Thanks everyone for all the info! This has cleared up a lot of confusion I had about how Washington ESD calculates benefits. Definitely feel more prepared for when my claim gets processed.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I just wanted to add that for anyone who's still waiting for their claim to be processed, you can actually estimate your weekly benefit amount ahead of time using the gross wage information from your pay stubs. Washington typically replaces about 50% of your average weekly wage (calculated from your highest quarter), but there's a maximum weekly benefit amount that gets updated each year. Having a rough estimate helped me budget while I was waiting for my official determination letter.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow and also check out that Claimyr service as a backup. Will update if I make any progress.

I feel your pain - I've been in the exact same situation for the past month. One thing that finally worked for me was using an auto-redial app on my phone so I didn't have to manually keep calling the 800-318-6022 number over and over. I set it to redial every 30 seconds and just let it run while I did other things. Eventually got through after about 3 hours of auto-redialing. Also, if you have any documentation or case numbers related to your stuck claim, have those ready when you do get connected - it speeds up the process significantly.

I totally understand that feeling. Just remember that even if unemployment runs out, it doesn't mean you stop being unemployed or stop deserving support. There are other resources out there.

I'm in a similar situation - about 20 weeks into my claim and starting to worry about what comes next. This thread has been really helpful! I didn't know about continuing to file weekly claims even with a $0 balance. One thing I'd add is to make sure you're networking as much as possible during these last few weeks. I've found that a lot of opportunities come through personal connections rather than just online applications. Also, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to local career centers or libraries - many offer free resume reviews and job search workshops that can give you an edge. Hang in there!

I'm going through something very similar right now - laid off from a senior engineering role at a major Seattle tech company 3 weeks ago and still waiting on ESD approval. The whole process feels deliberately opaque and stressful. What really caught my attention in your post is the immediate healthcare cutoff. That's becoming way too common with these tech layoffs - they treat people like security risks rather than valued employees who've contributed for decades. The contrast between your husband's 23-year tenure and the brutal 10-minute dismissal is just heartbreaking. I've been documenting everything from my layoff (emails, Teams notifications, even screenshots of my deactivated badge access) based on advice I got here. One thing that might help is if your husband saved the original layoff notification email or any documentation mentioning "reduction in force" or similar language. The COBRA costs are crushing - we're in the same boat paying over $2000/month. Have you looked into any short-term bridge insurance options while waiting for his claim to process? Some are significantly cheaper than COBRA for a few months. Keep us posted on how the WorkSource visit goes tomorrow. This community has been invaluable for navigating this broken system.

The 4+ week delay is unfortunately becoming the norm for tech layoffs in Washington. I went through this exact situation after being laid off from Meta last year - senior level position, immediate termination, and ESD took 6 weeks to approve my claim. A few things that might help speed this up: 1. **Check for pending employer questionnaires**: ESD sends these to employers and they have 10 business days to respond. Many tech companies are slow to complete them, which holds up your claim. 2. **Document everything from the layoff**: Save that Teams invite, any emails mentioning workforce reduction, or internal communications about layoffs. ESD sometimes needs proof it wasn't performance-related. 3. **Consider contacting your state legislator**: After 4 weeks with no movement, their office can often get answers from ESD that regular channels can't. I wish I'd known about this option earlier. 4. **Daily message checks**: ESD sends time-sensitive requests through their portal that don't generate email alerts. Missing these can add weeks to your timeline. The $2,350 COBRA is brutal on top of everything else. Hang in there - once approved, benefits are backdated to when he first became eligible. The system is overwhelmed but it does eventually work.

Have you tried the technical support line instead of the claims line? Sometimes the technical support agents can help with basic claim issues or at least transfer you to someone who can. Their queue usually isn't as bad. Also, I've had success with the Spanish line (if you speak any Spanish) and then asking for English assistance once connected. Not ideal but sometimes works in desperate situations.

I've been dealing with this nightmare for 2 weeks now! What's worked for me is using the callback feature on the eServices website - you have to check it multiple times a day but occasionally they'll have callback slots available. Also found that calling right at 12:30pm sometimes works because that's when some agents come back from lunch and the queue resets slightly. The whole system is broken but don't give up - your benefits are worth the hassle. One more tip: if you have a local WorkSource office, sometimes they can help escalate issues or at least give you better guidance on which phone options to try.