This whole thread has been really informative. I'm in a similar situation with freelance work plus some W-2 income, so I'm going to look into filing too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add that Washington State also has some vocational rehabilitation services that might be worth looking into while you're navigating the unemployment system. If your consulting business has been struggling due to economic changes in your industry, WorkSource offices sometimes have retraining programs or career transition assistance that could help you pivot or enhance your skills. These services are separate from UI benefits but could complement whatever assistance you're able to get. It might be worth scheduling an appointment with a WorkSource counselor to discuss your options - they can often provide a more comprehensive view of available resources beyond just unemployment insurance.

Has anyone actually tried calling ESD lately? I spent HOURS last week trying to get through. Started calling at 8am exactly when they opened and still couldn't get a human. How is OP supposed to even confirm this info if they can't reach anyone?!

I went through something similar last fall - got laid off right before a pre-booked Disney trip with my kids. Filed my claim the day after I was laid off, then when doing my weekly certifications during the vacation, I honestly answered that I wasn't available for work those specific days. ESD didn't give me any trouble about it at all. The key is being upfront about it rather than trying to hide anything. You'll miss out on benefits for those vacation weeks, but your claim will be properly established with the right effective date. Don't risk losing weeks of benefits by waiting to file - that $3,800 vacation cost could easily turn into much more in lost unemployment benefits if you delay your initial claim.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to give it a try this weekend and make sure to track everything carefully. One last question - if I only work a few hours and make less than $50, is it even worth reporting? Seems like a lot of hassle for such a small amount.

I've been doing DoorDash while on unemployment for about 2 months now and wanted to share my experience. The key things that have worked for me: 1. I use the DoorDash app's earnings tab to track everything - it shows you daily totals which makes weekly reporting super easy 2. I always report in the week I worked, not when I got paid (like others mentioned) 3. For Amazon Flex, they send you a weekly summary email that breaks down your earnings by day - save those! 4. I've never had my claim put on hold for reporting gig work, as long as you're consistent and honest One tip that's saved me stress: I set a weekly earnings limit for myself based on my UI benefit amount. If my weekly benefit is $400, I try to keep gig earnings under $300 so I still get some UI payment. This way I'm making extra money without completely losing my benefits for that week. The gas costs are rough, I totally get that! I started only accepting orders that pay at least $2 per mile to help offset fuel costs. You can't deduct expenses on your weekly claim, but definitely track them for tax season. Good luck with your daughter's birthday - it's really sweet that you're working extra to make it special for her! 💙

Update: I reported my severance as a lump sum for the week I received it. ESD sent me a determination letter saying I won't receive benefits for 12 weeks (matching my severance period). The letter says I should continue filing weekly claims during this time so benefits can start automatically once the severance period ends. Thanks everyone for your help!

Great to see you got it sorted out! Your experience perfectly illustrates why it's so important to report severance correctly from the start. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, here are the key takeaways: 1. Always report lump sum severance in the week you received it 2. Report the full amount when prompted by the system 3. Continue filing weekly claims during the severance period (this is crucial!) 4. Wait for your determination letter to understand exactly when benefits will start The "garden leave" situation you mentioned is also pretty common in tech layoffs. Just remember that any pay received during that period, even if you weren't working, still counts as wages and should be reported on your weekly claims if you were filing during that time. Thanks for sharing your update - it'll definitely help others who find themselves in the same boat!

One last thing - if you have any pending issues on your claim (like an adjudication or appeal), those might still need to be resolved even after you stop filing. But if your claim is clean, you're good to just stop.

Congrats on the new job! Just want to add that you should keep documentation of your last weekly claim filing date and your job start date - it creates a clear timeline if there are ever any questions later. Also, since your claim stays open for the full benefit year, make sure you remember your login credentials for SecureAccess Washington just in case you need to access it again in the future. Better to be prepared than locked out if circumstances change!