I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now - my claim has been pending for 8 weeks and I'm at my wit's end. What's really frustrating is that I keep filing my weekly claims like I'm supposed to, but there's absolutely no indication of what's wrong or when it might get resolved. I've tried calling Washington ESD probably 50+ times over the past month and either get an immediate busy signal or sit on hold for 3-4 hours before getting disconnected. It's incredibly demoralizing when you're already stressed about finances and can't even get basic information about your own claim. Based on all these comments, it sounds like using Claimyr might be my best option at this point - I'm tired of wasting entire days trying to get through their phone system with nothing to show for it. Has anyone had recent success with them in the past few weeks?

I'm going through the exact same thing - filed my claim 5 weeks ago and it's been stuck on pending status with absolutely no explanation. Like everyone else here, I've tried calling Washington ESD countless times but just get busy signals or disconnected after hours on hold. It's so frustrating not knowing if there's an actual problem that needs fixing or if it's just slow processing. Reading through all these comments, it's clear that speaking with an agent is really the only way to find out what's actually wrong, but their phone system makes that nearly impossible. I'm seriously considering trying Claimyr based on all the positive experiences people have shared - it seems like it might be worth the cost to finally get some answers instead of just sitting in limbo indefinitely. Has anyone used them recently and can confirm they're still getting people through quickly?

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Filed my initial claim about 10 days ago and have been sitting at 'open' status the whole time. Reading all these responses is so reassuring - I was starting to worry that something was wrong with my application. It's helpful to see that most people are getting their first payments within 1-2 weeks of hitting 'open' status. I've been religious about filing my weekly claims and doing job searches, but the waiting is definitely stressful when you're depending on that income. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - it really helps to know this is normal processing time and that 'open' means we're on the right track!

I'm currently on day 9 with 'open' status and this thread has been incredibly helpful! It's such a relief to see that everyone else has gone through the same anxiety-inducing wait. I was checking my account multiple times a day wondering if I did something wrong, but now I understand that 'open' status means my claim is actively being processed and the 1-2 week timeline is completely normal. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and documenting my job search activities, so hopefully I'll see that first payment soon. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it really makes a difference to know we're not going through this alone!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This thread really clarified things for me. Going to call DSHS today to report my unemployment income and see how it affects my SNAP benefits.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I started getting UI benefits. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - when I first received unemployment, when I reported it to DSHS, and all the documentation they requested. My SNAP benefits did get reduced from $280 to about $160 per month, but having everything organized made the process much smoother. Also, don't forget that you can often report income changes online through the Washington Connection website if you can't get through by phone. It's usually faster than waiting on hold for hours!

Drew, I'm so glad you posted this question because it's helping so many people in similar situations! I went through almost exactly what you're describing about a year ago - got fired for "poor performance" after 7 months on the job, but the real issue was that I had been asking too many questions about some workplace safety violations. No prior write-ups or formal warnings, just suddenly I wasn't "meeting expectations." I was absolutely terrified to file for unemployment because I thought being terminated automatically meant I'd get denied. But after reading advice from others online (much like this thread), I decided to file anyway. Best decision I ever made! Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2.5 weeks of investigation. The key thing I learned is that they really do look at the full picture - being fired for poor performance or not being a "good fit" is very different from being fired for willful misconduct. When you file (and you should definitely file tonight!), be completely honest about both the performance issues they cited AND the sketchy practices you questioned. That context actually strengthens your case because it shows you were being a responsible, ethical employee. Don't let them intimidate you into thinking you're not eligible - you've been paying into this system for exactly these kinds of situations. Document everything you can remember and file immediately to protect your claim date. You've got this!

Drew, I just wanted to chime in as someone who works in employment law - you absolutely should file your claim! Based on what you've described, you have a really strong case. Being terminated for "performance issues" without any prior formal disciplinary action, especially when you suspect it's related to questioning potentially unethical practices, is exactly the kind of situation unemployment benefits are designed to cover. Washington ESD has pretty employee-friendly standards compared to some other states, and they genuinely do investigate each case on its merits. The fact that you were there 8 months with no write-ups actually works heavily in your favor - it's hard for an employer to suddenly claim poor performance when they never documented any issues before. When you file (tonight!), make sure to mention both the stated reason for termination AND your concerns about their practices. This isn't about being vindictive - it's about providing the full context so ESD can make an informed decision. Don't let fear of denial stop you from applying for benefits you've earned and paid into. The worst case scenario is they say no, but based on your situation, I'd be surprised if that happened.

Ugh, this exact same thing happened to my sister when she switched from Wells Fargo to a credit union! She was panicking because her payment got stuck for almost 2 weeks. The ESD rep she finally talked to said their fraud detection system automatically flags direct deposit changes and sometimes assigns random adjudication categories that don't even make sense. It's like their computer just picks whatever reason from a dropdown menu. So frustrating that they can't just send you a simple verification text or email instead of freezing your benefits! Glad you got it sorted out though - definitely keeping that Claimyr info handy in case I ever need it.

This is such a common and infuriating issue with ESD! I went through the exact same thing last fall when I switched from Chase to a local credit union. One day I'm getting my payments normally, the next day I'm in "adjudication" for completely unrelated reasons. What really gets me is that they don't send you any notification explaining WHY you're suddenly flagged - you just have to figure it out yourself when your payment doesn't show up. The system definitely needs an overhaul to distinguish between legitimate account updates and actual fraud attempts. At minimum they should send an email saying "we've temporarily paused your payments to verify your recent bank change" instead of leaving people in the dark wondering if they did something wrong. So glad the Claimyr service worked for you - I ended up waiting 3 hours on hold but it sounds like that's a much better option!