Has anyone else noticed that these date changes seem to happen more often toward the end of the month? I swear there's some kind of quota system where they pretend to make progress at certain times! My neighbor and I both had similar experiences in different months!

UPDATE: You all were right! I finally got through to ESD this morning after trying for days. The agent explained that my claim is being reviewed by two different specialists - one handling an employment verification issue and another reviewing my availability for work. The different dates were showing depending on which part of my case was being updated. She said I should expect a decision within 7-10 business days! Such a relief to finally understand what's happening. Thanks everyone for your help and sharing your experiences!

I hate to be that person but double check everything ESD does. When I won my appeal they still messed up my payments. They only paid 4 of the 7 weeks I was owed. Had to call multiple times to get it fixed. Screenshot everything and keep detailed notes of every conversation with them!!!

Update us when you get paid! I'm curious if processing times have improved since my experience last year. Also congrats on working with ULP - they're amazing! They helped my brother with his appeal too.

That's great news! This is exactly why it's so important to check all sections of your eServices account regularly. Now that you've found the issue, here's what you should do:\n\n1. Respond to their request with all the details they're asking for\n2. After submitting your response, wait 3-5 business days\n3. If your status doesn't change to \

I just submitted all the information they requested with as much detail as possible. Really hoping this gets things moving! Thank you all for the help - I'll update once there's any change in my claim status.

My cousin's husband did this exact thing with a 2 month warehouse job but then they offered him permanent and he's been there 3 years now! Sometimes temp turns into something better! Good luck!

Just to clarify something important: when you reopen your claim, you'll be asked if you've worked since last filing. Say YES and provide accurate information about your temp job including wages earned. This ensures your claim remains valid and prevents potential overpayment issues later.

my friend works at esd and she says the website is always like 12 hrs behind their actual system lol

Update: You were all right! The payment hit my account this morning even though the website still shows pending. Apparently the money moves faster than the website updates! Thanks everyone for the reassurance.

A doctor's note would absolutely strengthen your case. Medical documentation supporting your need for time off that led to the separation will directly address the "good cause" requirement. I'd recommend getting that documentation as soon as possible and submitting it as additional evidence for your appeal. You can submit additional evidence up until the hearing date, but earlier is always better.

ER discharge papers are excellent documentation and will definitely help your case. If possible, also get a brief note from your doctor stating that the condition required you to request time off. For the hearing itself, be prepared to clearly explain: 1) You had a medical emergency (kidney infection requiring ER treatment), 2) You requested time off for this legitimate reason, and 3) Your employer responded by telling you not to return (which your text messages prove). This creates a very clear narrative supporting that you had good cause and did not quit voluntarily.

To answer your original question more specifically: 1) Yes, payments are delayed by one business day following federal holidays 2) This affects ALL banking transactions, not just ESD payments 3) The payment should show as "processing" in your ESD account even if it hasn't hit your bank yet 4) If you don't see it by Thursday morning, THEN there might be an issue with your claim For future reference, all 2025 federal holidays that will delay payments are: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Just wanted to update - I received my payment this morning (Wednesday) as expected after the holiday. Hope everyone else did too!

I want to clarify something important that's being missed in this thread. If you DON'T get standby status approved, you absolutely must continue doing your job search activities even with a job offer in hand. Failing to do so can result in benefit denial and possible overpayment assessment. Also, once your standby period ends (usually 8 weeks max), you'll need to resume job searches if your start date gets pushed back again beyond that timeframe. ESD is strict about this rule and they do audit claims randomly.

wait wait wait so if I accepted a job but haven't started yet I don't have to keep applying to random jobs? ive been filing for months and no one told me this wtf

@concerned_citizen They're completely separate programs with different funding sources. UI is funded by employer taxes, while PFML is funded by both employee and employer premiums (small deduction from your paycheck). That's why the application processes and eligibility requirements are different. @OP For future reference, if you ever need to take medical leave again, make sure to apply for PFML through ESD's website. You can use FMLA and PFML simultaneously - FMLA protects your job while PFML provides income replacement.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing I don't have any tax obligations from my FMLA period. Definitely learned a valuable lesson about Washington's PFML program though - I'll be sure to apply for that if I ever need medical leave again. Really wish my HR department had mentioned this as an option!

did u file for retroactive weeks too? that can slow things down

Update us when you get your payment! It helps others to know current processing times since ESD seems to change their procedures every few months.