I just wanted to share my recent experience since it might help put your mind at ease! I was in almost the exact same situation - collected unemployment earlier this year after a March layoff, worked from August through December, and then got laid off again right before the holidays. I was really nervous about filing a second claim because I thought there might be some kind of restriction or that it would look suspicious to file twice in one year. But I went ahead and filed online through the Washington ESD website last week and my claim was approved within just a few days! The process was actually smoother the second time since I was more familiar with the questions. My weekly benefit amount ended up being higher too since my wages from the August-December job were included in the calculation. The main thing is just making sure you have all your employment dates and wage information ready when you fill out the application. Don't let anxiety hold you back from filing - Washington's system really is set up to handle situations where people have legitimate work periods between unemployment spells. You've definitely worked enough hours between your claims to qualify, so go ahead and file as soon as you can!

I just wanted to add one more perspective from someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times! I've filed unemployment claims in Washington state four different times over the past few years due to various layoffs and temporary positions, and I can confirm that there's absolutely no issue with filing multiple claims as long as you meet the work requirements between them. Each claim is treated completely independently - the system doesn't penalize you for having previous claims. In fact, Washington's unemployment system is specifically designed to help people who cycle through periods of employment and unemployment, which is increasingly common in today's job market. The key things to remember: file as soon as possible after losing your job, have your employment dates and wage information organized, and don't worry about having filed before. Your situation with working from July to December definitely meets the requirements, so you should be all set. The online application will walk you through everything step by step, and if there are any issues, they'll contact you directly. I'd recommend filing this week if you haven't already - there's really no benefit to waiting and it just delays your potential payments. Hope this helps ease any remaining concerns!

I went through this exact same thing when I moved from Colorado to Washington last fall! Got that scary denial email on day 2, then spent the next week checking my account obsessively. Finally got an updated monetary determination showing my Colorado wages after about 8 business days. The key thing is to NOT panic (easier said than done, I know). ESD's initial screening only looks at Washington wages, but if you listed out-of-state employment on your application, they automatically send wage requests to those states. The denial email is just their system being overly dramatic before the real processing is done. Keep filing your weekly claims no matter what the system says - this is crucial for getting backpay later. And try to resist calling ESD unless it's been more than 2 weeks, because honestly you'll just sit on hold forever and they'll tell you the same thing everyone here is saying.

Had this exact same thing happen when I moved from California about 6 months ago! That initial denial email is seriously misleading - it made me think I was completely screwed. But like everyone else is saying, it's just ESD's terrible way of communicating that they're still processing your claim. In my case, it took exactly 9 business days for them to get my California wages and send me a new monetary determination. During that time, the online system kept showing me as "not eligible" which was nerve-wracking, but I kept filing my weekly claims anyway (thank god because I got paid for all those weeks once it was approved). Pro tip: screenshot or save that denial email and any other correspondence you get. If for some reason the interstate wage request gets stuck or lost, having documentation of when you first applied will help if you need to escalate later. But honestly, in 99% of these cases it resolves itself within 2 weeks without any action needed from you. Hang in there - I know the financial stress is real when you're waiting, but this is totally normal and should work out fine!

I went through a similar situation when I had to close my coffee shop last year. One thing I'd add is to make sure you document the reason for closure (rising rent costs in your case) in your final paperwork with Washington ESD. This helps establish that it's an involuntary business closure rather than voluntary, which can be important for your employees' unemployment claims and potentially for you if you ever start another business. Also, consider reaching out to your local SCORE chapter - they sometimes have resources for business closure assistance that I wish I'd known about earlier.

I'm sorry to hear about your shop closure, but it sounds like you're approaching this responsibly. One thing I wanted to mention that I don't see covered yet - when you do your final payroll, Washington state requires that final paychecks be paid immediately upon termination (same day) rather than on your normal pay schedule. This is different from regular payroll timing rules. Also, if you have any accrued vacation time or PTO policies, you'll need to pay those out according to your company policy or Washington state law. Make sure to factor these immediate payout requirements into your closure timeline and cash flow planning.

I'm going through a backdating appeal myself right now and wanted to share what I've learned from talking to other claimants who've been through this process. The judges definitely vary in how they interpret the "good cause" standard, but several people have told me that having extensive job search documentation like yours actually strengthens your case significantly. One thing that might help - if you have any emails or texts you sent to friends/family during those 8 weeks mentioning your job search or expressing confusion about unemployment benefits, bring those as evidence. They can help demonstrate your genuine state of mind at the time. Also, practice explaining your timeline clearly and concisely. The judges appreciate when you can walk through exactly what happened week by week without getting too emotional or defensive. Focus on the facts: when you were laid off, what you understood about the process, what actions you took, and when you realized you should have filed earlier. The $4,200 you're owed shows this is definitely worth fighting for. Even if the odds aren't perfect, you've got a legitimate case with the misunderstanding angle and strong job search evidence. Wishing you the best of luck with your hearing next week!

I'm actually in a very similar boat and wanted to share some hope! I had my backdating appeal hearing last week for a 6-week period where I was intensely job searching instead of filing. Like you, I had this totally wrong idea that unemployment was something you only did if you gave up looking for work. The judge asked me point blank why I didn't call ESD during those weeks, and I was honest - I said I was operating under the assumption that active job searching and collecting unemployment were mutually exclusive. I explained that in my mind, filing for benefits meant I was "giving up" on finding work quickly. What really seemed to help my case was that I brought a timeline showing I applied to 40+ jobs during the disputed period (way more than required) and had emails to friends where I specifically said I was "trying to find work before having to go on unemployment." The judge said these showed my genuine belief that I was doing what I was supposed to do. I should hear back on the decision within a week or two, but the judge seemed much more sympathetic than I expected. Your 60+ job applications during 8 weeks actually puts you in a really strong position - that level of activity clearly shows good faith effort and genuine misunderstanding rather than laziness or avoidance. Definitely focus on the misunderstanding angle and bring any documentation that shows your mindset at the time. You've got this!

Best of luck with your move and job search! Even if the unemployment situation doesn't work out perfectly, you're making the right choice to support your family.

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. One thing I discovered is that Washington ESD does have a provision for "domestic circumstances" under RCW 50.20.050, but it's interpreted very narrowly. However, there's also something called "interstate benefit payment plans" that might be worth looking into. Essentially, you might be able to file your initial claim in Washington based on your work history there, but then potentially transfer or continue receiving benefits while residing in Oregon if you meet certain criteria. The key is establishing your claim before you move and ensuring you're actively seeking work. I'd definitely recommend getting this confirmed directly with an ESD agent before making any decisions.