Any update? Were you able to get through to OSI? Curious how it worked out since I'm helping my brother with the same issue right now.

Great to hear you got through! For anyone else dealing with this, I want to add that timing matters a lot when calling OSI. I had the same identity verification issue last month and found that calling right at 8:00 AM when they open gives you the best chance. Also, if you're using a VPN or have recently traveled out of state when filing, that can sometimes trigger their fraud detection systems too. The whole process is frustrating but once you get past the verification hurdle, everything moves pretty smoothly. Glad your issue is getting resolved!

Don't wait to apply thinking your situation might improve. You can always stop claiming benefits if your hours increase, but you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you didn't claim.

I'm in a really similar situation right now! I work at a coffee shop and do evening shifts at a call center, and both places have been cutting hours like crazy. It's so frustrating because I want to work more but there just aren't enough shifts available. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful - I had no idea you could get partial unemployment with multiple jobs. I'm definitely going to apply this week too. The record keeping advice especially caught my attention since my hours are all over the place. Thanks for asking this question, it's exactly what I needed to know!

Hope your surgery goes well and recovery is smooth! The unemployment stuff will work itself out once you're healthy again.

I work as a benefits coordinator and see this situation frequently. While you're waiting for medical clearance, make sure to keep detailed records of all communications with your employer about your leave status and any mentions of job security. Also consider reaching out to your HR department to understand exactly what your company's medical leave policy states - sometimes there are protections you might not be aware of. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD's "able and available" requirement is pretty strict, but once you have proper medical documentation showing you can return to work, your case should process normally if the job loss was involuntary due to the medical situation.

I've worked in HR for 15 years and want to clarify something important: employers DON'T pay unemployment insurance "when you collect." They pay unemployment taxes quarterly based on their payroll and experience rating. The money goes into the state's UI trust fund, which then pays out benefits to eligible claimants. So when you file a claim, you're not directly costing your employer money at that moment. However, approved claims can impact their experience rating, potentially increasing their tax rate in future years. That's why some employers contest claims they believe are invalid - not because they're paying for your specific benefits out of pocket right now. And yes, as others have said, in Washington, employees don't contribute to UI funding at all. The PFML program is separate and does include employee contributions.

When I was laid off last month my manager said something like "try not to stay on unemployment too long because it costs the company money" and I honestly thought she was lying to pressure me into taking the first job I could find!! Now I understand what she meant - she was worried about their tax rate going up. I wish companies would just be transparent about how this all works instead of making us feel guilty for using a benefit we're entitled to.

This thread highlights a really important issue - the inconsistency in guidance from ESD agents. @Yang Wang's experience of being told rental income counts as self-employment directly contradicts what multiple others have experienced and what the official policy seems to indicate. I think this shows why it's so crucial to get clarification in writing or speak with a supervisor if you get conflicting information. For anyone facing this situation, I'd recommend: 1) Document exactly what the agent tells you and get their name/ID if possible, 2) Ask for specific policy references they're citing, and 3) Consider calling back to speak with a different agent if you get an answer that doesn't align with the general consensus. The difference between passive rental income and self-employment classification could significantly impact your benefits, so it's worth getting multiple confirmations before proceeding.

I've been following this thread as someone who also got laid off recently and has rental income. The conflicting information about whether rental income counts as self-employment vs passive income is really concerning. It seems like the key factors might be: 1) How you file on your taxes (Schedule E vs Schedule C), 2) The level of active management you do, and 3) Which ESD agent you speak with. For what it's worth, I have a small rental property that I've always filed as Schedule E passive income, and when I spoke to an ESD agent last week, they confirmed it wouldn't affect my benefits. But given @Yang Wang's different experience, I think everyone should definitely get their specific situation confirmed in writing. The suggestion to use Claimyr to actually reach an agent seems like a good idea to avoid the phone tag. Has anyone else noticed inconsistent responses from different ESD representatives on other unemployment issues?