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Final thought for OP - make sure your appeal clearly explains why the commute was unsustainable long-term, not just inconvenient. Washington ESD needs to see that continuing would have caused substantial harm to your economic or personal well-being.
This whole thread has been super informative. I'm in a similar situation and was afraid to even file. Going to gather my documentation and give it a shot.
I was paranoid about the same thing when I first applied. Turns out I was worrying for nothing - no testing of any kind. Washington ESD is more interested in whether you're genuinely looking for work than anything else. Just make sure you understand the job search requirements and you'll be fine.
Can confirm - no drug testing for regular UI in Washington. Been through the system recently and the only requirements are proving you're eligible, able to work, and actively job searching. Don't stress about tests that don't exist!
You're going to do fine. Having all your documentation organized and arriving prepared puts you ahead of most people. The Washington ESD representatives deal with unprepared people all day so they'll appreciate that you came ready.
Update: I filed my claim yesterday and I'm already feeling better about it. Thanks to everyone who helped me understand the process. Now I just need to wait and see what happens when my employer gets the notice.
This has been a really informative thread. I'm bookmarking it in case I ever need to reference it. The employer notification thing seems to be the biggest concern people have about filing.
Mateo Warren
One last thing - keep all your documentation organized. Pay stubs, termination letters, any correspondence with Washington ESD. You might need it for appeals or audits later.
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Mohammed Khan
•Great advice, I'm pretty good about keeping records anyway but will make sure to be extra careful with employment stuff.
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Sofia Price
•Yeah documentation is key. I had to appeal a decision once and having all my paperwork organized made the process much smoother.
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Alice Coleman
Thanks OP for asking this question. I was wondering the same thing and this thread has been really helpful for understanding the whole system better.
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Mohammed Khan
•No problem! Glad others found it useful too. Always better when everyone can learn from the same discussion.
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