When I was struggling with similar concerns last year, I found that the ESD website has a section where they post official announcements about program changes. Nothing showing there about benefit reductions. My claim was stuck pending for weeks though and I couldn't get answers until I finally got through to an actual person. If you're having trouble reaching ESD by phone, try claimyr.com - they helped me get through when I kept getting busy signals for days. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works.

One important detail to understand: Unemployment benefits have two components - the state base program (stable, funded by employer taxes) and potential federal extensions (which do come and go with legislation). Right now, we're only operating under the base state program since all pandemic extensions ended. This base program has been remarkably consistent for decades, with only minor tweaks. Your current benefits come from the stable state program, not the more volatile federal extensions.

my cousin had this happen!!! try contacting ur state representative they can sometimes help speed things up with esd. also check if theres any alerts or messages in ur eservices account sometimes they need info but dont email u about it

For what it's worth, I successfully claimed unemployment between accepting a job offer and my actual start date (which was 3 weeks later). Just reported that I had accepted an offer with the future start date when filing my weekly claim. Had zero issues with eligibility - the system is designed to handle this situation. Adding one thing about your payment problem - check if you have any outstanding "tasks" in your eServices account. Sometimes these can be hidden in a tab that's not obvious. Also, have you moved recently or changed your address? That can trigger extra verification.

Regarding your severance question - it depends on how your employer reports it. If they report it as a lump sum payment for your past work, it typically won't affect your unemployment eligibility. But if they report it as continuation of wages over several weeks, ESD may consider you still employed during that period. The best practice is to apply immediately after your last working day and report any severance honestly on your application. ESD will determine how it affects your claim. Waiting to apply could cause you to lose benefits since claims aren't backdated unless there's a very good reason for the delay. Also, yes, there is a waiting week in Washington. The first week you're eligible is unpaid but you still need to file a weekly claim for it.

Hey, I just went through this in January. Here's what I learned: the max benefit amount can be misleading because it doesn't account for deductions. I qualified for the maximum but after federal taxes (had them withhold 10%) and healthcare continuation payments, my actual deposit was about 22% less than the gross amount. Also, be prepared for the MyClaims website to crash constantly. I found that logging in very early morning (like 6am) or late evening after 8pm was much more reliable than during business hours. One more tip - even though you have to do 3 job search activities per week, only one needs to be an actual job application. The others can be things like updating your resume, attending a WorkSource workshop, or networking activities. Document everything carefully though!

not to be that person but have u tried gig work? doordash, uber, instacart etc? not great money but u can start like immediately and it might help while ur waiting for other assistance to kick in. plus then ur earning wages for next time u need unemployment

I work at a nonprofit that helps people navigate benefit systems. Two suggestions beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Contact your county's Coordinated Entry for housing assistance - they can often provide emergency rent help even while TANF is processing 2. Check with local churches and community action agencies - many have funds specifically for preventing eviction Also, Washington has strong eviction protections. Even if you can't pay on time, your landlord must provide a 14-day pay or vacate notice before filing an eviction. Use that time to gather resources. And if you receive an eviction notice, immediately contact the Eviction Defense Hotline at 1-855-657-8387 for free legal help.

ESD SUCKS!!!! I was on hold for THREE HOURS last week and then the call just dropped for no reason!! Been trying to resolve my claim for THREE MONTHS now! The whole system is designed to make people give up. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US AT ALL!!!!!

One thing I learned is that calling earlier in the week (Monday/Tuesday) and earlier in the day (right when they open) tends to result in shorter hold times. Fridays are apparently the worst. Also, while you're waiting, gather any documents related to your claim - separation notice, past correspondence from ESD, your work search log if applicable. Having everything ready will make the conversation more productive when you finally get through.

My sister had training benefits in 2024 and she said there was no gap but she did have to call them to activate it after her regular benefits ended. I think it depends on who processed your initial approval maybe?

Just to update you - I managed to get through to ESD using the Claimyr service I mentioned. The agent confirmed that Training Benefits don't automatically activate after regular UI. They need to manually switch your claim type in their system once your regular benefits exhaust. The good news is that as long as you keep filing weekly claims, they can backdate the TB activation to ensure no gap in payments. The job search requirements also change - you don't need to look for work while in approved training, but you do need to submit training attendance verification when requested.

just make sure u answer all the job search questions right. they're super picky about that now in 2025. u need 3 job search activities every week and they're auditing like crazy these days

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to file your weekly claim yesterday despite the restart message still showing? This information would be helpful for others who might encounter the same issue in the future.

Just want to follow up on Claimyr that I mentioned. @skeptical_claimant I was suspicious too at first, but it worked for me. The service basically keeps dialing for you using their system that can detect when a line opens up. When they get through, they call you and connect you to the ESD agent who's on the line. Saved me days of frustration.

UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone with the same problem, here's what worked: I called exactly at 7:58am like someone suggested, and instead of selecting the claims option in the menu, I selected the employer option first, then asked to be transferred. The wait was still about 45 minutes but at least I didn't get disconnected. The agent told me my claim had been flagged for identity verification (even though I already uploaded my documents weeks ago) and they were able to clear it on the spot. My status changed from 'adjudication' to 'processed' within a few hours. Thanks everyone for the suggestions! This forum was way more helpful than anything on the actual ESD website.

my cousin works for two unoins to and he just puts whatever one he worked for last on his claim. never had no problems getting paid. esd doesnt really care as long as your looking for work and available

back on the payment thing - anyone else notice ESD always has "technical issues" right when rent is due? happen to anyone else or just me lol

Just wanted to add - if you updated your direct deposit info after your claim was already in processing status, there's a chance your first payment might still try to go to the old account. If your old account is closed, the bank will reject the deposit and ESD will need to reissue it. This can add 5-7 business days to getting your payment. If you're in a rush, you might want to call ESD to see if they can intercept the payment before it processes.

back in 2021 i had same problem but i couldnt figure out how to change my bank stuff online so i just switched my payment to the ESD debit card option. was super easy and then i could just transfer the money from the card to my new bank. might be a backup option if ur worried about the timing issue