One important thing to note: even if they decide by the end of the week, it might not immediately show up in your account or result in payment. There can be a processing delay of a few days between decision and payment. Also, if approved, they'll pay you retroactively for all eligible weeks, so you won't lose any money due to this delay. The call you received is actually a positive sign that your claim is being actively worked on rather than sitting in the backlog.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago! ESD called me for what felt like the same exact questions I'd already answered in my initial application. In my case, they were just verifying details because my former employer had reported slightly different information than what I had provided. The whole thing felt really intimidating, but it turned out to be completely routine. I got my approval letter exactly 5 days after the call, and like others have mentioned, I received back pay for all the weeks I'd been waiting. The fact that they gave you a specific timeline is actually a really good sign - it means your case isn't complicated and they're just doing their due diligence. Try not to stress too much over the weekend!

Just to add a clarification to this discussion: When documenting job search activities for ESD, make sure you're being accurate about the positions you're applying for. If you're selected for a job search review and they find you've been reporting applications to positions that don't match your skills or work history, it could trigger an eligibility issue. For handling spam, I recommend reporting these companies to the FTC as well. There's a form at ReportFraud.ftc.gov specifically for job scams and unwanted texts.

I've been experiencing this exact same issue! What's really helped me is using the Washington State Jobs portal (careers.wa.gov) for state and local government positions - they don't seem to share contact info with third parties. I also started checking company websites directly for "ghost jobs" that appear on multiple job boards but aren't actually hiring. One trick I learned: if a job posting asks you to text a number or email a personal Gmail account instead of applying through their official system, it's almost always a scam. I keep a running list of the suspicious companies that contact me and cross-reference before applying anywhere. It's extra work but saves so much hassle with the MLM texts later. Has anyone tried reaching out to WorkSource directly about which job boards they recommend that have better privacy practices?

I just remembered something else about my experience... Even though the waiting week is unpaid, I think they still counted my waiting week toward my total benefit year. So if you're approved for 26 weeks of benefits, the waiting week counts as week 1 of those 26, even though you don't get paid for it. At least that's how it worked for me last winter when I was on unemployment. Not sure if that's changed.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through this process - I was in almost the exact same situation as you! Filed on a Saturday after my last day of work on Friday, and that first week I certified for was indeed my unpaid waiting week. One thing that helped me budget was knowing that while you don't get paid for the waiting week, if you continue to qualify for benefits, your second weekly certification should result in payment (assuming no other issues with your claim). So you're looking at roughly 2-3 weeks from when you file until you see your first payment. Also, make sure you keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one - even during the waiting week. ESD can audit your job searches at any time, and having good documentation saved me when they requested verification of my activities a few weeks into my claim. Good luck with everything, and don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions!

Update: I just checked the ESD website and they've posted that they're experiencing higher than normal processing times due to a significant increase in new claims this winter. They're saying initial eligibility determinations are currently taking 4-7 weeks on average. So your timeline isn't unusual right now.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in early December and still pending with that same frustrating message. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea about answering unknown calls or that multiple employers could cause delays. I worked three different jobs last year so that probably explains it. Going to try calling first thing Monday morning and maybe look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this limbo!

Hope everything works out for you OP. Sounds like you're being proactive about addressing potential issues which is the right approach. Most people who end up in serious trouble are the ones who try to hide from the problem.

I've been through a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned. The most important thing is to be proactive and honest. I made some reporting errors on my unemployment claim (forgot to report some freelance work) and was terrified about criminal charges. I ended up contacting Washington ESD directly to explain the situation before they even contacted me. They appreciated my honesty and we worked out a repayment plan without any criminal referral. The caseworker told me that intent is really the deciding factor - they see honest mistakes all the time and handle them very differently than deliberate fraud. Document everything about your situation and be prepared to explain exactly what happened and why. It's scary but most people in your situation end up with just a repayment obligation, not criminal charges.