Washington ESD keeps asking about 'separation' on my claim - what does this mean?

Thanks! That makes sense. Should I select 'laid off' or 'discharged' on the form?

Laid off is the right choice. Discharged usually means fired for cause, which isn't your situation.

What happens if they think I quit voluntarily even though I was laid off?

Your claim would probably get denied. That's why it's crucial to be accurate about the separation details.

I do have a layoff notice! Should I scan that and upload it?

Yes absolutely. Any official documentation helps verify your separation reason.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been calling Washington ESD for weeks trying to get someone to explain the separation questions but their phone lines are always busy. Getting through is impossible.

How much does something like that cost? Seems too good to be true.

It's way cheaper than missing out on benefits because you can't reach anyone at Washington ESD. The value is definitely there when you need to talk to an actual person.

I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. These separation questions are holding up my whole claim.

My hours weren't reduced, just got laid off completely when they shut down our department.

then you're good with just marking involuntary separation due to layoff

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I've been thinking about leaving my current job but don't want to lose unemployment eligibility if it doesn't work out.

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to job duties, or personal reasons like domestic violence. But it's very specific and you need documentation.

Be really careful about quitting voluntarily. Washington ESD is strict about that and you could be disqualified from benefits.

Will my employer get in trouble if there's a discrepancy?

Not necessarily trouble, but Washington ESD might investigate further if the stories don't match. It could delay your claim processing.

You'll need documentation of the hostile conditions - emails, witness statements, HR complaints, anything showing you tried to resolve the issues before leaving.

I have some emails but didn't file an HR complaint. Will that hurt my case?

It might, but the emails could still help establish a pattern. You should probably talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation.

My last day of work was different from when I got the official layoff notice. Which date should I use?

Use your actual last day of work. That's when the employment relationship ended for Washington ESD purposes.

Well the distinction matters because it affects whether you get benefits or not...

Of course it matters but the terminology is needlessly confusing. They could just ask 'how did your job end' instead of using fancy words like separation.

What happens if you accidentally give wrong information? Like if you misunderstood the question?

Honest mistakes can usually be corrected, but you need to contact Washington ESD as soon as you realize the error. Don't wait.

Did the agent explain other parts of the application too or just the separation questions?

They helped with the whole claim review. The separation part was just one issue but the agent went through everything to make sure it was all correct.

How do I know if I have enough wages in my base period?

washington esd will tell you after you submit your application. they look at your earnings from the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters

I thought there was always a one week waiting period for everyone?

The standard waiting week was eliminated in Washington a few years ago. But misconduct disqualifications can create longer waiting periods.

What kind of follow-up questions did they ask you?

They wanted to know if the layoff was permanent or temporary, if there was any possibility of recall, and details about the business closure. More thorough than I expected.

Yeah I've heard of that. Supposed to help you actually reach someone at Washington ESD instead of getting busy signals all day.

Anything's better than hitting redial for 6 hours straight trying to get through to unemployment.

There is a comments section? I didn't see that on the online form.

It might be called 'additional information' or something similar. There's usually a text box where you can provide clarifying details.

Hopefully OP won't need to deal with appeals if they answer the separation questions correctly from the start.

Thanks everyone! This really helped me understand what Washington ESD is asking for. I feel much more confident filling out the application now.

I hope so! Really need these benefits while I'm job searching.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once your claim is approved. Washington ESD has specific rules about that too.

That's really helpful insight from the employer side! I didn't realize Washington ESD might already be familiar with my company's layoffs. We had about 200 people let go when they closed our whole division, so hopefully that makes the process smoother. I'll definitely upload that layoff notice - it has all the official details about the closure and lists me specifically as affected by the reduction in force.