One more thing - if you used that Claimyr service to get through to Washington ESD, let us know how it worked out. Always looking for ways to actually talk to a human there.

I went through something similar with Amazon about 8 months ago. They contested my layoff claim too, saying I had "performance issues" even though I was part of a clear RIF that affected my whole department. The adjudication took about 5 weeks but I eventually won. The key thing that helped me was getting a statement from my former supervisor confirming it was a layoff due to business needs, not performance. If you can reach out to your supervisor or any coworkers who witnessed the layoff situation, that could really strengthen your case. Also, keep checking your Washington ESD account online for any updates - sometimes they post decisions there before you get the letter in the mail.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got a callback from an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Definitely worth it to find out there was an actual issue holding things up rather than just waiting endlessly!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Applied for PFML 10 days ago to care for my newborn and I'm getting anxious about the wait time. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like employer verification delays are super common. I'm going to check with my HR department tomorrow to make sure they've completed their part. Thanks for sharing your experience and the update that you got it resolved!

ive been on unemployment 3 times in WA and let me tell u, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!! take screenshots of all your weekly claims where u report the stipend, keep copies of your W2, save emails from the fire dept about your schedule. ESD makes mistakes ALL THE TIME and u dont want to get hit with an overpayment notice a year from now!

I'm in a similar situation - laid off from my retail job but also do part-time work as a substitute teacher. From what I've learned through this process, the key is being completely transparent with ESD about everything. When you file your weekly claims, always report the volunteer firefighter hours and the $40 stipend. I use the online system and there's a section where you can add notes - I always write something like "volunteer firefighter stipend" so it's crystal clear what the income is from. One thing that helped me was calling my local WorkSource office (not ESD directly, but they can often answer questions). They confirmed that as long as I'm actively job searching and available for full-time work, my substitute teaching doesn't hurt my claim. Also, keep records of your volunteer schedule and any communication with the fire department about your flexibility. If ESD ever questions your availability, you'll want to show them that you can adjust your volunteer hours around job interviews or if you get hired. Good luck with both the job search and the volunteer work - it's great that you're giving back to your community during this time!

Have you tried contacting your state representative's office? Sometimes they can help escalate issues with Washington ESD when regular channels aren't working.

Whatever you do, don't stop filing your weekly claims and keep documenting everything. If there is an issue that eventually gets resolved, you'll want to make sure you get all your back pay for the weeks you were eligible.

I'm in the exact same boat right now! Just contacted the governor's office yesterday after 7 weeks of my claim being stuck in "pending" status. They said they'd escalate it to ESD within 24 hours. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope but also making me nervous about missing the call when it comes. Quick question for everyone - when the adjudicator calls, do they usually give you a heads up about what documents they'll need, or should I just have everything ready from the start? I was laid off due to company downsizing and have my termination letter, but wondering if I should gather anything else proactively. Also, has anyone had luck getting the adjudicator to email you instead of calling? I work in a noisy environment and worried I might not be able to hear properly if they call during work hours.

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.