What to say to Washington ESD to get unemployment benefits approved?

The key is being honest and straightforward. Washington ESD mainly needs to verify you lost your job through no fault of your own. Since you were laid off, that should qualify you automatically. Just explain exactly what happened - company downsizing, position eliminated, etc. Don't overthink it.

Make sure you have your last day of work, your employer's info, and your reason for separation clear. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway to verify everything, so honesty is crucial. Lying or exaggerating will definitely get you in trouble.

I had a similar situation and got approved without any issues. The Washington ESD application is pretty straightforward for layoffs. Just stick to the facts: when you were laid off, who told you, and if you got any severance or notice. They're not trying to trick you.

ugh the phone thing is so stressful though! I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status. The lines are always busy and when you do get through they just hang up on you. It's like they don't want to help anyone.

Whatever you do, don't mention anything about looking for work while you were still employed. Even if you were, it can complicate things. Focus only on the layoff and your availability to work now.

Also make sure you file as soon as possible! You can't get benefits for weeks before you actually apply, even if you were unemployed. I learned that the hard way and lost out on two weeks of payments.

Be ready for them to ask about any severance pay or vacation payout you received. That might delay when your benefits start, but it won't disqualify you from getting unemployment.

The whole system is a joke anyway. They make it so complicated when people are already stressed about losing their jobs. Washington ESD acts like they're doing us a favor when we paid into this system!

Quick question - did your employer give you any paperwork when they laid you off? Sometimes they provide documentation that makes the unemployment process smoother.

I'm going through the same thing right now and my claim has been in adjudication for like 3 weeks. So frustrating when you need the money to pay bills.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to be actively looking for work and keep records of your search activities.

The main thing is don't panic. Layoffs are pretty straightforward for unemployment approval. You were let go through no fault of your own, so you should qualify without any issues.

Just went through this process myself last quarter. As long as you're honest about the circumstances and have your employment dates and employer info ready, it should go smoothly.

Don't forget to file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed. Missing those can cause delays in your payments.

been there with the phone issues too... spent literally 6 hours one day trying to get through to Washington ESD just to ask a simple question about my claim status

One more tip - if your employer contests your claim for any reason, don't panic. Layoffs are usually pretty clear cut, but if there's a dispute you'll get a chance to tell your side of the story.

The whole process seems scary at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Just be truthful and thorough in your application.