Final thought - this is exactly why we have unemployment insurance. To protect workers when employers don't follow the rules. You paid into this system through your work, you deserve the benefits.

This is unfortunately a common issue with smaller employers who either don't understand their obligations or try to cut corners. The good news is that Washington ESD has seen this before and has processes in place to handle it. You'll need to gather all your employment documentation - pay stubs, W-2s, bank deposits showing your paychecks, any employment contracts or offer letters. Even text messages or emails from your boss can help establish the employment relationship. The investigation process typically takes 4-6 weeks, but your benefits will be backdated to your original filing date once approved. Keep filing your weekly claims during the investigation period and don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - your employer had a legal obligation to pay unemployment taxes and their failure to do so doesn't disqualify you from benefits you've earned.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also on a work visa (TN visa) and was laid off recently. It's reassuring to know that work authorization is the key factor, not citizenship status. I was hesitant to apply because I wasn't sure if temporary visa holders qualified. Now I know I should gather my I-94, visa documentation, and employment records before filing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually gone through the process successfully!

This is such valuable information! I'm a newcomer to this community and currently on an E-2 investor visa. I was worried that my visa type might not qualify since it's different from the H-1B and other employment visas mentioned here. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that as long as I have valid work authorization, I should be eligible too. I've been paying into the unemployment system for two years through my business. Does anyone know if E-2 visa holders face any unique challenges when applying, or is the process pretty much the same as other work-authorized non-citizens?

I went through a similar situation last fall where my adjudication date kept changing - it's nerve-wracking but usually a positive sign that they're actively reviewing your case. Since you mentioned you have documentation proving the layoff (emails about budget cuts and termination letter), you're in a much better position than many people. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of events leading up to my separation with dates and keeping all my documents organized in one folder. That way if they do call for an interview, you can quickly reference everything. The fact that your employer is contesting it means they'll likely want to speak with both parties, but with solid documentation on your side, you should be okay. Stay strong - the waiting is the hardest part!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my adjudication date just changed from 1/22 to 2/3 and I've been waiting since mid-December. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening! From what I've been reading in this group and other forums, the date changes do seem to indicate someone is actively working on your file, even if it doesn't feel like progress. I've also been told by a friend who works in government that January is typically their busiest month for adjudications because of all the holiday layoffs and separations that happened in December. Since you have solid documentation proving you were laid off, I think you're in a good position. I'm trying to stay positive and remind myself that "no news" doesn't necessarily mean "bad news" - they're just overwhelmed. Hang in there, we'll get through this!

I'm in a similar situation - laid off 8 weeks ago but just learned about Washington ESD's retroactive benefits yesterday! Reading through everyone's experiences here is really encouraging. It sounds like the consensus is that I should file my initial claim immediately and then submit weekly claims for all 8 weeks, making sure I have documentation of job search activities for each week. I've been keeping a spreadsheet of applications I submitted and networking calls I made, so hopefully that will be sufficient proof. One question though - if I had a brief consulting gig for 3 days during week 4, does that disqualify me from benefits for that entire week or just affect the amount? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else in this situation - I was in almost the exact same boat as you, Riya! I waited 5 weeks before filing because I thought my severance package meant I couldn't get unemployment. Turns out Washington ESD approved all 5 weeks of retroactive benefits. The key things that helped me: I kept a simple notebook with dates of every job application I submitted (even the ones I applied to online and never heard back from), I saved email confirmations from job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, and I wrote down any phone calls I made to contacts about potential opportunities. When I finally got through to a Washington ESD representative, they walked me through filing weekly claims for each of those missed weeks. It took about 3 weeks to process everything, but I received the full back pay. Don't stress too much about having "perfect" documentation - they understand that people don't always know to keep detailed records from day one. The important thing is showing you made genuine efforts to find work during those weeks you're claiming.

I went through this exact same status last fall and it was nerve-wracking! Mine stayed in "waiting for information on pending issues" for exactly 2 weeks before moving to adjudication. What helped me was creating a daily log of checking my eServices account and documenting any changes (even small ones like new correspondence). Also, don't be afraid to call ESD multiple times - different agents sometimes have different levels of access to information about what's actually causing the delay. In my case, it turned out my employer had submitted their response but there was a system glitch that prevented it from being processed properly. The agent was able to manually push it through once I got the right person on the phone. Keep your chin up Carmen - the waiting is awful but most claims do eventually get resolved!

I'm dealing with this same frustrating status right now - going on 2 weeks of "waiting for information on pending issues" and it's incredibly stressful not knowing what's happening behind the scenes. What's helped me cope is setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my daily account checks and any small changes I notice. I've also been calling every few days rather than every day, which seems less overwhelming for both me and the phone system. One thing I learned from a friend who works in HR is that some employers have automated systems that flag unemployment requests for manual review, which can add several extra days to their response time. It's not fair to us who need the money, but at least it explains some of the delay. Hang in there Carmen - based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like 10-14 days is pretty typical before things start moving.