One more thing to consider - even if your claim isn't in full adjudication, there might be a mandatory waiting week. In Washington, the first week you're eligible is usually a waiting week where you don't get paid. But you still need to file a claim for that week! This is separate from adjudication issues.

Update on your "pending issue" status - that definitely means something is flagged in your claim that needs resolution. It could be anything from identity verification to employer response issues. Unfortunately, these can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to resolve, depending on the complexity and current ESD workload. Your best option is to speak directly with an ESD representative to find out what specifically is causing the pending issue and if there's anything you can do to help resolve it faster. Keep filing those weekly claims in the meantime!

The whole system is set up to confuse people. Why can't Washington ESD just have clear guidance on their website about common situations like this?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! This thread has been incredibly valuable. I'm feeling much more confident about filing my claim now. It sounds like the key points are: 1) WARN Act pay is different from regular severance and typically doesn't delay your claim, 2) You still need to report it on weekly certifications as other income, and 3) Be transparent about everything when filing. I'll make sure to clearly indicate it's WARN Act pay (not regular severance) when I file this week. Really appreciate this community for providing real-world experiences when the official channels are so hard to navigate!

One last thing - if you're having trouble with your payment method or need to make changes, sometimes it's easier to go through Claimyr to reach an agent rather than trying to figure it out online. The website can be confusing and not all options are clearly labeled.

I've been through this exact same situation! Washington ESD does offer both options, but I'd strongly recommend going with direct deposit if you have a bank account. I started with the KeyBank debit card when I first got approved, but switched to direct deposit after about a month and wish I had done it from the beginning. The direct deposit is much more reliable - I get my payments every Tuesday like clockwork, usually around 2-3 AM. With the KeyBank card, there were a couple times where the card got temporarily frozen for "suspicious activity" (which was just me buying groceries) and I had to call to get it unlocked. Plus with direct deposit, the money just goes straight to your regular account where you can pay bills, transfer to savings, whatever you need. The setup is really easy through your SecureAccess Washington account - just go to payment preferences and enter your routing and account number. Make sure you double-check those numbers though! One wrong digit and your payment will bounce back and you'll have to wait another week.

Update us on how your application goes! These kinds of success stories help other people in similar situations feel more confident about filing their claims.

I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences here. I was really anxious about transitioning from workers comp to unemployment, but reading all these responses has given me so much clarity. It sounds like Washington ESD is pretty reasonable about these situations as long as you're honest and have your paperwork ready. I'm planning to file my claim this week - my L&I case closed two weeks ago and I've been cleared for light duty work, but my old employer can't accommodate my lifting restrictions. Feeling much more confident about the process now thanks to all of you!

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. Filed my claim as "discharged" since they made the decision to end my employment early, even though I had given notice. Washington ESD approved it after about 10 days of review. The key thing that helped my case was having documentation showing I gave proper notice and they chose to terminate me immediately. Make sure you mention in your application that you were willing and able to work the full notice period but the employer refused. Good luck!

I work in HR and see this situation fairly often. What happened to you is called "accepting resignation with immediate release" and it's actually pretty common in retail and food service. The good news is that Washington ESD typically treats this as a discharge rather than a voluntary quit, since the employer made the final decision about your employment end date. When you file, make sure to emphasize that you were ready, willing, and able to work through your full notice period but the employer chose to release you immediately. This shows you didn't abandon your job - they ended it early. Document everything and file as soon as possible!