I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with Washington ESD. Was suspended for 10 days pending investigation and filed for unemployment benefits. The key thing is to be completely transparent about your employment status when you file. They'll ask if you worked and earned wages - answer honestly that you were suspended without pay. My claim was approved within about 2 weeks once they verified the details with my employer. The investigation outcome didn't affect my eligibility since I wasn't being paid during the suspension period. Just make sure you're ready to provide documentation if they request it.

I was in a similar situation a few years ago - suspended without pay for 3 weeks while they investigated a safety incident. Washington ESD approved my benefits after about 10 days of review. The key things that helped me were: 1) I filed immediately when the suspension started, 2) I was completely upfront about being suspended (not terminated), and 3) I had all my documentation ready including the suspension notice from HR. During my weekly certifications, I just reported zero wages and explained I was suspended without pay each week. Once the investigation cleared me and I returned to work, I stopped filing claims. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I got past the initial worry about eligibility.

I'm currently going through this same process! Called the governor's office on Wednesday after being stuck for 6 weeks, and got the ESD callback Thursday saying my claim was expedited to adjudication. Still waiting for the adjudicator call but reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring. Based on what I'm seeing, it sounds like 7-14 business days is the realistic timeframe to expect. I've cleared out my voicemail, organized all my separation documents (I was also laid off due to restructuring), and I'm answering every unknown call. The stress of waiting is real but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel! One thing I learned from calling around - if you need to reach ESD directly for any reason while waiting, the best times to call are right at 8am when they open or around 4:30pm before they close. Still nearly impossible to get through, but slightly better odds than midday.

I went through this exact process about 3 weeks ago! After contacting the governor's office, I got the ESD callback the next day saying my claim was expedited. The adjudicator called me exactly 11 business days later at 9:45am from an unknown number. A few tips that really helped me: 1) Set up a professional voicemail greeting and make sure it's not full, 2) Have a notepad ready when you answer - they ask for specific dates and details, 3) If you were laid off like me, have your termination paperwork AND the contact info for your former HR department ready. The adjudicator actually called my old company to verify my separation while I was on hold. The whole call took about 25 minutes. She was very thorough but professional. My claim was approved the same day and I had my first payment deposited 3 days later. Hang in there - the governor's office route really does work, you just need patience for the adjudicator callback. The timeline everyone's sharing here (7-14 business days) matches my experience perfectly.

This thread should be pinned or something. So many people have this same question and worry about doing the wrong thing.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago and was so confused! Like everyone else has said, you really do just stop filing weekly claims - there's no "cancel" button because the system doesn't work that way. Your claim stays open for the full benefit year just in case you need it again, which is actually pretty smart design once you understand it. Congratulations on landing the new job! The hardest part is behind you now.

Just checking back - were you able to contact ESD and get this resolved? Sometimes the 'Invalid' status can also appear if there's an identity verification issue, so if providing wage documentation doesn't solve it, that might be the next thing to check.

That's great news that you got through to ESD and they're processing your wage verification! For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with the same issue - it's really encouraging to see that the wage verification process does work when your employer is late reporting. Definitely keep us posted on how long it actually takes to update your claim status. I know a lot of people are dealing with similar situations right now and it helps to know the real timeline. Hope your benefits get processed smoothly from here!

Final tip: if your claim gets denied for any reason, don't give up. You have the right to appeal, and many initial denials get overturned on appeal. The process can be slow but it's worth fighting for if you believe you qualify.

Good luck with your application, Jeremiah! From everything I've read here, it sounds like you have a solid case since you were employed when you were incarcerated and lost your job through no fault of your own. The most important things seem to be: 1) File as soon as possible online, 2) Be honest about your situation, 3) Keep detailed records of all your job search activities, and 4) Have your employment documentation ready from your previous job. Don't get discouraged if it takes longer than usual to process - that seems pretty normal for cases with employment gaps. You've got this!