Do I need a termination letter for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

You don't technically need a termination letter to file your initial claim with Washington ESD. The system will ask for your employer's information and reason for separation, but you can explain the circumstances in your own words. However, having documentation definitely helps if there are any questions during adjudication.

same thing happened to me - boss just said 'we're letting you go' and that was it. filed anyway and got approved without any issues

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent in under 30 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and their website is claimyr.com. Might be worth checking out if you run into issues.

The key thing is being able to provide accurate information about your separation. Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify the details anyway, so as long as you're truthful about being laid off versus quit versus fired, you should be fine. Document everything you can remember about your last day.

Washington ESD's system is set up to handle claims without formal termination letters. They understand that not all employers provide written documentation. What matters most is that you can provide your employer's contact information and explain the circumstances clearly when filing.

My company always gives termination letters but I know plenty of places that don't. You'll be fine filing without one - just make sure you remember your manager's full name and the company's phone number for the application.

Been there - lost my retail job without any paperwork and was panicking about filing. Called Washington ESD and they said written documentation helps but isn't required. Filed online and got approved without any problems. The adjudication process went fine even without a termination letter.

If you're worried about documentation, you could ask your former employer for a simple email confirming your employment dates and that you were laid off. Most employers will provide this basic info even if they don't do formal termination letters.

The Washington ESD will figure it out during their investigation phase. They contact employers directly to verify separation details. I wouldn't stress too much about not having a formal letter - focus on filing your claim as soon as possible to avoid delays.

Had to use Claimyr again last week when my weekly claim got flagged for some reason. Their service really works - got me through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach anyone after hours of trying. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your claim.

Don't overthink it! Thousands of people file for unemployment without termination letters every week. Washington ESD's process is designed to work with or without formal documentation. Just be honest and thorough in your application.

Update us on how it goes! Always helpful to hear how others' claims process, especially for situations like yours without formal termination documentation.