The fact that you worked steadily through 2023 is definitely in your favor. Even with the delay in applying, you should have qualifying wages in your base period.

That's reassuring. I was a good employee there for over two years before the layoff.

One more thing to check - log into your Washington ESD account and look at your 'Payment History' section specifically. Sometimes the waiting week payment shows up there even if it doesn't appear in your regular weekly payment list. It might be listed as a separate transaction type.

OP, did you ever figure this out? I'm having the exact same issue and found this thread while searching for answers.

Update us on how it goes when you file! Always helpful to hear how these situations actually play out.

One last tip - when you do file, be as specific as possible about the severance in your application. Don't just say 'severance pay' - explain exactly what it is and when you received it.

The silver lining of high unemployment is that employers and landlords are usually more understanding about employment gaps. They know it's not necessarily your fault when lots of people are out of work.

Bottom line is high unemployment affects the big picture but your individual claim should be processed the same way. Focus on making sure you've provided all required information and keep filing your weekly claims on time.

Update us when you hear back! And seriously, if you need to get a status update quickly, that Claimyr service is worth checking out. Sometimes just knowing where things stand can reduce the stress even if you can't speed up the process.

good luck! the waiting sucks but you'll get through it. unemployment benefits exist for exactly this situation so try not to stress too much about approval