Bottom line - if you're hiring people, register with Washington ESD. The penalties for not doing it are way worse than just following the rules from the start.

As someone who just went through this process last month, I can confirm you definitely need to register if you're hiring employees. One thing that helped me was calling the Washington ESD Business Services line directly - they have a separate number for new business inquiries that's usually less busy than the general unemployment line. The registration itself is pretty straightforward once you have your federal EIN. Just don't put it off because those penalties add up fast if you're late.

Update us on how your application goes! These kinds of success stories help other people in similar situations feel more confident about filing their claims.

I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences here. I was really anxious about transitioning from workers comp to unemployment, but reading all these responses has given me so much clarity. It sounds like Washington ESD is pretty reasonable about these situations as long as you're honest and have your paperwork ready. I'm planning to file my claim this week - my L&I case closed two weeks ago and I've been cleared for light duty work, but my old employer can't accommodate my lifting restrictions. Feeling much more confident about the process now thanks to all of you!

i was so confused about this too when i first started claiming last month!! the esd instructions are so unclear about all this stuff. good luck!!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with vacation pay instead of holiday pay. My employer paid me for 3 days of vacation time during a week where I also worked 2 days. Based on what everyone is saying here, I should report all 5 days as hours worked on my weekly claim, right? It sounds like any time you're paid by your employer - whether you physically worked or got holiday/vacation/sick pay - it all needs to be reported as hours and earnings. Thanks for sharing your experiences, especially the audit story - definitely don't want to go through that!

Just a quick update for others finding this thread - in 2025, ESD has been making efforts to be more transparent about claim statuses. If your claim sits in 'pending' for more than 14 calendar days, you can now request a status update through the secure message center. Simply select 'Claim Status Inquiry' from the dropdown menu. They're required to respond within 3 business days with at least a general update on where things stand. This new process has helped many claimants identify issues earlier in the process.

Hey Miguel, I'm in a similar situation - just filed my claim two weeks ago and it's been in pending status for about 8 days now. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful! I wanted to add that I've been keeping a detailed spreadsheet of my job search activities just in case they ask for documentation later. Also, I set up email notifications in my eServices account so I don't miss any important updates. The waiting is definitely stressful, especially when you're worried about bills, but it sounds like this is just how their system works. Hang in there!

Good luck OP! I hope you get through soon. This thread has some good advice - try the early morning calls, different numbers, and maybe that callback service people mentioned. Don't give up!

I've been dealing with a similar situation with my unemployment claim being stuck in adjudication for months. One thing that helped me was calling the Spanish language line (even if you don't speak Spanish) and asking to be transferred to an English-speaking agent - sometimes those lines have shorter wait times. Also, I found that calling right before they close at 4pm on Wednesdays sometimes works because people give up calling by then. The system is definitely broken but persistence is key. Have you tried submitting any additional documentation through the online portal while you wait? Sometimes that can help move things along even if you can't reach anyone by phone.