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UPDATE: I just got an email from ESD saying they're processing my backpay! The eServices account now shows 'pending payment' instead of 'disqualified' - looks like it'll take 48 hours for the funds to hit my account. So for anyone wondering, it took exactly 8 days from receiving the judge's decision to ESD processing the payment. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
awesome!! glad it worked out! enjoy that backpay you earned it 👍
Thanks for updating us! So glad it worked out. I hope my hearing goes as well as yours did!
Congratulations on your victory! 🎉 It's always encouraging to see someone successfully navigate the appeal process. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - won my appeal after being wrongfully disqualified for "voluntary quit" when I was actually constructively dismissed due to unsafe working conditions. For me, ESD took about 10 business days to process everything after the judge's decision. The most frustrating part was that first week when absolutely nothing changed in eServices - I was checking multiple times a day! But once they started processing, it moved pretty quickly. One thing I learned: when you do get that backpay, set aside about 10-15% for taxes if you didn't elect withholding. Even though unemployment is taxable income, sometimes people forget about the tax implications when they get a large lump sum. Really happy this worked out for you - the system can be incredibly stressful to deal with, but stories like yours give hope to others going through the process!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. The "constructive dismissal due to unsafe working conditions" sounds very similar to my situation - it's frustrating when employers try to make it look like you quit when they really forced you out. Good point about the taxes too - I definitely need to think about setting some aside since I didn't elect withholding originally. Did you end up owing much when you filed your taxes, or was the 10-15% estimate pretty accurate? Stories like yours definitely kept me motivated during those long 9 weeks of waiting. The whole process is so stressful, but knowing others have made it through successfully really helps!
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This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also on a work visa (TN visa) and was laid off recently. It's reassuring to know that work authorization is the key factor, not citizenship status. I was hesitant to apply because I wasn't sure if temporary visa holders qualified. Now I know I should gather my I-94, visa documentation, and employment records before filing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually gone through the process successfully!
Yes, TN visa holders are definitely eligible! I went through the same process last year when my contract ended unexpectedly. The key thing with TN visas is making sure your work authorization documentation is current and matches your employment history. Since TN visas are tied to specific employers, you'll want to have your most recent I-94 and the documents showing you were authorized to work for your previous employer. The process was pretty straightforward once I had everything organized. Good luck with your application!
TN visa holders are in a great position for unemployment benefits! Since TN visas allow for multiple renewals and job changes (with proper documentation), you should have no issues as long as your work authorization was valid during your base period. One tip - if you're planning to change employers while on unemployment, make sure to update Washington ESD about any changes to your work authorization status. The process should be smooth since TN visas are specifically for employment purposes. Hope your job search goes well!
This is such valuable information! I'm a newcomer to this community and currently on an E-2 investor visa. I was worried that my visa type might not qualify since it's different from the H-1B and other employment visas mentioned here. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that as long as I have valid work authorization, I should be eligible too. I've been paying into the unemployment system for two years through my business. Does anyone know if E-2 visa holders face any unique challenges when applying, or is the process pretty much the same as other work-authorized non-citizens?
Welcome to the community! E-2 visa holders are absolutely eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington. Since E-2 visas authorize you to work (as an investor/business owner), you should qualify just like other work-authorized non-citizens. The process is essentially the same - you'll need your I-94, visa documents, and employment/business income records during your base period. One thing that might be slightly different for E-2 holders is documenting your income if it came from your own business rather than traditional W-2 employment, but Washington ESD handles self-employment income regularly. Just make sure you have good records of your earnings and tax payments. The key requirement remains the same: valid work authorization during the time you were earning wages. You've been paying into the system, so you should definitely apply!
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I'm in a very similar situation - 61 years old and just got my layoff notice from my manufacturing job after 18 years. I've been really stressed about whether I could collect my 401k distributions and unemployment at the same time. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! It's good to know that Washington state treats retirement income differently than work wages. I'm also glad to see the advice about tax withholding - I definitely need to factor that in since I'll have income from multiple sources. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the specific regulation reference (WAC 192-110-015). This gives me confidence to move forward with filing my claim.
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! It's reassuring to know there are others in similar situations navigating these same concerns. One thing I'd add based on what I've learned here - make sure you understand the difference between 401k distributions and pension payments when you're filling out your application. From what I've read, both should be fine with unemployment benefits in Washington, but they might ask for different documentation. Also, since you mentioned being 61, you might want to be extra careful about any early retirement penalty implications for your 401k if you haven't already factored those in. The peace of mind from getting accurate information really makes all the difference during an already stressful time like a layoff.
I'm 65 and went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my engineering job. Can confirm that collecting both pension and Washington unemployment is absolutely allowed - they're treated as completely separate income streams. The key is just being upfront about everything during your application. One tip I'd add is to keep good records of all your pension statements and layoff paperwork, as they may ask for documentation later. Also, don't stress too much about the online application process - it walks you through everything step by step. The hardest part for me was actually getting through on the phone when I had questions, but the online system handled most of what I needed. You should be fine collecting both!
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For anyone else reading this thread, I used Claimyr last month to get through to Washington ESD about a similar question. Saved me hours of trying to call directly. The service connected me with an agent who could give me specific guidance about my substitute teacher situation. Worth checking out if you're having trouble reaching them.
I've been seeing Claimyr mentioned a few times in this thread. For those who've used it, does it actually guarantee you'll get through to someone, or is it just better odds than calling directly?
From what I've heard, Claimyr pretty much guarantees you'll get through - they have some kind of automated system that keeps calling until they connect you with an agent. Much better than the lottery of trying to call Washington ESD directly. I might give it a try myself since I've been stuck in phone tree hell for weeks trying to get answers about my own substitute teaching situation.
As someone who's been through this process, I can confirm that substitute teachers can often qualify for unemployment benefits during summer break in Washington. The key factor is that you don't have "reasonable assurance" of work for the next school year - which most subs don't since you're typically called on an as-needed basis. I'd recommend gathering all your wage statements from any districts you worked for, being completely honest on your application about your substitute status, and making sure you're ready to document your job search efforts. The process can take a few weeks, but it's definitely worth applying. Don't let the difficulty reaching Washington ESD by phone discourage you - just file online and let them make the determination.
This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! I'm new to the substitute teaching world and wasn't sure how the unemployment system worked for people in our situation. It's reassuring to hear from someone who's actually been through the process. I've been substitute teaching for about 6 months now and like others mentioned, it's totally on-call with no guarantees. I'll definitely start gathering those wage statements - I worked with three different districts this year so that might take some time to collect everything. Quick question: when you mention documenting job search efforts, did you focus mainly on education-related positions or did you cast a wider net during the summer months?
Carmen Lopez
One last thing - if you do file and run into any issues reaching Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much frustration trying to get through their busy phone lines.
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AstroAdventurer
•How does that even work? Do they just keep calling for you or something?
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Carmen Lopez
•Yeah basically they handle all the calling and waiting, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Way better than sitting on hold for hours yourself.
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Chloe Delgado
Just wanted to add that if you're still working reduced hours, you might want to look into partial unemployment benefits too. I was in a similar situation where my retail hours got cut to like 20-25 per week, and I was able to get partial benefits to make up some of the difference. The calculation gets a bit more complex but it can really help bridge the gap if you're not completely unemployed yet.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Oh wow, I didn't even know partial unemployment was a thing! That could actually be really helpful since my hours at work have been pretty inconsistent lately. Do you know if there's a minimum number of hours you have to lose to qualify for partial benefits? Like if I normally work 35 hours but only get scheduled for 28 one week, would that be enough of a reduction?
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