One more thing to check - did you report any earnings this week? Even small amounts can sometimes trigger a slower manual review. Also, if you answered any of the weekly questions differently than usual (like saying you turned down work or didn't complete job search requirements), that would definitely slow things down.

btw my roommate works for a company that does payroll processing and she says all electronic payments follow basically the same timeline no matter how they get entered into the system. its all about when the batch processing happens. phone vs online is just how the data gets in but after that its all the same process

One more thing I forgot to mention - when you're ready to reactivate your claim, you'll need to meet the job search requirements again (currently 3 activities per week). And if your benefit year expires while you're on medical leave, then you would need to file a new claim instead of reactivating the old one. I successfully used my remaining benefits after my medical situation, so it definitely can be done!

To summarize the correct information in this thread: 1. You must stop claiming benefits while medically unable to work 2. Your benefit weeks remain available after recovery (they don't expire) 3. Contact ESD to reactivate your claim once medically cleared 4. Provide documentation of both your inability to work and clearance to return 5. Continue meeting all eligibility requirements (job search, etc.) after reactivation 6. If your benefit year expires during medical leave, you'll need a new claim The key distinction is between reactivating an existing claim (within the same benefit year) versus filing a new claim (if your benefit year expires). This is why some commenters had different experiences.

To answer your question about specific percentages - ESD doesn't publish an exact percentage that automatically qualifies as "substantial," but based on previous cases, a 20%+ reduction is generally considered significant enough to justify refusing work, especially if you can demonstrate that it would create financial hardship. When you file your claim, you'll need to explain the situation during the application process. There's a section asking if you've refused any work, and you'll need to provide details about why the work wasn't suitable specifically because of the wage reduction. Be factual and specific - don't just say it was "unfair" but instead focus on the concrete financial impact.

hey just wondering did u decide what ur gonna do yet? im in a similar spot rn and trying to figure out my options too

Since you mentioned you're in tech, have you checked out WorkSource's IT/tech retraining programs? Some of them qualify for Training Benefits and they can sometimes help place you in jobs after completion. They also have workshops specifically for tech workers transitioning to adjacent fields. It's worth connecting with a WorkSource specialist - they have more detailed information about potential benefit extensions and training programs than what's publicly available on the ESD website.

Something to consider: if your benefits will exhaust soon, you might qualify for other assistance programs while you continue your job search. Specifically: 1. SNAP benefits (food assistance) 2. Housing assistance through your county 3. Healthcare coverage through Apple Health 4. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (if you have kids) None of these are UI extensions, but they can help bridge the gap. The DSHS website has all the application info. Don't wait until your UI is completely exhausted to apply - the approval process can take weeks.

just got paid finally!! i submitted online last week but called ESD this morning after seeing this post. the lady checked my account and said something was "stuck" and she fixed it manually. money showed up 2 hours later!

Update from ESD: I just spoke with an agent again today, and they confirmed they're aware of the processing discrepancy between phone and online claims. They're working on implementing a fix by next Tuesday that should equalize processing times again. For anyone with urgent payment needs, phone claims are still processing faster for now. But if you can wait, the online system should be back to normal processing speeds by next week.