After seeing all these replies, I wanted to share what finally worked for me. I used Claimyr to get through to ESD after wasting days trying to call myself. It costs money but was worth it - I got through in like 30 minutes instead of days of calling. Once I finally talked to an actual person at ESD, they cleared the fraud hold in minutes. Still took about 5 days for the payment to process though.

UPDATE: I wanted to share what's working for me so far. I followed the security escalation advice with SAW and they put a special block on my account. Then I used Claimyr this morning to get through to ESD (it actually worked!) and got connected with an agent who specializes in fraud cases. She verified my identity over the phone and is expediting my case. Said payments should resume in 3-5 business days if everything checks out. THANK YOU everyone for your help - this community literally saved me from eviction!

UPDATE: My payment just processed normally this morning! Looks like adding the part-time work didn't cause any delays for me. They did reduce my benefit amount based on what I earned, but that's expected. Thanks everyone for the advice and sharing your experiences!

my sister had issues when she started working part time but it was because she made a mistake on her hours... she accidentally put 71 hours instead of 17 hours (typo) and that triggered some kind of review. just double check everything before you submit and you should be fine

Update: I had my hearing yesterday and my employer didn't show up! The judge was really thorough though and asked me a ton of questions about the circumstances of my termination. They had the written statement from my employer claiming I ignored safety protocols, but I was able to explain that I'd actually requested additional training on the new procedures multiple times (and had emails to prove it). The judge seemed pretty receptive, but said I'll get the decision in 7-10 days. Fingers crossed!

Final update: I WON MY APPEAL!!! The decision came in the mail today - the judge ruled that my employer failed to establish that my actions constituted misconduct as defined under Washington unemployment law. I'll be getting backpay for all 10 weeks I've been waiting (about $6,240). Thank you all so much for your advice and support. For anyone else going through this, definitely bring all documentation and be prepared to clearly explain your side even if the employer doesn't show up.

Everyone keeps talking about Training Benefits but NOBODY mentions the Commissioner Approved Training program which is different!!! CAT doesn't extend your benefits but it DOES waive the job search requirement while you're in school/training. Training Benefits actually gives you additional weeks. ESD doesn't make this clear AT ALL and their own workers sometimes confuse the two programs!!

One last thing I want to mention - if your benefits do run out and you still haven't found work, make sure you connect with your local WorkSource office. They offer free employment services, resume help, interview practice, and sometimes have connections with employers that aren't advertising positions publicly. Also check if you qualify for other assistance programs like Basic Food (SNAP) or other support while continuing your job search. Better to research these options now rather than waiting until you're in a financial emergency.

I had problems with my direct deposit too! But mine was because I accidentally put my savings account number instead of checking. I spent WEEKS trying to fix it myself online. Kept getting error messages. Nothing worked! Finally broke down and called the main ESD number 100 times before getting through. The lady was actually super nice and fixed it in 2 minutes. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

Just to follow up on your situation - when did you initially file your claim? If it was very recent, the system is actually working as designed. The 'verification pending' status is normal protection against fraud. But if it's been more than 10 business days AND you haven't received a KeyBank debit card in the mail (which is ESD's default payment method until direct deposit verifies), then you should definitely contact them. Also, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while waiting for payment method verification. Payments will be retroactive once everything is verified.