That's awesome that everything worked out smoothly! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got the missing employer info alert yesterday and was panicking. Your update gives me hope that it's just routine verification like everyone said. Did you end up doing anything special or just waited it out after responding to the alert?

Similar thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago! Got the "missing employer information" alert and was super stressed about it. I responded right away through eServices and kept filing my weekly claims. My payments continued without any delays - it really does seem to be just a routine verification thing they do. The whole process was much smoother than I expected based on all the horror stories you hear about ESD. Definitely keep filing your claims and try not to worry too much about it!

Hey Amelia! As someone who just went through the unemployment filing process in Washington, I can confirm the $999 maximum is accurate for 2025. With your $95k tech salary, you should definitely qualify for close to the max amount - probably around $900-950 per week based on your earnings. A few tips from my recent experience: File your claim online as soon as possible since there's a one-week waiting period before benefits start. Make sure to set up direct deposit immediately - paper checks can take weeks to arrive. Also, register with WorkSourceWA right away and start documenting your job search activities from day one. They require 3 job search activities per week and they do audit people randomly. The good news is that Washington ESD has been processing claims much faster lately compared to the pandemic years. My claim was approved in about 2 weeks. Just make sure all your employment information is accurate when you file - any discrepancies can trigger adjudication which delays everything. Given the current tech job market, hopefully you won't need the full 26 weeks of benefits, but it's good to know you'll have that safety net while you search for your next opportunity!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently navigated this whole process! The $999 maximum is definitely correct for 2025, and with your $95k tech salary you should qualify for close to that amount. I was making around $88k when I got laid off last year and ended up getting about $920/week. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much - make sure you have all your employment documentation ready before you file. Washington ESD will want details about your last employer, your separation reason, and your work history. Having everything organized upfront can prevent delays in processing your claim. Also, don't stress too much about the phone system issues people are mentioning. While it's true that getting through can be challenging, most straightforward claims process without needing to call at all. Just make sure your initial application is complete and accurate. The tech job market in Seattle is still pretty active, so hopefully you'll find something quickly. But it's definitely reassuring to know you'll have that financial cushion while you're searching. Good luck with your claim and your job hunt!

Just went through this process myself about 6 months ago! One thing that really helped me was creating a checklist before I started. Make sure you have your business structure documents ready (LLC articles, partnership agreement, etc.) because they ask about ownership structure during registration. Also, if you're planning to have employees in multiple locations within Washington, you'll need to register each location separately. The whole process took me about 3 weeks from start to finish, but most of that was waiting for my EIN from the IRS first. Once I had all my documents together, the actual ESD registration was pretty straightforward through the online portal.

I just completed my Washington ESD registration a couple months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing is to gather everything upfront - your EIN, business license info, and estimated payroll numbers. I actually called the ESD Business Services line early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) and got through pretty quickly - they were super helpful in explaining which forms I needed. One tip: if you're unsure about your NAICS industry code, they have a lookup tool on their website that's really detailed. Also, don't forget that once you register, you'll get assigned a unemployment account number that you'll need for all future filings. The whole process from submission to getting my account number took about 10 business days. Make sure to bookmark the SecureAccess Washington portal because that's where you'll be doing all your quarterly reporting going forward!

I actually went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my partner lost his job. We withdrew about $35k from his 401k and I was terrified it would mess up his unemployment benefits permanently. Here's what actually happened: Week 1: Reported the 401k withdrawal under "retirement pay" on his weekly claim Week 2: Benefits were reduced to $0 for that week only (since the withdrawal was larger than his weekly benefit amount) Week 3: Regular benefits resumed at full amount like nothing happened The key things that helped us: - Report it honestly on the EXACT week you receive the money - Don't panic if that week shows $0 - it's temporary - Keep all your 401k paperwork in case they ask for it later (they didn't ask us) Also want to echo what others said about the tax hit - we're still dealing with that. The 10% penalty plus regular income tax was brutal, but we were in a desperate situation too. Make sure you set aside money for taxes next year! One more tip: if your husband's former employer had any employee assistance programs, some offer emergency financial counseling that might help you explore other options before touching retirement funds.

Just wanted to add one more resource that might help - Washington State has a free financial counseling service through the Department of Financial Institutions called "Financial Education Public-Private Partnership" that offers emergency financial planning sessions. They can help you figure out if there are other options before touching your 401k. My sister used them when her husband was laid off and they helped her navigate some assistance programs she didn't even know existed. You can find them on the DFI website under consumer services. Might be worth a quick call before making the final decision on the withdrawal. Hope things turn around for you both soon!

I went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago - got fired for attendance issues that were mostly due to public transit delays and some family medical emergencies I was dealing with. I was usually about 10-20 minutes late a few times per month, nothing excessive. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2.5 weeks of review. The adjudicator I spoke with during the phone interview was really understanding when I explained that the tardiness was due to circumstances largely outside my control. She asked if I had communicated with my employer about the transportation issues and if I had tried to find solutions, which I had. The key things that seemed to help my case were: 1) The tardiness wasn't extreme (not hours late), 2) There were legitimate external factors causing it, and 3) I had been a good employee otherwise. Your situation with bus delays and personal issues sounds very similar to mine. Definitely file your claim right away - even if your employer contests it, Washington ESD will give you a fair hearing to explain your side. Don't let the stress get to you too much, most people in situations like ours do get approved once they can tell their story.

I just went through this exact situation about 4 months ago - fired for tardiness due to a combination of unreliable public transit and caring for my sick father. I was typically 5-20 minutes late maybe 2-3 times per week over about 6 weeks. Washington ESD approved my claim after a thorough review that took about 3 weeks. During the phone interview, the adjudicator was very thorough but fair - they asked about the specific reasons for my lateness, whether I had communicated with my employer about the issues, and what steps I had taken to try to resolve them. What really helped my case was being completely honest about the circumstances and showing that the tardiness wasn't due to laziness or disregard for my job, but genuine life challenges that were largely outside my control. Your situation with bus delays and personal issues sounds very similar to mine, and the fact that you were only 10-15 minutes late (not hours) works in your favor. File your claim immediately and don't get discouraged if it goes into adjudication - that's normal for terminations. Be prepared to explain your situation clearly and honestly when they call for the interview. Most importantly, keep filing your weekly claims even during the review period so you don't miss out on any benefits you're entitled to. You've got a really good chance of getting approved based on what you've described.