That's actually a common scenario. If you gave notice but were terminated immediately, that's generally considered a layoff, not a quit, for unemployment purposes. The key is that the employer made the final decision to end the employment relationship sooner than your notice period. When you speak to an agent, explain exactly that sequence of events, and specify the date you gave notice and the date they ended your employment. This distinction is important because it affects eligibility.

As someone who just went through this nightmare myself, I feel your pain! I waited almost 5 weeks for a response to my message about adjudication documents, and when they finally replied it was just asking me to submit the exact same documents I had already uploaded. Here's what finally worked for me: I started calling exactly at 7:59 AM and would hit redial continuously for the first 30 minutes they're open. On my 4th day of doing this, I got through within 15 minutes. The agent was actually really helpful and was able to see my message history and resolve everything on the spot. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even during adjudication. I almost made the mistake of stopping because I thought it was pointless, but the agent told me that would have created additional delays in processing my back pay once approved. Hang in there - I know it's incredibly frustrating but you will eventually get through!

btw i forgot to mention earlier but u should check ur mail SUPER carefully. sometimes esd sends letters asking for more info but doesnt update the online portal. my roommate missed an important letter and his claim got denied cuz he didn't respond in time. super annoying!

I went through something very similar earlier this year! The "waiting for information" status with nothing showing in your portal is frustrating but totally normal - it usually means they're waiting for your employer to respond to their separation questionnaire, not waiting for you to do anything. Since you mentioned your employer might contest due to "performance issues," here's what helped me prepare: I gathered every email, text, or document that showed I was trying to do my job properly. Even small things like emails asking clarifying questions about tasks or positive feedback from coworkers can help show you weren't being willfully negligent. The ReliaCard arriving is just standard procedure - they send it automatically so payments can start immediately once you're approved. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what! That's the most important thing you can do right now. One more tip: if your employer does contest and it goes to a phone interview, they'll usually give you several days notice. Make sure to answer unknown numbers during business hours and check your mail daily. Good luck!

One more thing to remember - your benefit year lasts 52 weeks total, but you can only collect benefits for up to 26 of those weeks. So if you find a job after 10 weeks, get laid off again 6 months later, you might still have some weeks left on your original claim.

I'm in a similar boat - just got laid off from my retail job after 3 years and trying to understand the whole system. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like 26 weeks is the standard maximum in Washington, but I'm still confused about the base period calculation. If I was working part-time for the first half of last year and then full-time for the second half, how does that affect my eligibility? Also, has anyone had luck with the WorkSourceWA website for tracking job search activities? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right from the start.

Update: Just filed my claim online! Took about 30 minutes and the website worked fine. Thanks everyone for pushing me to do it sooner rather than later. Now I wait to see if it gets approved.

Congrats on filing! You made the right call getting it done quickly. Just want to add one more thing for anyone else reading this thread - if you're worried about the complexity of the application, don't be. Washington ESD's online system walks you through it step by step and you can save your progress if you need to take a break to gather documents. The hardest part is usually just getting started, but once you begin the process it's pretty straightforward. And like everyone said, every day you wait is potential money lost, so don't overthink it!

Keep us posted on how it goes! Your experience might help someone else in a similar situation.

I went through something similar last year and want to echo what others have said - the key is to act fast and document everything. Washington ESD actually has a pretty detailed overpayment resolution process outlined on their website that breaks down all your options including payment plans, hardship waivers, and the appeals process. Even if you missed the initial appeal deadline, there are sometimes exceptions for good cause. I'd recommend gathering all your employment records from 2023 and any documentation of your weekly claim certifications before you call them. Having that information ready will make the conversation much more productive when you do get through to someone.