Washington ESD unemployment after job eliminated by rapid technology improvements - structural unemployment benefits?

Technology displacement is unfortunately common now. Your Washington ESD claim should process normally regardless of the reason for job loss, as long as you weren't terminated for misconduct. The key is that you're able and available for work.

That's reassuring. I was worried they might question whether I can actually find new work since my old skills are basically outdated now.

Same thing happened to my brother in logistics - robots took over his warehouse job but his UI benefits went through fine

You might want to look into retraining programs while collecting benefits. Washington ESD has partnerships with WorkSource for people whose jobs were eliminated by technology.

I hadn't thought of that. Do retraining programs affect your weekly claim filing or job search requirements?

Generally no, but you should report any training income or stipends on your weekly claims. WorkSource can explain the specifics.

I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim after a plant closure. Way easier than trying to call directly - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days but keep getting busy signals.

How much does that service cost? I'm already tight on money after losing my job.

It's worth checking out - they focus on getting you connected rather than charging upfront fees. Much better than spending hours on hold.

This is exactly what's happening everywhere!! Technology is eliminating jobs faster than new ones are being created. It's not fair that companies can just throw away experienced workers for machines.

I feel you but getting angry won't help with the UI claim process. Focus on what you can control.

You're right about the frustration but I need to stay focused on getting benefits and finding new work.

For Washington ESD purposes, job elimination due to technology improvements is treated as a layoff, not a termination. This means you should qualify for benefits assuming you meet the work history requirements.

That's what I was hoping to hear. My work history should be fine - I've been employed consistently for the past 5 years.

Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready in case Washington ESD needs to verify your work history during adjudication.

my dad went through this when his bank job got automated away. took 3 weeks for washington esd to process his claim but he got all the back pay

Did he have any issues with the adjudication process? I'm worried they might question the circumstances.

nope, pretty straightforward. just had to verify he didn't quit voluntarily and that was it

The important thing for your Washington ESD claim is documenting that this was a layoff due to economic reasons, not performance issues. Keep any paperwork from your employer about the automation/restructuring.

Good point. I have the official notice about department closure and technology upgrades. Should I upload that to my Washington ESD account?

Yes, definitely keep that handy. If your claim goes into adjudication, that documentation will be crucial.

Same boat here - retail job eliminated when they installed self-checkout everywhere. Been on Washington ESD for 2 months now. The weekly claims are straightforward but job searching is harder when your whole industry is disappearing.

Exactly! How do you handle the job search requirements when the type of work you did barely exists anymore?

I've been applying to related fields and documenting everything for my weekly claims. WorkSource helped me identify transferable skills.

That's the right approach - Washington ESD wants to see you're making a genuine effort to find work, even if it means transitioning to a new field.

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, definitely try Claimyr. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks until I used their service to actually reach an agent who could explain what was happening.

Did they help you get your adjudication resolved faster?

Yes, turned out I just needed to provide one additional document. Took 5 minutes once I talked to the right person.

This whole technology thing is scary. I work in accounting and I'm seeing more AI tools every month. Feels like we're all just waiting for our turn to get automated out.

I know the feeling. At least we know Washington ESD treats technology displacement like any other layoff.

Try not to stress too much about the future. Focus on your current claim and maybe start building new skills on the side.

For what it's worth, structural unemployment from technology is really common now. Washington ESD sees these cases all the time, so your claim shouldn't be unusual or problematic.

That's reassuring. I was worried I'd have to prove something special about why my job was eliminated.

Nope, as long as you weren't fired for cause, the reason for layoff doesn't really matter for benefit eligibility.

I think theres programs for people who lose jobs to automation? might be federal but worth looking into while your on benefits

I'll research that. Any programs that don't interfere with Washington ESD benefits would be helpful.

Trade Adjustment Assistance might apply if the technology change was related to imports, but that's pretty specific.

The system is broken when companies can just replace entire departments with machines and leave workers scrambling. At least Washington ESD benefits provide some safety net but it's not enough.

I agree it's frustrating, but I'm grateful the benefits exist at all. Gives me time to figure out next steps.

Benefits are temporary though - better to focus on retraining while you have them rather than complaining about the system.

Been there! Lost my call center job to chatbots last year. Washington ESD processed my claim normally - they just care that you're able to work and actively looking, not why you lost your job.

Did you end up finding work in a different field? I'm trying to figure out my next move.

Yeah, switched to customer service for a local company. Pay is similar and the skills transferred better than I expected.

Just to follow up on the Claimyr suggestion - their whole thing is helping people actually get through to Washington ESD when you need to talk to someone. Really useful when you have specific questions about your claim status.

I'm definitely going to try that if I run into any issues with my claim processing.

Wish I'd known about that service when I was dealing with Washington ESD last year. Spent so many hours on hold.

Technology displacement is becoming the new normal unfortunately. Good news is Washington ESD handles these cases routinely now, so your claim should go through without issues as long as your work history qualifies you.

Thanks everyone for the advice and reassurance. Sounds like I should focus on the standard claim process rather than worrying about the technology angle.

Exactly right. Keep filing your weekly claims, do your job searches, and document everything. The reason for your layoff is much less important than your eligibility and compliance with ongoing requirements.

automation took my packaging job too couple years back. washington esd was fine about it, got benefits no problem. just make sure you report any severance pay correctly on your weekly claims

Good reminder about severance reporting. I got a small severance package that I need to report properly.

Yes, severance must be reported in the week it's paid, not spread out over multiple weeks. Can delay your benefits temporarily but won't disqualify you.

The key thing for Washington ESD is that you lost your job through no fault of your own. Technology displacement clearly qualifies. Focus on meeting the ongoing requirements rather than worrying about the initial approval.

That makes sense. I'll concentrate on doing my weekly claims correctly and meeting the job search requirements.

And keep all your documentation organized - job search contacts, any training you do, correspondence with Washington ESD. Makes everything smoother if questions come up later.