Thanks everyone for all the advice! I think I understand now - report gross 1099 income for the week I do the work, keep detailed records, and don't try to deduct expenses when reporting to Washington ESD. Still might try to reach an agent to double-check my specific situation.

Just wanted to add that I've been in a similar situation with 1099 work while on unemployment. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything - date of work, hours worked, gross pay, and which week I reported it on my claim. Washington ESD can ask for documentation during audits, so having everything organized from the start saves a lot of stress later. Also, don't forget that you still need to be available for full-time work even if you're doing some 1099 gigs - that's part of the eligibility requirements they can ask about.

I'm actually going through something similar right now! I've been on unemployment for about 5 weeks and just enrolled in a part-time web development bootcamp that meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings plus Saturday mornings. When I called Washington ESD to report it (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - totally worth it to skip the hold time), the agent was really helpful and said as long as I'm available for work Monday-Friday 9-5, I should be fine. She even said the technical skills I'm learning could make me more competitive in the job market. I'm keeping a folder with all my enrollment documents and class schedules just in case they need proof later. The hardest part is balancing job applications with studying, but it feels good to be doing something productive while looking for work. Good luck with your digital marketing program - that field has so many opportunities!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Been unemployed for about 6 weeks and looking at a UX/UI design bootcamp that runs evenings and weekends. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - it sounds like Washington ESD is actually pretty supportive of education that clearly leads to better job prospects. The digital marketing program you're considering sounds perfect since it's such a growing field. I'm planning to call Washington ESD this week to discuss my bootcamp plans, and based on what people are saying about that Claimyr service, I might give that a try to avoid the hold times. It's encouraging to see so many success stories from people who've done this. Thanks for starting this thread - it's exactly the information I needed!

This is good info for everyone to know - ESD can request identity verification at ANY point during your claim year, not just at the beginning. Pro tip: keep digital copies of your ID documents in a secure location so you can quickly upload them if asked. This helps avoid payment delays. Also, make sure your phone number is up-to-date in your ESD account because sometimes they'll text verification codes if they need additional verification.

Just wanted to add that if anyone gets flagged for ID verification, don't panic if your documents get rejected the first time. Sometimes the photos aren't clear enough or there's glare on your ID. I had to resubmit my driver's license twice because the first photo was too blurry. Make sure you're in good lighting and the entire document is visible in the frame. Also, if you have an out-of-state ID but live in Washington now, that's totally fine - they just want to verify you're a real person, not necessarily that you're a Washington resident.

Just want to emphasize again - do NOT go without health insurance while on unemployment. Even if you think you can't afford it, check all your options first. The financial risk isn't worth it.

Also worth checking if your county has any local health programs or clinics that offer services on a sliding fee scale based on income. Even with marketplace coverage, you might find cheaper options for routine care and prescriptions while you're on unemployment. Some counties in Washington have really good programs that can supplement your insurance coverage.

One last tip - when you file, be specific about the safety issues you reported and the timeline. Don't just say 'performance problems' if you think it was retaliation. The more context you provide upfront, the better Washington ESD can evaluate your claim.

I went through a similar situation last year - got terminated for "performance issues" but I'm pretty sure it was actually because I had filed a complaint with L&I about workplace safety violations. The timing was just too suspicious. Washington ESD approved my claim without any issues once I explained the full timeline during my initial application. The fact that you reported unsafe conditions and then got fired shortly after is definitely something they'll take into consideration. Make sure to include all those details and dates when you file - it really strengthens your case if they can see a pattern of retaliation rather than legitimate performance concerns.