Thanks for asking this question OP. I'm sure there are other people in similar situations who will benefit from reading this discussion and learning about the resources that were shared.

I work with immigrant communities and wanted to add that some cities and counties in Washington have their own emergency assistance programs that don't have the same federal restrictions as unemployment benefits. King County, for example, has emergency rental assistance and other support programs. It's worth checking with your local city hall or county offices to see what's available in your specific area. Also, many community colleges offer free job training programs that could help you transition to other types of work while you're dealing with this situation.

One last tip - when you file your weekly claims, make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' and actively seeking work. As a former business owner, they might question your availability for traditional employment.

I went through a similar situation when I had to close my marketing agency in 2023. One thing I wish I had known earlier is to keep detailed records of your business closure date and all the steps you took to wind down operations. Washington ESD will want to see evidence like your final client communications, office lease termination, business license cancellation, etc. Also, be prepared for them to ask about any business assets you might have sold or transferred - they want to make sure you're not just restructuring to collect benefits. The process can be lengthy but if you legitimately closed your business and paid unemployment taxes on your wages, you should qualify. Just be patient and have all your paperwork organized from the start.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My claim has been showing 'Complete' for about 10 days with no payments or determination letters. It's so stressful not knowing if I should expect money or if there's some issue I need to address. Reading through these comments is actually helpful - sounds like this 'Complete' limbo is more common than I thought. I'm going to try sending a secure message like GalacticGladiator suggested and maybe calling right at 8am tomorrow. This whole system really needs better communication about what these statuses actually mean!

I went through this exact same thing back in November! My claim showed 'Complete' for almost 3 weeks and I was panicking. Turns out there was an issue with my employer's response to ESD that was holding everything up, but nobody told me. What finally got me answers was filing a complaint through the WA State Ombudsman office - they contacted ESD on my behalf and got my case escalated. Within 48 hours I had both a determination letter AND my backpay deposited. The ombudsman service is free and they're specifically there to help with government agency issues like this. Might be worth trying if the secure message approach doesn't work!

I'm also in the healthcare field (respiratory therapist) and went through my benefits exhaustion about 6 months ago. A few additional suggestions that helped me get by: Check with temp staffing agencies like Maxim Healthcare, AMN Healthcare, or local ones - they often have per diem shifts available even when full-time positions are scarce. The pay is usually higher per hour than permanent positions, though without benefits. Also look into clinical trial companies in the Seattle area like Fred Hutch or Swedish's research departments - they often need healthcare professionals for patient monitoring roles and the work can be quite steady. For immediate relief, Washington State has the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that can help with utility bills, and many counties have emergency rental assistance that's separate from the state programs. King County's program helped me avoid eviction when I was in a similar spot. Don't give up on networking either - reach out to former colleagues on LinkedIn. I found my current position through a former coworker who knew about an opening that wasn't posted yet. Sometimes it's really about who you know in healthcare. The market will turn around - healthcare always does eventually. Just focus on surviving this rough patch with whatever resources you can access.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - exhausted my UI benefits in February and the job search has been incredibly tough. One thing I discovered recently is that some hospitals have "seasonal" or "casual" nursing positions that don't get posted on regular job boards. I found out about these by calling the HR departments directly and asking if they had any per diem or on-call positions available. Also, if you're willing to consider slightly outside your usual area, rural hospitals and clinics are often more desperate for nurses and may have openings. The pay might be different, but it could be a bridge while you continue looking for something closer to home. For immediate help with rent, check if your county has any COVID-era rental assistance programs that are still active - some counties extended these programs into 2025. Also, many apartment complexes have hardship programs they don't advertise but will work with you if you call and explain your situation. The nursing shortage is real, but it's also weirdly competitive right now because everyone wants the "good" positions. Sometimes taking something temporary or less ideal can actually lead to better opportunities. Hang in there!

One more thing - if you get disconnected while on hold, try calling back immediately. Sometimes you can get through faster on the second attempt.

I'm in the exact same situation - been trying to call for over a week about my flagged claim and can't get through at all. It's so frustrating when you need help but can't reach anyone. I'm going to try some of the strategies mentioned here like calling right at 8am and the lunch hour approach. Has anyone had luck with contacting their state representative's office like Taylor mentioned? That sounds like it might be worth a shot if the phone lines keep failing.