Washington ESD unemployment filing process for business owners - confused about eligibility

That's exactly my situation - I was on W-2 payroll. Do I need any special forms or just file normally through the SecureAccess Washington site?

File through the normal process but be prepared to provide extra documentation like your business registration, payroll records, and tax returns to verify your employment status.

What kind of documentation did they ask for? I want to be prepared if I decide to file.

They wanted business license, articles of incorporation, quarterly wage reports, bank statements showing payroll deposits, and a letter explaining why I stopped paying myself.

Never heard of that service but the Washington ESD phone lines are impossible to get through on. How much does it cost?

They focus on getting you connected rather than cost, and it worked way better than spending hours redialing the main number. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll look into that if I run into issues with my application.

That makes sense. My business is barely breaking even so I definitely can't afford to pay myself right now.

Document everything - bank statements, profit/loss statements, anything that shows the business can't support paying you wages.

If you're a legitimate employee of your own corporation and paying into the system, yes. It's not common but it's legal.

huh learn something new every day i guess

Good point. I guess I'd need to show I'm looking for employment outside of my business activities.

Exactly. You need to demonstrate genuine job search efforts and availability for work, not just trying to supplement business income.

I've already tried that route. Banks aren't lending to small businesses in my industry right now.

If you paid into the system, you have a right to benefits when eligible. Don't let the complexity discourage you from claiming what you're owed.

This is incredibly helpful! How long did your application take to process?

About 6 weeks total, but 4 of those were in adjudication while they verified everything. Once approved, I got back pay for the waiting period.

I was definitely on payroll with all the proper tax withholdings. My accountant set it up that way from the beginning.

What if the business makes a little money but not enough to pay wages? Do I still need to report that?

Yes, any income from any source needs to be reported on your weekly claims. The agent was very clear about that.

I didn't know there was a waiting period. How long is it?

One week waiting period for most claims, but you can get paid for it retroactively once you're approved and have served the week.

So true. They act like we're trying to cheat the system when we paid into it just like everyone else.

While the process can be frustrating, there are legitimate reasons for the extra scrutiny on business owner claims. Just be thorough with documentation.

Good luck! Keep all your documentation organized and respond quickly to any requests from Washington ESD.

If you get stuck or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, remember that Claimyr option I mentioned. Really saved me time and stress.

You need to be available for full-time work and actively job searching. Working on your business could conflict with those requirements depending on the time commitment.

I was allowed to do minimal administrative tasks but had to report any time spent and couldn't take on new business or marketing activities.

Were you paying yourself through payroll or just taking what the business made? That seems to be the key difference.

Just taking business income, no formal payroll. Sounds like I probably wouldn't qualify then.

What kind of job search records do they want to see?

Dates, companies contacted, positions applied for, networking activities. I kept a spreadsheet with everything.

That's why the financial documentation is so important. You need to prove the business genuinely can't afford to pay wages.

Your brother could potentially appeal that decision if he has good documentation showing the business couldn't support wages.

Good to know that's still working well. I'll definitely keep that option in mind if I need to speak with someone.

Same here! I was hesitant to even ask because I thought it might not be allowed.

It's not widely known, but if you paid into the system as an employee, you have the same rights as any other worker.

Definitely noted. I'll make sure to report everything accurately if I get approved.

Absolutely. The penalties for unreported income can be severe, especially for business owners who they're already watching closely.