For anyone still confused: 1. Washington PFML has TWO components: Medical Leave (sick leave) and Family Leave 2. Family Leave = taxable federally (you'll get a 1099-G) 3. Medical Leave (sick leave) = NOT taxable federally (no 1099-G issued) 4. If you received both types, you'll only get a 1099-G for the Family Leave portion 5. Keep your payment statements from ESD showing which type you received There's also a detailed explanation in ESD's FAQ section that covers this exact question.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this! I received Washington sick leave benefits last year and was also confused about the tax situation. After reading through all these helpful comments, I called my CPA to double-check, and they confirmed that Washington Paid Sick Leave benefits are indeed NOT taxable at the federal level since we pay into the program with after-tax dollars through payroll deductions. The key is making sure you're distinguishing between sick leave (medical leave) and family leave - only family leave is taxable and gets a 1099-G. I kept all my ESD payment statements showing it was specifically for sick leave/medical leave, and my tax preparer said that was smart documentation to have. Hope this helps others who are in the same boat!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding the "Pending" status issue! I'm currently dealing with this myself - filed 8 days ago and still showing pending on both my overall claim and weekly claims. What really stands out to me is how many different reasons there can be for the delay (employer verification, identity check, manual review queue, system glitches) but the eServices portal gives you zero indication of which one is causing YOUR specific delay. It's like being told "your package is somewhere between the warehouse and your door" - technically accurate but not very useful! I'm definitely going to implement the advice here: keep filing weekly, document those job searches from day one, and reach out to my former employer to make sure they've responded to any ESD requests. The fact that Sofia's agent resolved her issue instantly once she got through really shows that many of these "pending" claims aren't complex problems waiting for lengthy investigation - they're just stuck somewhere in the system waiting for human attention. For anyone else in this situation: this community discussion is proof that you're not alone and that these delays, while stressful, are unfortunately pretty normal right now. The key seems to be staying proactive rather than just waiting and hoping.

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring! I'm currently on day 12 of pending status and was starting to worry I'd done something wrong with my application. It sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty typical these days, which helps manage my expectations. What I'm taking away from this discussion: 1. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - don't skip them just because you're pending 2. Start job search activities immediately (3 per week) and log them in eServices 3. Check with your former employer to make sure they responded to any ESD verification requests 4. If you hit the 3-week mark, it's time to call ESD or consider that Claimyr service The transparency issue really is frustrating - having a status that just says "we received your stuff but haven't done anything with it yet" doesn't help anyone plan or know what to expect. But seeing Sofia's quick resolution once she got through to an agent gives me hope that most of these delays aren't actually complicated problems. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world information you can't get from the official ESD website!

I just went through this same process last month and it was definitely frustrating at first. Here's what worked for me: take photos in natural daylight near a window, use a plain white piece of paper as background, and make sure every corner of your documents is visible and flat. For the social security card especially, the numbers need to be crystal clear - that seems to be where a lot of people get stuck. Also double-check that your name is spelled exactly the same way across all documents and your original application. Even small differences like "Jr." vs "Junior" can cause delays. The whole process took about 10 days once I submitted good quality photos.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with Washington ESD identity verification since I see so many people struggling with this. I finally got approved after being stuck for almost 3 weeks! Here's what made the difference: I used my phone's document scanner app instead of just the regular camera - it automatically adjusts lighting and contrast which made my documents much clearer. Also, I learned that if you have any name variations (like maiden name, nicknames, etc.) anywhere in your work history, you might need additional documentation to prove they're all the same person. In my case, I had to submit my marriage certificate because my previous employer had my maiden name on file. The process is definitely a pain but hang in there - once you get the right documents submitted clearly, it goes through pretty quickly.

Remember that the appeal hearing is your chance to tell your side of the story. Don't let Washington ESD's initial decision discourage you - many appeals succeed when people actually fight them.

Good luck with your appeal! It sounds like you have a strong case since you were told it was budget cuts but they're now claiming misconduct. That inconsistency alone should help you. I went through something similar last year - the key is staying calm and sticking to your timeline of events. Document everything you can remember about when they told you it was layoffs vs when the misconduct claim appeared. The hearing officers really do try to be fair, so don't get intimidated by the process.

I'm in a similar boat - currently on week 2 of my claim being stuck in pending status. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It sounds like the official rule is 4 weeks for standard UI claims, but the reality is that even after escalation it can take much longer. I'm already starting to panic about my rent payment next month. Has anyone had success with the secure message option through eServices that Gabriel mentioned? I'm wondering if that might be faster than trying to get through on the phone lines. Also, for those who successfully got escalations processed - did you get any kind of confirmation that your escalation request was actually received and being worked on?

Just wanted to add my experience to help clarify the confusion. I went through this exact situation in February and can confirm that the 4-week rule for standard UI claims is correct. However, what I learned the hard way is that those 4 weeks need to be consecutive weekly claims with NO gaps or missed filings. I had filed for 5 weeks total but had missed one week in the middle due to confusion about the process, and they told me I had to start the 4-week count over from when I resumed consistent filing. So make absolutely sure you're filing every single week without fail, even if your claim is stuck in pending status. The other thing that helped me was calling right at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday - seemed to have better luck getting through than Mondays or Fridays. Once I got the escalation approved, it took exactly 8 business days for my claim to move from pending to approved status. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but it does eventually work if you follow their rules precisely.