I had the same exact confusion when I got laid off from my office job due to company restructuring! The term "discharge" really does sound intimidating at first - I kept thinking it meant I was fired for doing something wrong. But after going through the process, I can confirm that everyone here is right - it's just the official term Washington ESD uses for any employer-initiated job separation. Since your layoff was clearly due to budget cuts and not performance issues, you should definitely select "discharge" and explain the circumstances in detail. I got approved without any problems once ESD verified with my employer that it was a business decision. The whole thing took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. Don't let the confusing terminology delay your filing - you need to get your claim started as soon as possible to avoid missing out on benefits you're entitled to!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got laid off from my customer service job last week due to company downsizing. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! The discharge terminology really is confusing at first, but it makes sense now that it's just the official term for employer-initiated separation. Since you mentioned budget cuts specifically, that's clearly involuntary discharge without misconduct. I'm planning to file my claim this week and will definitely select discharge while being detailed about the downsizing situation. Has anyone had experience with how quickly Washington ESD processes claims right now? I know things were really backed up during COVID but hoping it's improved since then.

This entire thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm actually a former ESD employee who worked in the Training Benefits department for 3 years, and I wanted to add a few insider tips that might help people navigate this process more successfully: 1. **Timing is crucial** - Apply at least 6 weeks before your regular UI ends if possible. The "5-7 week processing time" they quote is conservative, but delays happen during peak application periods (especially fall when schools start). 2. **The magic words** - When writing your justification letter, use phrases like "career transition," "skills gap," and "labor market competitiveness." These are buzzwords the reviewers look for. 3. **Follow up strategically** - Don't call every day, but do follow up every 2 weeks with a polite inquiry about your application status. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. 4. **Appeal process** - If you get denied, don't give up! About 30% of appealed TB denials get overturned if you provide additional documentation or clarification. The program really does work when you understand what they're looking for. It's not designed to fail you - it's designed to ensure training leads to actual employment. Best of luck to everyone applying!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently in my second week of waiting for TB approval for a dental hygienist program, and reading everyone's experiences has really helped manage my anxiety about the process. I especially appreciate the insider tips from @Andre Rousseau - those "magic words" are gold! One thing I wanted to add for future applicants: make sure your training program's accreditation is clearly documented in your application. My program coordinator mentioned that ESD specifically looks for programs accredited by recognized bodies in your field. For healthcare programs like mine, they want to see accreditation from organizations like CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation). Also, if anyone is applying for healthcare-related training, Washington state has been really prioritizing these programs lately due to worker shortages post-COVID. My WorkSource advisor said healthcare TB applications are getting expedited review. Fingers crossed this helps my timeline! Will update once I hear back from ESD.

I'm new to unemployment benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just want to confirm - if I file my weekly claim on Sunday evening, I should expect to see my payment hit my checking account Wednesday morning? I'm with a local credit union if that makes a difference. Also, is there any way to track the payment status between filing and receiving it, or do you just have to wait and see?

Just wanted to add something I learned from experience - if you're having trouble with Washington ESD's phone system and need to speak with someone about payment delays or issues, there's actually a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to an agent much faster than calling directly. I was stuck trying to reach them for days about a payment that never showed up, and this service got me connected within an hour. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a situation where you need to talk to someone at ESD but can't get through the regular phone lines!

This entire thread is absolutely phenomenal and should be stickied as the definitive guide for ESD pending claim issues! @Angelina Farar, your journey from 7 weeks of approved-but-pending hell to finally getting your backpay is both heartbreaking and triumphant. The fact that you had to make 23 calls just to discover an identity verification issue they never told you about perfectly encapsulates everything broken about ESD's communication system. As a newcomer to this community, I'm genuinely amazed by how everyone came together to create what's essentially the most comprehensive ESD troubleshooting resource on the internet. The strategies shared here - calling at exactly 8:00am, contacting state representatives, proactive document uploads, using Claimyr, documenting every interaction - these are battle-tested solutions that actually work but are completely missing from official ESD guidance. It's infuriating that we have to reverse-engineer solutions to access benefits we've already been approved for, but this thread proves how powerful collective knowledge can be when government systems fail us. Your persistence in updating us throughout the entire process makes this so much more valuable than just a success story - it's a complete roadmap for anyone facing the same nightmare. For anyone else stuck in pending limbo reading this: bookmark this thread, follow these proven strategies, and don't give up! @Angelina Farar's success shows that persistence really does pay off. Thank you all for creating such an invaluable community resource!

As another newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely blown away by this thread! @Angelina Farar, your persistence through that 7-week nightmare is truly inspiring - the fact that you had to make 23 calls in one morning just to learn about an identity verification issue they never told you about shows how fundamentally broken ESD's communication system is. But your success story gives real hope! What strikes me most is how this thread has become the ultimate ESD survival guide that should honestly be part of their official resources (if they actually cared about helping people). The collective wisdom here - the 8:00am calling strategy, contacting state reps, proactive document uploads, even the Claimyr service - these are the real-world solutions that actually work but you'd never find through official channels. It's both infuriating and amazing that we have to crowdsource basic information about accessing benefits we've already been approved for. The identity verification black hole seems to be trapping so many people based on all the stories shared here - clearly this is a systemic issue ESD needs to fix ASAP. I'm bookmarking this entire thread because the step-by-step strategies documented here are pure gold for anyone facing ESD's bureaucratic maze. Thank you for sharing your complete journey and proving that persistence really does pay off when you know the right approaches. Congratulations on finally getting those 7 weeks of backpay - you absolutely earned it through sheer determination!

One more thing to add about payment timing - if you're on PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) or any of the federal programs, the payment schedule might be slightly different than regular state unemployment. I was on PUA for a while and noticed my payments sometimes came on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Not sure if those programs are still active, but worth mentioning in case anyone is dealing with different types of benefits. The eServices trick for checking "paid" status still works the same way though!

Really appreciate all the detailed info in this thread! As someone who just started the unemployment process, I was totally confused about the timing. The tip about checking eServices for "paid" status on Tuesday evening before the money hits your account is brilliant - that's going to save me so much anxiety. Setting up bank alerts too. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when people who've been through it actually explain the real-world timeline instead of just the official guidelines. Thanks everyone!