Does involuntary termination qualify for unemployment Washington ESD benefits?

Thank you! Should I wait to get some kind of official letter from HR before filing, or can I go ahead and start the process now?

Don't wait - file as soon as possible since there's a waiting week. You can always provide additional documentation later if Washington ESD requests it during adjudication.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about how long I'll be waiting for benefits to start.

Mine took about 3 weeks because they had to verify the layoff details with my employer. Some claims go faster if there's no issues to investigate.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to check on claim status, there's actually a service called Claimyr that helps people get through to agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

What about if the company offered voluntary severance packages first? Does that change anything if you didn't take it?

No, if you didn't take voluntary severance and got laid off anyway, it's still involuntary termination. The key is you didn't choose to leave.

Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless you were willfully negligent. If you genuinely tried to do your job but just couldn't meet expectations, that's different from misconduct like theft or insubordination.

Wish I had known that before. Maybe I should have appealed but it's too late now. This new job loss is definitely not my fault though - whole department got cut.

Did Washington ESD ever ask you for additional documentation beyond what you provided in the initial claim?

First time no, second time they wanted a copy of the layoff notice I received. Really depends on how clear-cut your situation is.

What if the company calls it 'restructuring' but doesn't use the word layoff? Will that cause problems?

No, the specific terminology doesn't matter as much as the actual circumstances. Position elimination due to restructuring is still involuntary separation.

Good point! I was planning to wait until I got my final paycheck but I'll file this weekend instead.

Smart move. You can always update information later, but you can't get back that waiting week if you file late.

They didn't offer me anything else, just said my position was being eliminated effective immediately. Sounds like I should be fine then.

Right, if there was no alternative offered and you were just cut loose, that's textbook involuntary termination.

I mentioned this earlier but Claimyr really helped me get through when I couldn't reach them normally. It's specifically designed to help with Washington ESD phone issues - saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that before. How does it work exactly? Do they just keep calling for you or something?

They handle the calling process and connect you when an agent is available. Way better than sitting on hold forever or getting hung up on. The demo video explains it better than I can.

Thanks for the reassurance! I guess I'm just nervous because I've never had to file for unemployment before.

Totally normal to be nervous about something new. Just be honest on your application and you'll be fine. Your situation is exactly what unemployment benefits are for.

Good to know there's an appeal process if needed. Hopefully I won't need it but it's reassuring to know it's there.

I have the email they sent to all affected employees explaining the restructuring. That should be good documentation.

Perfect! That kind of company-wide communication clearly shows it wasn't about individual performance.

What counts as job search activities? Is it just applying for jobs or are there other things?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, updating LinkedIn - lots of different activities count. They have a list on the WorkSourceWA site.

Smart idea! I'll definitely do that when I file this weekend.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! Feeling much more confident about filing now. Really appreciate this community.

Good luck with your claim! Hope you find a new job soon but at least unemployment will help bridge the gap.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if it actually works.

I think it's reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saves. Check their website for current pricing - claimyr.com has all the details.

Good luck with your appeal! Remember there are time limits for appeals so don't wait too long to get that process started.

Great job getting it filed quickly! Fingers crossed your claim gets approved without any delays.

Sounds like you did everything right. With clear documentation like that company email, your claim should go smoothly.

Awesome! Remember to file your weekly claims on time even while you're waiting for the initial decision. Don't want to miss any weeks.

Definitely! Hope this thread helps other people who are unsure about whether their situation qualifies. It's nice to know the system actually works for legitimate cases.