Just wanted to add that Washington state is generally pretty worker-friendly when it comes to unemployment claims. Even if your employer contests it, don't get discouraged - ESD will do a fair investigation. I've seen plenty of people approved even after being fired for performance issues. The key is being honest and cooperative throughout the process. Also, if you do get denied initially, you have the right to appeal within 30 days. Don't give up if the first decision doesn't go your way!

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Got fired for "not meeting expectations" after working at a company for 3 years. I was really worried about applying for unemployment but decided to do it anyway. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 4 weeks of investigation. The adjudicator told me that performance issues don't usually count as misconduct unless there's clear evidence of willful disregard for job duties. My advice: file immediately, be completely honest in your application, and don't let your former employer discourage you from applying. You paid into the unemployment system through your paychecks - you have every right to use it when you need it. Also, start your job search activities right away and keep detailed records. Good luck!

did u check ur eServices account messages? sometimes ESD asks for additional info but they dont actually email u about it. i missed an important request buried in my eServices messages and it delayed my claim for weeks!

I went through something similar in 2023 and want to share what helped me win my appeal. Beyond the documents others mentioned, try to get a reference letter from someone at your old job (coworker, supervisor if possible) confirming you left for another position. Also, if you have any text messages or emails with friends/family from when you got the new job offer mentioning the salary increase or excitement about the opportunity, those can help establish the timeline and your good faith in taking the position. The hearing officer wants to see that you genuinely believed the new job was a substantial improvement, not just that you were trying to quit. Also remember to emphasize the $7,800 salary increase - that's significant and clearly shows good cause. You've got this!

Quick tip - if you're calculating your base period wages, make sure to include ALL employers you worked for during that time, even if it was just a few weeks. Every dollar counts toward meeting those minimum requirements Washington ESD has.

Bottom line from everything I've read here - it's about total wages earned over time, not how long you stayed at any one job. As long as you've been working and earning decent money over the past year or so, you probably qualify. The 8 months at your current job plus previous work should put you in good shape OP.

Have you tried reaching out to your local state representative? They can sometimes help push things along with EDD.

I went through the exact same thing! Got approved but waited 5 weeks for payments. Turns out there was a "flag" on my account that required manual review even though I was already approved. What finally worked was filing a complaint through the state's ombudsman office - got my payments within a week after that. Also make sure you're still certifying weekly even without payments, otherwise you'll lose those weeks. Don't give up!

Just to follow up for anyone reading this thread in the future: The ID verification requirement when transitioning to Training Benefits is part of ESD's 2025 fraud prevention measures. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your claim - it's just an extra security step. After you complete the ID.me verification: 1. Allow 3-5 business days for processing 2. Continue filing your weekly claims as normal during this time 3. Keep checking your eServices account for status updates 4. Your claim should return to active status once verification is complete If it takes longer than a week after verification, then contact ESD directly as there might be another issue that needs attention.

That's great news about your claim moving to "processing" status! For anyone else going through this, I wanted to add that you can actually track the ID.me verification status separately on their website too. Sometimes it shows as "verified" there before it updates in your ESD account, which can give you peace of mind that it's working through the system. Also, if you're doing other job search activities or attending training classes while waiting for verification, make sure to keep documenting those in case ESD asks for records later. The verification delay doesn't change your other benefit requirements.