UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked for me! I ended up trying multiple approaches: 1) Contacted my state rep's office yesterday morning, 2) Used Claimyr to get through to ESD yesterday afternoon, and 3) Re-uploaded my documents with better lighting/resolution. The claims specialist I spoke with using Claimyr was actually able to look at my documents in real-time and said my driver's license photo was too dark for their verification system. I immediately took better photos and uploaded them while on the phone. They flagged my account for review and this morning my identity was verified! My payments are now processing. The state rep's office also reached out and said they'd follow up, but the Claimyr route got me to someone who could actually fix the specific issue. Thanks everyone for your help - I was seriously panicking about rent!

This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same identity verification nightmare - been pending since January 15th and I'm getting desperate. @Aria Washington congratulations on getting yours resolved! I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr route and also contact my state rep. One thing I wanted to add for others - I found out you can also email ESD directly at UIBenefits@esd.wa.gov with your claim number and identity verification concerns. They responded to me in about 3 days (which is faster than getting through on the phone) but unfortunately just gave me the same "it's in queue" response. Still might be worth trying for others who can't get through by phone. The photo quality issue you mentioned makes total sense - I bet that's what's wrong with mine too. I took my photos with my phone in pretty dim lighting. Going to retake everything with better lighting and try Claimyr to get to someone who can actually look at the documents!

Bottom line - plan for 26 weeks maximum, use your time efficiently, and don't count on extensions that probably won't happen. The job market is competitive so cast a wide net early.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! This has been really helpful. I'm feeling more confident about filing my claim now that I understand the 26-week maximum and the importance of keeping up with job search requirements. Going to check out that benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website first, and if I need to talk to someone directly about my specific situation, I might look into that Claimyr service a few people mentioned. Really appreciate this community sharing their experiences - makes navigating the system feel less overwhelming.

Wage discrepancies are definitely frustrating but they're usually straightforward to resolve once the employer responds. Since you now know what's causing the delay, you might want to reach out to your former employer's HR department to let them know ESD is waiting for their response - sometimes they don't prioritize these requests unless they know someone is waiting on them. In my experience, a polite follow-up call can sometimes speed things along. Keep filing those weekly claims in the meantime!

I've been through something similar and that date change is definitely a good sign! When my adjudication date updated, it meant an actual adjudicator was actively reviewing my case. Since you found out it's a wage discrepancy with your employer, I'd suggest also checking if you have any documentation on your end - final pay stub, separation notice, etc. Having everything ready can help speed things up once they get your employer's response. The waiting is brutal but at least you know what's happening now. Keep filing those weekly claims and you'll get all that back pay when it's approved!

One last thing - make sure your address is up to date with all your accounts and the post office. Sometimes fraudsters try to redirect mail to cover their tracks.

I went through something similar last year and it was a nightmare to deal with. Here are the key steps that helped me get it resolved: 1) File the fraud report with Washington ESD immediately - don't wait, 2) File a police report for identity theft and get a case number, 3) Contact the IRS and file Form 14039, 4) Pull all three credit reports and look for other fraudulent activity, 5) Document EVERYTHING with dates and reference numbers. The whole process took me about 4 months to fully resolve, but acting quickly definitely helps. Also consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports while you're dealing with this. Stay persistent - you'll get through this!

One last thing - if you end up needing to talk to Washington ESD about anything specific to your situation, Claimyr really does help with getting through. I used it when I had questions about restarting my claim after maternity leave and got connected right away.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! As someone who works with unemployment claims, I can confirm that pregnancy absolutely does not disqualify you from benefits in Washington. The state follows federal anti-discrimination laws, so as long as you meet the basic eligibility requirements (lost job through no fault of your own, earned enough wages, able and available for work), you're good to go. The "able and available" part just means you can work right now - which it sounds like you can at 6 months. When you eventually can't work due to childbirth or medical reasons, you'll just pause your weekly claims and can potentially restart them later if you have benefit weeks remaining. Don't let pregnancy stop you from claiming benefits you've rightfully earned!