I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my unemployment claim 3.5 weeks ago after being laid off from my job at a local credit union, and I'm still seeing "pending employer response" with no updates. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially since I have rent due next week and my emergency fund is nearly depleted. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and frustrating - helpful because I now know about the 10-day rule under WAC 192-130-060 and that I should try calling ESD right at 8am, but frustrating because it's clear this is a widespread problem that shouldn't be happening. It's ridiculous that straightforward layoff cases are taking weeks or months to process when the regulations clearly state employers have 10 days to respond. I'm going to start documenting everything like Savannah suggested - call attempts, dates, screenshots - and try the early morning calling strategy starting tomorrow. If that doesn't work by Friday, I think I'll reach out to my state representative's office like Rudy mentioned. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to after losing our jobs through no fault of our own. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - it really does help to know I'm not alone in this mess, even though none of us should be going through it in the first place.

I'm going through this exact same situation and the stress is overwhelming! Filed my claim 2.5 weeks ago after my restaurant management position was eliminated due to restructuring, and I'm still stuck on "pending employer response." What's making it worse is that I know several coworkers who filed around the same time and they're all in the same boat - none of us have heard anything. Reading all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about the 10-day rule under WAC 192-130-060, and knowing that ESD should make a determination based on our information alone if employers don't respond gives me some hope. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy starting tomorrow - sounds like 8am sharp is the way to go. The documentation idea is brilliant too. I'm going to start keeping a detailed log of every call attempt, when I contact my former employer, and any updates to my claim status. If this drags on much longer, I might also consider reaching out to my state representative's office like some of you mentioned. It's frustrating that we have to work so hard just to get benefits we're legally entitled to, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. At least we know we're not alone in this mess and that these claims do eventually get approved. Keep fighting everyone - we shouldn't have to struggle like this after losing our jobs through no fault of our own!

Just want to add that if you're working multiple part-time jobs like I am, you need to report the gross wages from ALL of them for that week. I made the mistake of only reporting my main job at first and got flagged for an audit. Washington ESD wants to see the complete picture of your earnings, so don't leave anything out - even if it's just a few hours at a second job.

Just to emphasize what others have said - always err on the side of reporting MORE rather than less. I learned this the hard way when I didn't report some small cash tips from my restaurant job thinking they wouldn't matter. Washington ESD ended up finding out during a routine audit and I had to pay back benefits plus interest. It's really not worth the risk. Even if you think something might not count as "wages," report it anyway and let them sort it out. Better safe than sorry when it comes to unemployment benefits!

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The confusion is totally understandable because DoorDash feels like you're working for them, but legally you're an independent contractor. When I called Washington ESD (took forever to get through), they confirmed that ALL gig work - DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, etc. - gets reported as self-employment income, not wages. The key thing is to report your gross earnings for the week you actually received the payment, not when you did the work. So if you worked last Sunday but DoorDash paid you on Tuesday, that income goes on the claim for the week you got paid. Keep detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, which week each payment belongs to. It'll save you headaches if they ever audit your claim. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact same confusion when I started doing gig work while on unemployment! The Washington ESD website really could be clearer about this. What helped me was understanding that when you work for DoorDash, you're technically self-employed - they send you a 1099 at the end of the year, not a W-2. So on your weekly claim, look for the section that asks about self-employment earnings and report your gross amount there (before any deductions for gas, etc.). Don't put DoorDash in the employer section at all. I learned this the hard way after initially reporting it wrong and having to call to get it corrected. Also, just a heads up - they'll typically reduce your weekly benefit amount by whatever you earned minus a small allowance (I think it's like $5), so factor that into your planning. But honestly, even with the reduction, the extra income really helps while you're job searching.

Nathan, congratulations on getting your claim approved! This is such great news and really gives hope to everyone else dealing with similar vague termination reasons. Your experience shows exactly why it's so important to keep filing weekly claims during adjudication - that 6-week backpay must be such a relief right now! I'm currently 2 weeks into adjudication after being terminated for "lack of alignment with company direction" following a management change at my workplace of 3 years. No warnings, no documentation, just suddenly not aligned anymore. Stories like yours help me stay optimistic that these weak employer justifications usually don't hold up under ESD's scrutiny. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone throughout your process - it's incredibly helpful for those of us still waiting to see how these cases typically play out. Enjoy having that financial stress lifted off your shoulders!

Nathan, huge congratulations on getting approved! Your story is exactly what so many of us needed to hear. I'm dealing with a very similar situation - got terminated last month after 4 years for being "no longer the right fit for the role" despite consistently good performance reviews. No warnings, no disciplinary actions, just a new supervisor who apparently wanted someone else. I've been in adjudication for 2.5 weeks now and your experience gives me so much hope that these vague termination reasons will work in our favor. The fact that your employer didn't even bother responding to ESD's requests for information really shows how weak their case was. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service - I've been trying to reach ESD for over a week with no luck. Thanks for sharing your entire journey with updates, it really helps those of us still in limbo to know what to expect and that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Enjoy that well-deserved backpay!

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you! Been freelancing as a content writer for about 2.5 years and my regular clients have all either cut budgets or gone out of business. Like you, I never paid unemployment taxes as self-employed so I thought I was completely out of luck. But reading through all these responses gives me hope - I actually had a part-time administrative job at a nonprofit about 7 months ago that lasted around 4 months. I made decent hourly wages there before leaving to focus on my writing business full-time. Now I'm kicking myself for that decision! Going to use that benefit calculator someone mentioned to see if those wages are enough to qualify. It's so frustrating that we pay all these other taxes but can't access this safety net when we need it most. Thanks for starting this thread - it's been incredibly informative and I feel less alone in this struggle.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I had been freelancing as a UX designer for almost 2 years when my main clients all canceled projects due to budget cuts. Like you, I hadn't paid unemployment taxes as self-employed, but I did have a temporary office job that lasted about 10 weeks roughly a year before I filed. Those W-2 wages were just barely enough to qualify me for benefits. The key thing that helped my case was being completely upfront during the eligibility interview about genuinely wanting to transition back to traditional employment because the instability of freelancing was causing too much financial stress. I emphasized that I was actively applying for full-time UX positions, not just looking for more freelance work. It took about 4 weeks to get my first payment, but having those benefits while job hunting made such a difference. Don't give up - even those 3 months of W-2 wages might be enough if you made decent money during that time. The benefit calculator on the ESD website is really helpful for figuring out if you meet the minimums before you apply.