I'm so sorry this happened to you - getting laid off after only 3 weeks must feel devastating, especially when you'd finally gotten back on your feet and signed that lease. Everyone's advice about reopening your claim is solid. I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation: consider reaching out to your local WorkSource office as well. They often have emergency resources and can sometimes expedite certain processes or connect you with additional support services while you're waiting for benefits to restart. Also, since you mentioned being in tech support, this might actually be a good time to leverage that recent 3-week experience. Even though it was short, you can still list it on applications and explain the situation honestly - most employers understand that layoffs happen, especially at smaller companies. The fact that you were brought on initially shows your skills are in demand. Don't let this setback make you doubt yourself. You landed one job, which means you'll land another. And having that email documentation about the contract loss will definitely help if ESD has any questions about the separation. Hang in there - this community has your back!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - getting laid off after just 3 weeks is incredibly stressful, especially when you've already made financial commitments like signing a lease based on that job. The advice everyone's given about reopening your claim is absolutely correct. Since you're still within your benefit year, you should be able to reopen online through eServices rather than filing a completely new claim. Just make sure you have all the details about your recent employment ready - exact start/end dates, total earnings, and that email from your manager about the contract loss. One thing I'd add: while you're waiting for your claim to process, consider reaching out to 211 (dial 2-1-1) for information about emergency assistance programs in your area. They maintain a database of local resources that might help with rent or utilities while you get back on your feet. Many people don't know this service exists, but it can be a lifesaver in situations like yours. Also, don't let this short employment period discourage you in your job search. Three weeks is clearly not enough time for performance issues - it's obviously a business decision due to the contract loss. Most employers in tech understand these kinds of situations happen. You've got this! This is just a bump in the road, and having that unemployment safety net available will give you time to find something even better.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - been trying to reach Washington ESD for over a week about my claim that suddenly got flagged for verification. The phone system is completely broken and it's honestly making my unemployment situation so much more stressful than it already is. I've tried calling right at 8am, during lunch, using the redial trick, nothing works consistently. Either busy signals or I sit on hold for 2+ hours just to get disconnected. After reading through all these comments though, I'm really considering trying that Claimyr service everyone's mentioning. The success stories here are pretty convincing and at this point I'd rather pay something than waste another week of my life on hold. It's ridiculous that we have to resort to paying a third party just to access our own unemployment benefits, but when you're facing rent and bills, you do what you have to do. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - at least now I know there might actually be a solution that works!

I'm in the exact same situation and it's absolutely maddening! My claim got flagged about 2 weeks ago and I've been completely locked out of online certification since then. I've tried every strategy mentioned here - calling right at 8am, during lunch hours, the multiple phone trick, pressing 0 repeatedly - nothing works consistently. The longest I've waited was 4 hours just to get disconnected when I was probably next in line. It's honestly affecting my mental health at this point because you're already stressed about being unemployed and then you can't even access the help you're entitled to. Reading through all these success stories about Claimyr is really giving me hope though. I was skeptical about paying a third party for something like this, but after seeing so many people here actually get their issues resolved, I'm definitely going to try it. The demo video someone posted really helped me understand how it works. It's ridiculous that Washington's unemployment system has gotten so broken that we need to resort to paid services just to talk to someone, but when you're facing eviction notices and overdue bills, you do whatever actually works. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know there's light at the end of this tunnel!

I went through this exact same worry when I started working variable hours at my warehouse job! You can absolutely skip filing for that week where you worked 32 hours - it won't mess up your claim at all. Your claim stays active for the full benefit year (one year from when you originally filed), so missing one week doesn't reset anything or trigger any reviews. I've done this multiple times over the past few months when I get called in for overtime shifts. The system is specifically designed to handle people with fluctuating schedules like yours. Just resume filing next week when your hours drop back down, and make sure to accurately report the earnings from your 32-hour week when you do file. The ESD actually expects people to do this since work situations change - that's exactly how unemployment benefits are supposed to work! Don't stress about it.

I had this exact same concern when I first started dealing with variable hours at my catering job! You're absolutely fine to skip filing for that week where you worked 32 hours. Your claim stays active for the entire benefit year (365 days from when you originally applied), so missing one week won't affect your claim status at all. I've been doing this for about 8 months now - some weeks I get booked for multiple events and work 35+ hours, other weeks it's slow and I'm back to filing for benefits. The ESD system handles these fluctuations perfectly and I've never had any issues with restarts or reviews. Just make sure when you resume filing next week that you accurately report your earnings from this busy week. This is exactly how the unemployment system is designed to work for people with variable schedules - you're doing everything right by not filing when you know you won't qualify!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned during my recent adjudication experience. The adjudicator definitely called me - took about 3 weeks though due to their backlog. What really helped my case was having everything organized beforehand: exact dates, screenshots of relevant texts/emails, and a simple timeline written out. For your situation with the health department report, that timing is crucial evidence. I'd suggest creating a simple document with: 1) Date you reported to health dept, 2) Date employer found out (if you know), 3) Date you were fired, 4) Any communications showing the real reason vs their claimed reason. Also, when they call, they might ask if you have any witnesses who can verify your version of events. Think about coworkers who might have seen the unsafe conditions or heard conversations about the health department report. The adjudicator asked me specifically about potential witnesses during my call. Stay strong - retaliation cases like yours often get approved because the timing makes the employer's motive pretty obvious. Just make sure you answer that phone when they call!

I went through something similar recently and wanted to share what worked for me. The adjudicator did call - it was about 2.5 weeks after my claim went into adjudication. The call lasted around 20 minutes and they were very thorough. For your situation, the timing between your health department report and termination is really your strongest piece of evidence. Make sure you have the exact date you made that report and can clearly explain the sequence of events. The adjudicator will likely ask very specific questions about: - What unsafe conditions you reported - How your employer found out it was you - The exact reason they gave for firing you - Any previous disciplinary actions or warnings - Your attendance record (since they're claiming tardiness) Since your employer can't provide documentation of multiple tardiness incidents (because there was only one), that actually helps your case. Employers need to show a pattern of behavior to justify termination for attendance. One thing that really helped me was staying calm and professional during the call, even when describing unfair treatment. Let the facts speak for themselves - the timeline will make their retaliation obvious without you having to explicitly accuse them of lying. Keep filing your weekly claims and hang in there! Retaliation cases have a good success rate when the timing is as clear as yours seems to be.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm going to review my paperwork tonight and then contact OAH tomorrow to start the withdrawal process. You've all given me a much better understanding of what's involved.

Just wanted to add that timing can be important when withdrawing an appeal. If your hearing is scheduled soon, you'll want to contact OAH as quickly as possible to avoid any complications. They usually need at least a few business days notice to properly cancel everything and notify all parties involved. Don't wait until the last minute if you've made your decision.