Given the conflicting information that's come up in this thread, I think it's worth mentioning that rental income classification might depend on how it's structured on your tax returns. If you file Schedule E for rental income (which most single-property owners do), that's typically considered passive income. However, if you file Schedule C because you're treating it as a business with significant time investment, that could be why some agents classify it as self-employment. @Yang Wang's experience might reflect this distinction. For @Anita George's situation with a duplex where she lives in half and rents the other half, this would almost certainly be Schedule E passive income territory. But definitely get it confirmed directly with ESD and ask them to reference the specific policy they're using - that way you'll have documentation if there are any issues later.

I've been following this thread as someone who also got laid off recently and has rental income. The conflicting information about whether rental income counts as self-employment vs passive income is really concerning. It seems like the key factors might be: 1) How you file on your taxes (Schedule E vs Schedule C), 2) The level of active management you do, and 3) Which ESD agent you speak with. For what it's worth, I have a small rental property that I've always filed as Schedule E passive income, and when I spoke to an ESD agent last week, they confirmed it wouldn't affect my benefits. But given @Yang Wang's different experience, I think everyone should definitely get their specific situation confirmed in writing. The suggestion to use Claimyr to actually reach an agent seems like a good idea to avoid the phone tag. Has anyone else noticed inconsistent responses from different ESD representatives on other unemployment issues?

I went through a similar employer protest situation last year and want to share what I learned. The most important thing is that Washington ESD requires employers to prove misconduct was both "willful" and "substantial" - just having attendance issues, even without medical documentation, often doesn't meet that standard if there's no pattern of defiance or repeated violations after formal warnings. In your case, having medical documentation makes their argument even weaker. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed timeline of events with dates, showing exactly when I provided medical notes and how I followed company procedures. Also, don't forget to mention if you were a good employee overall - length of service, positive reviews, no prior disciplinary actions all work in your favor. The adjudicator will look at the totality of circumstances, not just the employer's cherry-picked complaints. Washington ESD sees these weak protests all the time and knows the difference between legitimate misconduct and employers trying to avoid paying unemployment taxes.

I'm going through a similar situation right now with my former employer claiming I was terminated for "violation of company policy" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. They're trying to say I was using my phone too much during work hours, but I have emails showing they approved my schedule changes to handle family medical emergencies. It's so frustrating when employers twist the truth just to avoid paying unemployment taxes. What I've learned from reading everyone's responses here is that documentation is everything - I'm gathering all my emails, performance reviews, and any communication that shows the real reason for my termination. Has anyone else dealt with employers making up policy violations that weren't actually enforced consistently? I'm worried because they're a bigger company with HR resources, but seeing all the success stories here gives me hope that Washington ESD will see through their lies.

I just went through this registration process myself two weeks ago for my consulting business! Here's what I learned: definitely gather all your documents first like others mentioned, but also make sure you have your business bank account info ready - they ask for routing and account numbers during the online registration. The whole process took me about 30 minutes once I had everything organized. One tip that saved me time - if you're not sure about your NAICS code, there's actually a lookup tool right on the registration page that lets you search by keywords describing your business type. Way more convenient than going to the census website separately. Good luck with your retail shop!

I recently helped my brother set up his landscaping business and we found that having your Secure Access Washington (SAW) account ready beforehand really speeds things up. You'll need this to access most of the state business portals anyway, so might as well get it set up first. Also, when they ask for your business start date, use the date you first plan to pay wages, not when you got your business license - learned that the hard way when we had to call back and clarify. The whole online process was actually pretty smooth once we had all our ducks in a row!

This entire discussion has blown my mind! I've been working in Washington for about a year and had absolutely no clue that UI was entirely employer-funded. Like so many others here, I saw the PFML deduction on my paystub and just assumed it was for unemployment benefits. What really bothers me after reading all this is how employers seem to deliberately keep workers in the dark about how the system actually works. Instead of being straightforward about the potential impact on their tax rates, they make vague guilt-inducing comments about "finding work quickly" or "not burdening the system." It's honestly kind of manipulative when you think about it. I'm actually dealing with a potential layoff situation right now (company is "restructuring" again), and this thread has been incredibly valuable in helping me understand my rights and how filing for UI actually works. Now I know that if I do get laid off, I shouldn't feel guilty about filing - my employer has been paying into this system specifically to provide this safety net. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially those with HR backgrounds who explained the technical details about experience ratings and quarterly payments. This is exactly the kind of information that should be easily accessible to all workers, not something you have to stumble across in a community forum!

Wow, reading through this entire thread has been like taking a masterclass in Washington unemployment insurance! I'm pretty new to the workforce (just graduated college last year) and started my first real job here in WA about 8 months ago. Like literally everyone else here, I've been staring at my paystub every two weeks wondering what that "WA PFML" deduction was for and assuming it was unemployment insurance. It's honestly kind of shocking that employees don't contribute anything to UI in Washington - I had no idea this varied by state! The fact that it's 100% employer-funded actually makes me feel way less anxious about the possibility of ever needing to file. I've been so worried about "using up" money I hadn't really paid into yet since I'm still early in my career. What really gets me is how this isn't explained ANYWHERE during the hiring process. Like, you'd think basic information about how your state's unemployment system works would be part of standard employee orientation, right? Instead we all have to figure it out through random internet discussions or learn the hard way when we actually need to file a claim. This thread should honestly be required reading for every new worker in Washington! Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise - especially those who explained the technical details about experience ratings and how employer tax rates actually work. This is exactly the kind of practical knowledge they should teach in high school or college but never do.

I just wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their experiences and advice in this thread! As a newcomer to this whole unemployment process, I was really overwhelmed and scared about potentially messing up my benefits over something I didn't understand. After reading through all your responses, I finally worked up the courage to call ESD this morning. I used the exact phrasing several of you recommended: "This is a one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions due to emergency medical expenses - not regular pension payments." The first agent I spoke with seemed uncertain, so I politely asked to speak with a supervisor (thanks for that tip!). The supervisor was incredibly knowledgeable and confirmed that my $8,500 withdrawal should NOT be reported as income for unemployment purposes since it was my own contributions from previous paychecks, not new income. She also assured me that the 6 weeks I'd already claimed without reporting it was completely fine since I wasn't trying to hide anything - just genuinely confused by the rules (which she said happens all the time). I documented everything - got her name, ID number, date and time of the call - so I have it all on record now. This community is amazing! The fact that so many people took time to share their personal experiences and professional expertise really made all the difference. I went from panicking about potential fraud accusations to having complete peace of mind. You all are lifesavers! 🙏

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also new to unemployment benefits and had no idea there were so many nuances around retirement fund withdrawals. Reading through everyone's experiences really shows how inconsistent the information can be from different ESD agents - it's almost like you have to get lucky and reach someone who actually knows the specific rules. What really stands out to me is how many people initially got conflicting advice but eventually found that one-time withdrawals of your own 401k contributions don't count as reportable income. The distinction between your own contributions vs. employer matching vs. regular pension payments seems to be the key thing that trips up both claimants and ESD representatives. For anyone else dealing with this situation, it seems like the winning formula based on all these responses is: 1. Use very specific language when calling: "one-time early withdrawal of my own 401k contributions for emergency expenses" 2. Ask for a supervisor if the first agent seems uncertain 3. Document everything (names, IDs, dates, times) 4. Don't panic if you've already filed claims without reporting - as long as you weren't trying to hide anything It's really reassuring to see how this community comes together to help each other navigate these confusing bureaucratic situations. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise!