Remember that even with training benefits, you usually have to maintain satisfactory progress in your program and might have to pay back benefits if you don't complete it. Just something to keep in mind.

I went through a similar situation a few years ago when I wanted to transition into healthcare. What saved me was finding out about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding through my local American Job Center. It's different from regular unemployment but can provide financial support while you're in approved training programs. The key is that nursing is often considered a high-demand occupation, so you might have better luck with WIOA than trying to get unemployment after quitting. I'd suggest visiting your local WorkSource office in person - they can walk you through all the different funding options available and help you apply before you leave your current job. Don't give up on your nursing dreams!

I'm on day 6 with 'open' status and this discussion has been such a lifesaver! I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my claim since I haven't heard anything back from Washington ESD. It's incredibly reassuring to see that the 7-14 day processing time is totally normal and that 'open' actually means good news. I've been filing my weekly claims and keeping a log of my job search activities, but the uncertainty was really getting to me. Reading everyone's experiences and timelines gives me so much more confidence that my claim is progressing normally. Thank you all for sharing - it really helps to know that this anxiety-inducing wait is just part of the process and that we're all going through it together!

I'm on day 3 with 'open' status and finding this thread has been such a huge relief! I was starting to second-guess everything about my application and wondering if I made some mistake. It's incredible how reassuring it is to see that so many people have gone through this exact same experience and that the 1-2 week wait with 'open' status is completely normal. I've been obsessively checking my account and was getting really anxious, but reading everyone's timelines and success stories gives me so much more confidence. I'm keeping up with my weekly claims and started documenting my job searches right away after reading the advice here. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing that we're all in this together and that 'open' means my claim is actively being processed makes this waiting period so much more bearable!

Make sure you call in EARLY for your hearing!!!! I was literally 2 minutes late calling in and the judge marked me as a no-show. Had to appeal AGAIN and wait another month. The system is totally against us.

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago and won my appeal! A few additional tips that really helped me: 1. Have water nearby - phone hearings can be long and your mouth gets dry 2. Find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted (I used my car in a parking lot) 3. Test your phone connection beforehand - bad reception can hurt your case 4. Write down the main points you want to make and check them off as you cover them The fact that you have documented communication with your boss about each incident is HUGE in your favor. Most people don't have that evidence. You're actually in a really strong position here. One more thing - if your former manager tries to say you were chronically late or had other issues, stick to the facts about just these three documented incidents. Don't let them expand the scope beyond what you were actually fired for. You've got this! The preparation you're doing shows you're taking it seriously, which the judge will notice.

As someone completely new to this community and the ESD system, this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! @Angelina Farar, your persistence through that 7-week approved-but-pending nightmare is truly heroic - I can't even imagine the stress of having an approval letter but still no income for almost 2 months. The fact that it was an identity verification issue they never bothered to tell you about is just peak ESD dysfunction. What absolutely blows my mind is how this thread evolved from a desperate plea for help into the most comprehensive ESD troubleshooting guide on the entire internet. The collective wisdom here - calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state representatives, proactive document uploads, using Claimyr, documenting every interaction - these are the battle-tested strategies that actually work but are completely absent from any official ESD resources. It's both infuriating and incredible that we have to reverse-engineer solutions just to access benefits we've already been approved for. The identity verification black hole seems to be trapping so many people based on all the stories shared here - this is clearly a massive systemic issue that ESD desperately needs to address. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because the step-by-step roadmap documented here is pure gold for anyone facing ESD's bureaucratic maze. Your 23-call persistence that morning shows what real determination looks like, and your success story gives genuine hope to everyone else stuck in pending limbo. Thank you for sharing your complete journey and proving that persistence really does pay off when you know the right approaches! This community support is exactly what people need when government systems fail us.

This thread is absolutely incredible and should be required reading for anyone dealing with ESD! As someone brand new to this community, I'm genuinely blown away by @Angelina Farar's persistence through that 7-week nightmare and how everyone came together to create what's essentially the most comprehensive ESD troubleshooting guide I've ever seen. The identity verification issue that they never bothered to communicate about perfectly shows everything wrong with their system - it's infuriating that people get approved but then sit in limbo for months without any explanation! The collective wisdom shared here about calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state reps, uploading documents proactively, and services like Claimyr - these are the real-world solutions that actually work but you'd never find through official channels. It's ridiculous that we have to reverse-engineer solutions just to access benefits we've already been approved for, but this community support is exactly what people need when government systems fail us. Your 23-call persistence that morning shows incredible determination, and seeing you finally get those 7 weeks of backpay was such a relief! This thread is going to help so many others stuck in pending hell - thank you for documenting every step and proving that persistence really does pay off!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare! Filed about 2 weeks ago, claim shows "active" but no payments yet. The "submitted" vs "processed" distinction everyone mentioned is huge - just checked and all mine say "submitted" too! After reading everyone's experiences, I'm realizing how broken the communication is in this system. We shouldn't have to become detectives to figure out why our benefits aren't coming through when we're already stressed about finances. Definitely going to try the secure messaging approach through eServices that @Mateo Gonzalez mentioned - I've been calling for days with zero luck. Also calling my former employer tomorrow to see if they're sitting on some ESD verification request. This thread has been more helpful than ESD's entire website! The community knowledge-sharing here is incredible. I'll report back on what works - hopefully we can all get unstuck soon. The waiting is brutal when bills are due! 🤞

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my claim about 2.5 weeks ago, shows "active" status, but haven't received any payments yet. Like everyone else here, my weekly claims all show "submitted" instead of "processed" - I had no idea that distinction even existed until reading this thread! The lack of transparency in the ESD system is honestly maddening when you're already stressed about money. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and frustrating (realizing how common this problem is). I'm definitely going to try the secure messaging approach through eServices that @Mateo Gonzalez mentioned - I've been banging my head against the wall trying to call with zero success. Also planning to contact my former employer tomorrow to see if they're sitting on some verification request from ESD. @Keisha Jackson - thank you so much for starting this thread! The collective wisdom here has been more helpful than anything on ESD's official website. It's incredible how we all have to figure this out together when the system should just work properly in the first place. I'll definitely report back on what I discover. Fingers crossed we all get our claims moving soon - the financial stress is real but at least now I have actual steps to take instead of just waiting helplessly! 🙏