I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim about 9 days ago and have been stuck on that "pending - waiting for information" status with absolutely zero communication from ESD. Like everyone else here, I've been checking my online account obsessively, my email, spam folder, and even called my post office to make sure they weren't holding any mail. Nothing! It's so frustrating that their system can't just tell you what specific information they're waiting for or whether it's something internal vs. something they need from you. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously just in case, but the stress is really getting to me with my mortgage payment coming up next week. Reading through all these experiences, it's both comforting and alarming to see how common this communication breakdown is. I think I'm going to try the 8am calling strategy that several people mentioned - seems like that's the only way to actually get answers. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - at least now I know I'm not alone in this confusing process!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Filed my claim 6 days ago and it's been stuck on "pending - waiting for information" since day one. Just like everyone else here, I've checked my online notices, email spam folder, and mailbox daily - absolutely nothing explaining what they need. The lack of communication is honestly the most frustrating part. Reading through all these experiences, it's clear this is a widespread issue with ESD's system. I've been filing my weekly claims just to be safe, but the uncertainty is really stressing me out. Based on all the advice here about calling at 8am, I think I'm going to try that approach this week rather than just waiting indefinitely. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's both reassuring and concerning to see how common this communication gap is!

This is such a helpful thread! I was laid off from my retail job last month and had been feeling guilty about applying for benefits, thinking I was somehow taking money from taxpayers or being a burden on the system. Learning that it's actually funded entirely by employer taxes in Washington makes me feel so much better about using this safety net while I search for new work. It's amazing how they've designed it as a true insurance system - employers pay the premiums and we get coverage when we need it most. Thanks to everyone who explained how the experience rating works too - now I understand why some companies are so hesitant to do layoffs even when business is slow.

As someone who just went through a layoff myself, I really appreciate how thorough everyone has been in explaining this! I had the same confusion as the original poster - I kept looking for unemployment deductions on my paystubs and couldn't find any. It's actually pretty brilliant how Washington has structured this as a true insurance system where employers bear the cost burden rather than employees. What really struck me from reading through all these responses is how the experience rating system creates incentives for companies to maintain stable employment - employers who lay off more workers pay higher rates, which encourages them to find alternatives when possible. For anyone else feeling hesitant about filing, remember that this isn't a government handout - it's insurance coverage that your employers have been paying for throughout your entire work history in Washington. You've earned these benefits just by working and contributing to the economy.

Bottom line for OP - you'll probably get somewhere in the $500-700 range based on your salary. Not amazing money but enough to get by while job hunting. Just file as soon as you're eligible and don't delay.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount also depends on how consistent your earnings were during the base period. If you had gaps in employment or your income varied a lot between quarters, it might affect your weekly benefit calculation. Also, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file - pay stubs, W-2s, etc. It helps speed up the process and ensures they calculate your benefits accurately from the start.

I'm currently on day 15 waiting for my ReliaCard and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! When I first saw that my payments were approved but no card was arriving, I was starting to panic thinking something went wrong. But seeing everyone's real experiences here - especially @Luca getting theirs on day 18 - has really put my mind at ease. The ESD timeline of 7-10 business days is clearly just wishful thinking! It sounds like pretty much everyone waits 2-3 weeks minimum. I'm going to follow the advice here and wait until I hit the 3-week mark before calling US Bank at 1-888-964-0359 to check on status. I can see about $850 sitting in my account that I can't access yet, which is frustrating but at least I know it's safe and waiting for me. The automatic transfer setup with no fees sounds amazing - definitely doing that immediately once my card arrives so I never have to deal with this waiting game again for future payments! Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and tips. This community is so helpful for navigating what can be a really stressful process! 😊

I'm on day 13 waiting for my ReliaCard and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! When I first started seeing delays past that 7-10 business day estimate, I thought maybe something had gone wrong with my application. But clearly everyone goes through this same waiting period. @Luca thanks so much for posting this question and following up with your success story! It's really helpful to see the full timeline from start to finish. And to everyone else who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping people understand what to actually expect vs. what ESD tells you to expect. I've got about $1,340 sitting in my account that I can't touch yet, which is nerve-wracking, but at least I know it's normal and the money is safe. I'm definitely going to save that US Bank number (1-888-964-0359) and call them if I don't see my card by day 20 or so. The automatic transfer setup sounds like absolute genius - I had no idea that was even an option! That's going to be the first thing I do once my card arrives. Thanks everyone for all the helpful tips and for sharing your real timelines. Makes this whole process so much less stressful when you know what to actually expect! 😊

I had a similar experience with an old pension from a unionized job. One tip that really helped me was to contact the union office if your pension came from a union job - they often keep better records than individual employers and can provide the exact breakdown of employer vs employee contributions that Washington ESD needs. Also, if you can't find the original pension documents, most pension administrators are required by law to provide annual statements, so you can request copies going back to when you started receiving benefits. It might cost a small fee but it's worth it to avoid any delays or assumptions that could reduce your UI benefits more than necessary.

Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone dealing with pension issues and Washington ESD. I had a small pension from a retail job I worked 25 years ago, and I was really stressed about how it would affect my unemployment benefits. After reading through all these helpful comments, I decided to be completely upfront about it when I filed my initial claim. Washington ESD was actually really professional about the whole thing - they walked me through exactly what documents I needed and explained the calculation process clearly. It did take about 2 weeks longer to process my claim because of the pension verification, but like someone mentioned earlier, they backdated all my payments to when I first filed. The reduction wasn't as bad as I feared either - they only deducted about 25% of my pension amount from my weekly UI benefits because most of my pension was from my own contributions. My advice is definitely to report it upfront and gather as much documentation as you can beforehand. The peace of mind is worth it, and Washington ESD seems to really appreciate honesty and transparency in these situations.