What does qualifying separation determination mean for unemployment in Washington ESD?

A qualifying separation determination is basically Washington ESD reviewing whether you left your job for a valid reason that makes you eligible for unemployment benefits. Since you were laid off due to downsizing, that should be a qualifying separation. They just need to verify the circumstances with your employer.

omg yes i got the same thing!! mine took like 3 weeks but it was approved. they just had to make sure i didnt quit or get fired for misconduct. since you were laid off you should be fine

I've been through this process multiple times unfortunately. The qualifying separation determination examines whether your job separation meets Washington ESD's criteria for benefit eligibility. For layoffs, they typically just need to confirm the reason with your employer and verify you didn't refuse suitable work or have performance issues. Keep checking your SecureAccess Washington account for updates.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your determination status, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I used it when my determination was taking forever and was able to get an update on my case. Check out claimyr.com if the waiting is driving you crazy like it was for me.

The Washington ESD determination process is SO frustrating! They make it sound scary but really they're just doing their due diligence. For voluntary quits or misconduct terminations it's more complicated, but layoffs are pretty much automatic approvals once they verify with the employer.

been there done that with the determination process. what they're really looking at is whether you had good cause for separation from work. layoffs = good cause. firing for misconduct = not good cause. quitting without good reason = not good cause. you should be golden

I work in HR and deal with these Washington ESD inquiries all the time. When someone files for unemployment after a layoff, we get a form asking to verify the separation reason and dates. It's pretty routine paperwork for us. Your employer probably already responded and you're just waiting for Washington ESD to process it.

ugh the determination letters are written so confusingly! i thought i was in trouble too when i got mine. turns out they approved me and i had been worrying for nothing. the whole system needs better communication

Pro tip: while you're waiting for the determination, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims! Even if your claim is pending, you need to keep certifying or you could lose those weeks.

The determination process used to be faster pre-COVID but now everything takes longer. Just be patient, layoffs almost always get approved eventually. The system is just backed up.

I had a qualifying separation determination last year and it was approved after about 3 weeks. They sent me a letter explaining their decision and then my benefits started. Since yours is for a layoff you really shouldn't worry.

Just to add some technical detail: Washington ESD looks at factors like whether you were available for work, actively seeking employment, and if the separation was through no fault of your own. Layoffs clearly meet the 'no fault of your own' criteria, so you're in good shape.

Another person here who used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD about my determination status. Worth every penny when you're stressing about money. The waiting game is brutal otherwise.

hang in there! my determination took forever but got approved. layoffs are like the easiest case for washington esd to approve. you got this!

Final thought: once your qualifying separation determination is approved, your benefits should start flowing pretty quickly. Make sure your direct deposit info is set up correctly in your account so there are no delays on the payment side.

This whole thread is making me feel better about my own determination that's pending. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with this process!

One more Claimyr success story here - I was able to get clarification on my determination timeline when I called through their service. Really helped reduce my anxiety about the whole process. The website is claimyr.com if anyone else wants to try it.

Update us when you hear back OP! Always curious how these determination cases turn out, especially for layoffs.

Best of luck with your determination! Based on what you've described, you should have a positive outcome. The Washington ESD system may be slow but they do get it right most of the time, especially for clear-cut layoff situations like yours.

This thread is gold for anyone going through the determination process. Bookmarking for future reference!

I went through this exact same process last year after being laid off from my office job. The "qualifying separation determination" basically means Washington ESD is verifying that your job separation qualifies you for benefits. Since you were laid off due to company downsizing (not fired for cause or voluntarily quit), you should definitely be approved. The process took about 3 weeks for me, but that was during a less busy time. Just keep filing your weekly claims while you wait - don't stop doing that even though it's pending! The anxiety is real but layoffs are pretty much the most straightforward approvals they handle.