Bottom line: 26 weeks is the standard duration in Washington state. Make sure you understand all the requirements, file your claims on time, and use the time productively to find your next job. You've got this!

Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with a complex situation like being laid off while on leave, or if you have questions about how your severance affects your benefit start date, don't hesitate to call Washington ESD directly for clarification. I made the mistake of assuming things and it caused delays in my claim. Better to ask upfront than deal with complications later. The 26 weeks is standard but there can be nuances depending on your specific circumstances.

I went through this exact same anxiety when I first filed! The "active" and "processing web" statuses are definitely confusing - it's like ESD designed their system to keep you guessing. From what I learned after going through the process, "active" basically just means your claim is in their system and hasn't been denied yet, while "processing web" confirms they received your weekly claim submission online. The good news is that since you just filed last Friday, you're still well within normal processing times. My first claim took about 2 weeks to go from those statuses to "paid," and that was without any issues. The hardest part is definitely the waiting and not knowing what's happening behind the scenes. One thing that helped my sanity was setting a specific time each day to check (I did it first thing in the morning since updates seem to happen overnight) instead of checking constantly. Also, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on schedule even while the first one is processing - missing a week can cause gaps later. Fingers crossed you see that "paid" status change soon! This community has been super helpful for navigating all the ESD confusion.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim on Tuesday and have been seeing "active" with "processing web" status since then. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea that "processing web" just meant they received my submission rather than indicating any kind of approval progress. It's really reassuring to see that 8-10 business days seems to be the normal timeframe for first-time claims. I was getting worried because a friend told me theirs was approved in 3 days, but now I realize they were probably talking about a subsequent weekly claim, not their initial filing. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines! It really helps to know what's normal versus when to actually be concerned. I'll try to be patient and check just once in the morning like some of you suggested instead of refreshing every few hours like I have been doing.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I went through a very similar situation last year when I had to travel to Ireland for my grandfather's funeral. I was gone for almost 4 weeks and was terrified about messing up my claim. Here's what I learned: Don't try to log in from overseas - it's just not worth the risk of triggering fraud alerts. When I got back, I immediately filed for all the weeks I missed (within that 4-week window) and marked myself as "not able and available" for each week due to being out of the country. I also wrote a brief note in the comments section explaining it was for a family funeral. ESD processed everything without any problems. The key is being completely transparent about why you were unavailable rather than trying to hide the gap. Keep all your travel documents and receipts - I never needed them, but it gave me peace of mind. Take care of yourself during this difficult time, and know that this part will work out fine if you handle it honestly when you return.

I'm really sorry for your loss. I had to deal with this exact situation two years ago when my uncle passed away in Mexico and I needed to be there for 2.5 weeks. I was so worried about my claim getting messed up, but it actually went smoothly. Here's what I did: I waited until I returned to file any claims (definitely don't log in from another country - not worth the risk), then immediately filed for all the weeks I missed and marked myself as not available due to being out of the country for a funeral. I kept copies of my flight itinerary and boarding passes, though ESD never asked for them. The important thing is that you're being proactive about understanding the process and planning to be honest about your availability. Three weeks is well within that 4-week window everyone mentioned, so you should be fine. Focus on being with your family during this difficult time - the ESD stuff will work out when you get back.

I'm new to filing unemployment and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation but with sick pay - I used 8 hours of sick leave during a week when I also worked my regular 20 hours. Based on everything I'm reading here, it sounds like I need to report 28 total hours (20 worked + 8 sick pay) on my weekly claim. Is sick pay treated exactly the same as holiday pay and vacation pay for reporting purposes? I really don't want to mess this up and end up with audit issues like some of you experienced. The "if your employer paid you for it, ESD needs to know about it" rule seems like the safest approach. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is so much clearer than anything I could find on the ESD website!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been on unemployment for several months now. The consensus here is absolutely correct - report ALL hours you were paid for, including holiday pay. I learned this the hard way early on when I under-reported and had to deal with weeks of back-and-forth with ESD to correct it. One thing I'd add that might help others: when you're reporting these hours, make sure your earnings match up too. So if you got paid for 24 hours total (16 worked + 8 holiday), your gross earnings should reflect the pay for all 24 hours. The ESD system cross-references hours and earnings, so they need to be consistent. Also, keep really good records of your pay stubs showing the breakdown of regular hours vs. holiday/vacation/sick pay. If ESD ever questions anything, having that documentation makes resolving issues much faster. Trust me, it's worth the extra effort to be thorough from the start rather than dealing with overpayment notices later!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now - approved claim but no payments for over a month. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially hearing that hidden holds and system issues are common. I think I'm going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned since the regular phone lines seem impossible to get through. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this frustrating experience. The lack of transparency from Washington ESD about what's actually happening with our claims is really the worst part.

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed 7 weeks ago, claim shows approved, but zero payments received. It's incredibly frustrating not knowing what's actually wrong when everything looks fine on our end. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like there are often hidden holds or processing issues that only agents can see. The lack of communication from Washington ESD is really unacceptable when people are depending on these benefits for basic necessities. I'm definitely going to try some of the suggestions here, especially the Claimyr service since so many people have had success with it. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - at least we know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system.