Update us on how it goes! I'm sure other contractors would be interested to hear about your experience with Washington ESD.

I went through something similar when I lost my main freelance writing contract last year. Even though I was classified as an independent contractor, it turned out I had enough W-2 earnings from a previous job within my base period to qualify for benefits. The key is that Washington ESD looks at ALL your covered employment history, not just your most recent work. Definitely worth filing a claim - the worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised. The online application will walk you through all the eligibility requirements and help determine if you qualify based on your work history.

The bottom line is that Washington ESD wants to know about all income you receive while claiming benefits. It's always better to over-report than under-report. They can adjust your benefits if needed, but unreported income can lead to serious consequences.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also facing a potential layoff situation and had no idea that the way severance is structured and labeled in the agreement makes such a big difference. It sounds like the key is really understanding whether it's considered "wages in lieu of notice" versus a true severance payment. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's given me a much better roadmap for navigating this if it happens to me. The advice about filing for UI benefits right away and reporting everything accurately seems crucial.

To the person recommending Claimyr - does it actually work? I've been trying to get through to ESD for 2 weeks about my missing payments and keep getting disconnected. At this point I'm desperate enough to try anything

I went through the exact same situation earlier this year - laid off from my warehouse job, collected unemployment for a few months, got hired back temporarily, then laid off again when the contract ended. When I reopened my claim, I didn't have to do the waiting week again since it was within the same benefit year. The key thing that helped me avoid delays was being super organized with my paperwork. I had my final paystubs, layoff notice, and all employment dates ready to upload immediately. Still took about 10 days to get my first payment, but that was way better than the 4+ weeks it took when I first applied. One tip - when you're filling out the weekly claims, be really specific about your work separation reason. I put "lack of work due to end of temporary contract" and that seemed to help avoid any flags in their system. Best of luck getting back on your feet!

One more thing to keep in mind - after you report your work hours for this week, you should continue filing weekly claims until you receive your first full paycheck. This ensures there's no gap in your claim if something happens with the new job (like if it falls through during training or probation period). If you're working full-time hours, your weekly claims will show $0 benefit once you're working all days in the week, but keeping your claim active is important just in case. Once you're established at the new job and have received a couple of paychecks, then you can stop filing altogether.

Just wanted to add my experience from when I transitioned off unemployment last year - make sure you save all documentation about your start date and hours worked! I kept screenshots of my work schedule and a copy of my offer letter with the start date. ESD sometimes asks for proof later during audits, especially if there are any discrepancies in their system. Also, don't be surprised if your partial payment takes an extra day or two to process since the system has to calculate the prorated amount. Congrats on the new job - that's awesome news!

This has been one of the most helpful threads I've read about unemployment benefits. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

I'm in a similar situation - 62 and getting early Social Security while job hunting after a layoff. One thing I've learned is to keep detailed records of all your Social Security correspondence because Washington ESD may ask for verification documents at any time during your claim period. Also, don't be discouraged if your UI benefit amount seems lower than expected due to the pension offset - every bit helps with expenses while you're looking for work. The combination of both benefits has been a real lifeline for me during this transition period.