Just to follow up on my earlier comment - I ended up needing to use Claimyr again when I had questions about my benefit amount calculation. Still works great for getting through to actual Washington ESD staff when you need real answers.

Don't stress too much about the timeline - it varies but most straightforward claims get processed within 1-2 weeks. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to company downsizing, that should be pretty clear-cut for them to approve. The key things to remember: start filing your weekly claims the week after you filed (don't wait for approval), keep track of your job search activities for the work search requirements, and make sure you respond quickly to any requests for additional information they might send you. The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it gets routine pretty quickly once you're in the swing of it.

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm a retired Army veteran (22 years of service) and just got laid off from my government contracting job last Friday. I've been incredibly anxious about filing for unemployment because I wasn't sure how my $2,650/month military retirement pay would affect my eligibility. Reading through everyone's experiences and the specific legal references (especially that RCW 50.20.050 statute) has completely put my mind at ease. It's incredible how much more helpful this community discussion has been compared to spending hours trying to navigate the Washington ESD website. The fact that they actually have a specific dropdown menu for military retirement pay shows they really do understand our situation as veterans. I'm planning to file my claim this weekend now that I know my retirement pay won't interfere with my unemployment benefits. Thank you all for your service and for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences - this kind of veteran-to-veteran support is invaluable when dealing with these complex government systems!

I'm a retired Marine (20 years) and this entire discussion has been such a relief! I got laid off from my logistics job three weeks ago and have been dreading filing for unemployment because I thought my $2,200/month retirement pay might disqualify me or reduce my benefits. After reading through all these real experiences from fellow veterans and seeing the specific RCW reference, I finally understand that Washington state treats military retirement pay completely separately from employment income. It's frustrating that this information isn't clearer on the official ESD website, but this community has provided exactly the clarity I needed. I'm filing my claim first thing Monday morning now that I know my retirement pay won't be an issue. Thank you all for your service and for sharing your knowledge - this veteran-to-veteran support makes navigating these bureaucratic systems so much easier!

I'm 66 and have been collecting social security for about a year now. My part-time job at a local nonprofit just ended due to funding cuts, and I was really hesitant to file for unemployment because I wasn't sure if it would affect my social security benefits. After reading through all these experiences, I feel so much more confident about applying! It's incredibly reassuring to see that Washington state really does keep these programs completely separate. I had no idea that unemployment benefits don't count as earnings for social security purposes either - that was one of my biggest concerns. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed for a smooth process like so many of you have had. This community has been such a valuable resource during a stressful time!

I'm 63 and just started collecting social security a few months ago. My employer just announced they're eliminating my part-time position next week due to restructuring. Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful - I was really worried that being on social security would complicate things if I tried to file for unemployment. It's incredibly reassuring to learn that Washington state keeps these programs completely separate and that unemployment benefits won't affect my social security payments. The clarity everyone has provided about not needing to report social security income on weekly claims is especially valuable. I feel much more prepared to file my claim when the layoff happens. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it makes such a difference when you're facing this situation for the first time!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just completed this process successfully! I worked as a "freelance" marketing specialist for a tech company for 13 months, but they required me to maintain set hours (9am-6pm), attend daily team standups via Zoom, use their CRM and project management tools, and submit weekly progress reports. When my contract ended last month, I was hesitant to file because of the 1099s, but after seeing similar stories here I decided to apply anyway. Washington ESD took about 7 weeks to review my case and ultimately determined I was misclassified - they said the behavioral control my client had over my work schedule and methods clearly indicated an employment relationship. I got approved for benefits plus backpay for the review period! The key was documenting everything - I submitted emails about required meeting attendance, screenshots of their internal tools I had to use, and my contract showing the set schedule requirements. Don't let those 1099s discourage you from filing if your work situation involved significant client control over how, when, and where you performed your duties. Washington ESD really looks beyond the paperwork to evaluate the actual working relationship!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent success story! I was working as a "freelance" software tester for a fintech company for 10 months, but they controlled almost everything - required me to work 9am-5pm in their office, use their testing environments and bug tracking systems, attend daily standup meetings and sprint reviews, and even had performance reviews with their QA manager. Despite getting 1099s the whole time, I filed for unemployment when my contract ended last month after reading stories like these. Washington ESD took about 6 weeks to investigate and ruled I was misclassified as a contractor! The evidence that clinched it was showing their control over my schedule (email requiring office attendance), mandatory participation in their agile processes, and use of company-specific tools and environments. I received full benefits plus backpay for the review period. If your "contracting" situation involved this level of behavioral and operational control, definitely file - Washington ESD really does look at the substance of the working relationship, not just the 1099 paperwork. The financial support during job searching has been a lifesaver!

I'm in a very similar situation - 61 years old and just got my layoff notice from my manufacturing job after 18 years. I've been really stressed about whether I could collect my 401k distributions and unemployment at the same time. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! It's good to know that Washington state treats retirement income differently than work wages. I'm also glad to see the advice about tax withholding - I definitely need to factor that in since I'll have income from multiple sources. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the specific regulation reference (WAC 192-110-015). This gives me confidence to move forward with filing my claim.

I'm 65 and went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my engineering job. Can confirm that collecting both pension and Washington unemployment is absolutely allowed - they're treated as completely separate income streams. The key is just being upfront about everything during your application. One tip I'd add is to keep good records of all your pension statements and layoff paperwork, as they may ask for documentation later. Also, don't stress too much about the online application process - it walks you through everything step by step. The hardest part for me was actually getting through on the phone when I had questions, but the online system handled most of what I needed. You should be fine collecting both!