Bottom line for OP: File your initial claim today, be prepared to file weekly claims every week (including the unpaid waiting week), and start your job search immediately. Don't overthink it - just get the process started.

Just to add another perspective - I work at a nonprofit that helps people with unemployment claims, and we see this confusion about timing constantly. The absolute most important thing is to file your initial claim the day after your last day of work, no exceptions. Don't wait for your final paycheck, don't wait for paperwork from your employer, don't wait for anything. The Washington ESD system is designed to process claims in the order they're received, and any delay just pushes back when you'll start receiving benefits. Also, keep in mind that even though the first week is unpaid, filing that weekly claim is crucial for establishing your benefit year dates correctly.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my payment did end up going to my old account after about 3 business days (normal timing). I've decided to keep both accounts open until I'm no longer on unemployment just to avoid any future headaches. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Glad to hear it worked out smoothly! This is such useful info for others who might make the same mistake. The fact that it went to your old account on normal timing confirms what others said about ESD's payment system being separate from their account management system. Keeping both accounts open is definitely the smart play - I've seen too many horror stories about payments getting stuck in limbo when people close accounts too quickly while on unemployment.

Holy cow, Oliver! I just read through this entire thread and I'm absolutely livid on your behalf. 10+ weeks without income because your employer had the nerve to falsely claim you "quit" from what was clearly a documented mass layoff?? That's beyond infuriating - there should be serious penalties for employers who file bogus disputes like that. I'm so relieved you finally got through using Claimyr and discovered what was actually happening. The fact that ESD never sent you the adjudication questionnaire is a massive system failure that could have left you hanging indefinitely. I'm definitely bookmarking that Claimyr service - it's ridiculous that we need third-party help just to reach our own state agencies, but if it works then it's worth every penny. Your whole experience really highlights how broken ESD's communication system is and how many people are probably stuck in similar situations right now without even knowing why. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they actually stick to that 72-hour timeline they promised you and approve everything with full backpay. After everything you've been through, they better make this right! Thanks for sharing your journey and all the helpful tips - this thread is going to be a goldmine for anyone else dealing with ESD nightmares.

This thread is absolutely incredible - Oliver, you've been through such an ordeal! I'm a new member here but had to jump in because your story perfectly illustrates everything that's wrong with ESD's system right now. The fact that you were part of a documented layoff with 12 other people and your employer STILL had the audacity to contest it as a "quit" is just outrageous. That's basically filing a false report and there should be consequences for that kind of behavior. What really gets me is that you went 10+ weeks in complete limbo because they never sent you the adjudication paperwork you were supposed to receive. That's not just inconvenient - that's a fundamental failure of due process. How are you supposed to defend your claim if you don't even know there's something to defend against? I'm definitely saving that Claimyr recommendation - it's sad that we need third-party services just to communicate with our own state agencies, but if it actually gets results then it's clearly worth it. Your persistence in trying every avenue and documenting everything is going to help so many people who stumble across this thread in similar situations. Really hoping that 72-hour timeline they promised you actually holds up and you get approved with full backpay for all those weeks. After everything you've endured, they owe you way more than just the benefits - the stress and financial hardship caused by their system failures is inexcusable. Please keep us posted on the outcome!

Good luck getting this sorted out! The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part of dealing with unemployment issues.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my claim has been pending for over three weeks and I work during all their business hours. The phone system is absolutely impossible to get through on. I've been checking the online portal every day but like others mentioned, it just says "pending" with no explanation or action items. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about finances and can't even get basic information about your own claim. Has anyone had success with emailing them or is calling really the only way to get these issues resolved?

Bottom line for OP - you get 26 weeks maximum, but start job searching seriously now because those weeks disappear quick. Don't wait until week 20 to get desperate like some people do.

Just wanted to add that you should also be aware of the weekly certification requirements to maintain your benefits during those 26 weeks. You have to file your weekly claim every week (usually on Sunday) and answer questions about your job search activities, any work you did, and whether you were available for work. Missing even one weekly certification can interrupt your benefits, so set a reminder! I learned this the hard way when I forgot to file one week and had to deal with the hassle of getting it reinstated.