through this!

Bottom line for anyone else reading this thread: Washington has NO waiting week as of 2021. You get paid for your first eligible week IF your claim is approved and you meet all requirements for that week. If you're seeing $0 for week 1, it's probably because your claim is still processing or there's an eligibility issue, not because of a waiting week.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this confusion - I filed my Washington unemployment claim about 6 weeks ago and was also worried about the waiting week. After reading through all these responses, I can confirm that Washington really did eliminate the waiting week. I got paid for my first week once my claim was fully approved, which took about 3 weeks total. The key is just being patient while they process everything and making sure you meet all the weekly requirements from day one. Don't stress if you see $0 initially - it doesn't mean there's a waiting week, it just means they're still working on your claim!