For future reference, Washington ESD posts Extended Benefits status updates on their website under 'Extended Benefits Information.' They're required to announce when EB periods begin and end, though the info can be hard to locate.

I'm in a similar situation - my benefits are ending in about 3 weeks and I've been job searching for 4 months now. Reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful, especially learning that Washington isn't currently in an EB period. Does anyone know if there are income requirements for those WorkSource training programs that Natasha mentioned? I'm wondering if having a spouse who's still working would disqualify me from getting financial support during retraining.

After trying to use Claimyr as someone suggested above, I got through to ESD in about 45 minutes instead of the days I was spending redialing. The agent explained they can set up payment plans for as little as $25 a month if needed! But definitely appeal first if you think there's an error.

Just wanted to add my experience to help - I got my overpayment notice exactly 10 months after my last payment for $3,200. Like others mentioned, I immediately panicked thinking I had to pay it right away. The key thing that saved me was calling the appeals line directly instead of the main ESD number (the appeals line is usually less busy). When I spoke to the appeals officer, they walked me through exactly what documentation I needed and explained that the overpayment was triggered by a quarterly wage match from my employer. I gathered all my weekly certification screenshots showing I reported my part-time wages correctly, and the overpayment was completely reversed after my hearing. The whole appeal process took about 3 months but was worth it. Don't let them intimidate you - if you reported everything correctly, you have a good chance of winning your appeal!

This is such an informative and supportive thread! As someone who works in HR, I see this exact situation come up regularly with new hires, and it's one of those systemic gaps that really impacts people during what should be an exciting transition. A few additional thoughts that might help others in similar situations: 1. When you accept a job offer, ask specifically about the pay schedule during the interview/negotiation process - some employers are flexible about advancing partial pay for the first period if you explain the situation upfront. 2. Many credit unions have "payroll advance" or "emergency loan" programs specifically designed for this gap period - usually much better terms than credit cards. 3. If you're in the Seattle area, the United Way has a 2-1-1 helpline that can connect you with local emergency assistance programs that aren't widely advertised. The fact that this thread exists and has so many helpful responses really shows how common this issue is. It would be great if ESD had some kind of informational resource specifically addressing this transition period, since it seems to catch so many people off guard. Kudos to everyone for sharing practical solutions and supporting each other through these challenging situations!

This entire thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and ended up scrambling because I had no idea what to expect. Reading through everyone's experiences and all the practical resources shared here really shows how much collective knowledge we have when we come together to help each other. A couple things I learned from my experience that might help others: 1. Document everything - keep screenshots of your ESD claims, copies of your job offer letter, and records of all your communications with landlords/utilities. This saved me when I had questions later. 2. Some employers have "new hire hardship" policies that aren't widely advertised - it's worth asking HR directly if they have any resources for employees dealing with pay schedule gaps. 3. Local libraries often have information about emergency assistance programs and some even have social workers on staff who can help connect you with resources. What really strikes me is how many people face this same challenge but there's so little official guidance about it. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone starting a new job while on unemployment. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and making this transition less isolating for others!

Bottom line from my experience: Washington ESD is generally reliable with payment timing once you understand their process. Direct deposit is faster than debit card, and credit unions/smaller banks might add an extra day. Don't stress too much if it takes the full expected timeframe.

This thread is exactly what I needed! I'm in a similar situation - filed my first weekly claim yesterday and I'm already anxiously checking my bank account every few hours. It's reassuring to see that 1-4 business days is normal for direct deposit, especially with smaller banks. The tip about making sure WorkSourceWA requirements are up to date is something I hadn't even thought about. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know what to expect when you're navigating this system for the first time.

This is incredibly helpful information - thank you all so much! I had no idea about the appeal process or the new Data Correction Request form. I'm going to tackle this systematically: 1. File the appeal TODAY (still within my 30-day window) 2. Submit the new Data Correction Request form with all my paystubs 3. Keep filing weekly claims even while everything is pending 4. Request a wage investigation and hearing in my appeal It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops for what should be a straightforward data correction, but at least now I have a clear path forward. I'll update this thread once I hear back from ESD. Fingers crossed the new form speeds things up! For anyone else dealing with this - don't give up! The advice here shows there ARE ways to get these employer reporting errors fixed, even if ESD makes it unnecessarily complicated.

I went through something very similar last year and want to share what worked for me. The Data Correction Request form that Dylan mentioned is a game-changer - it didn't exist when I was dealing with my issue and I had to go through the full appeal process which took months. One tip I wish I'd known: when you upload your paystubs to the Data Correction form, make sure the file names are descriptive like "2024-Q1-Paystubs-CosmicCaptain.pdf" rather than generic names. The ESD processors apparently have an easier time matching documents to the right quarters this way. Also, if you have any timesheets or clock-in records from your employer (even informal ones like emails mentioning your schedule), include those too. The more documentation you have showing your actual hours worked, the stronger your case. The system is definitely broken and puts way too much burden on us to fix employer mistakes, but don't let that discourage you. With all the advice in this thread, you've got a solid plan. Keep us posted on how the new form works out!