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Just to add to what others said - if your employment doesn't work out within the benefit year (which runs for 12 months from when you first applied), you can reopen your existing claim rather than filing a completely new one. This is called "reopening" a claim and it's much simpler than starting from scratch. Just something to keep in mind just in case.
Congratulations on your new job! Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like the key is to report your earnings accurately for any week you worked (even partially) and then just stop filing claims after that. I've been on unemployment for 3 months myself and this thread is super helpful - I'm bookmarking it in case I need it when I find work. The fraud investigation warning from Marcus is especially important to keep in mind. Good luck with your new position!
The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose. I swear they make it complicated so people give up and don't claim benefits they're entitled to. Stick with it and ask questions when you need help.
One more thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to file, do it as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits, and you can't backdate your claim beyond the week you actually file. So even if you're unsure about the exact amount, it's better to file early and figure out the details later rather than lose out on potential weeks of benefits.
Bottom line: file for regular unemployment through Washington ESD if you lose your job, be prepared to explain your work capacity during adjudication, and use services like Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD about your specific situation. The system can work for people with disabilities, it just takes some extra documentation and patience.
One thing that might help clarify your situation is knowing that Washington State also has Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) through the ESD, which is different from both regular unemployment and disability benefits. If you're currently working part-time but need to reduce hours or take time off due to your health condition, you might qualify for PFML benefits while still maintaining your employment. This could be an option to explore before you reach the point of needing to file for unemployment. The PFML program allows for intermittent leave, which might work better for managing a chronic condition while staying employed.
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know I got my payment this morning - took exactly 4 business days after the expedite call! All back weeks paid at once. If anyone else is stuck in adjudication hell, definitely contact your state rep or the governor's office. It really works!
So glad to see this success story! I'm currently on week 5 of waiting for my claim to be processed after filing an appeal. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like contacting the Governor's office might be my next step. For those who reached out to elected officials, did you call directly or submit through their website contact forms? And did you need to provide any specific documentation when you contacted them? Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines - it helps to know there's light at the end of the tunnel!
Sean Fitzgerald
Bottom line is that employers who don't respond are basically giving up their right to contest your claim. Washington ESD will proceed based on your information and their own records. Stay patient and keep filing your weeklies.
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TechNinja
•Perfect summary. I feel much better about my situation now. Thanks everyone for the helpful responses!
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Good luck with your claim! Should work out fine if you keep doing everything right on your end.
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Natasha Romanova
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with my previous employer who was terrible about responding to anything official. Washington ESD gave them the standard 10 business days to respond, and when they didn't, my claim was approved automatically. The whole process took about 3 weeks from start to finish, and I received a letter explaining that since my employer failed to provide their side of the story within the required timeframe, they proceeded with my version of events. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this waiting period - that's super important. The silver lining is that non-responsive employers can't come back later and cause problems with your claim like some of the horror stories you hear about employers who lie or contest everything.
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