The bottom line is Washington ESD looks at each case individually. No-call no-shows are generally considered misconduct, but there are always exceptions based on the specific circumstances. Document everything you can about why you missed work and file your claim. Worst case scenario, you get denied and you're in the same position you're in now.

I went through something similar last year - got terminated for excessive absences due to anxiety issues I was dealing with. Washington ESD initially denied my claim, but I gathered documentation from my therapist and medical records showing I was seeking treatment. The appeal hearing was nerve-wracking but the judge was actually pretty understanding once I explained the full situation. It took about 8 weeks total but I did end up getting approved for benefits retroactively. The key is being completely honest about your circumstances and having any documentation that supports your case. Even if it feels hopeless, definitely file that claim - you might be surprised by the outcome.

Good luck with your case OP. It's frustrating but don't give up. Most people who were legitimately laid off do eventually get their benefits approved.

I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is claiming I violated company policy when I was actually part of a restructuring layoff. It's been 6 weeks and I'm running out of savings. The stress of not knowing when (or if) you'll get approved is almost worse than being unemployed. Have you considered reaching out to any local legal aid organizations? Some offer free consultations for unemployment disputes and might be able to help you navigate the process or identify if your employer is making false claims.

In addition to what others have shared, I'd recommend taking screenshots of the email confirmation for the interview and your follow-up email. Save these with the date in the filename. ESD audits can happen up to a year later, and having digital proof can save you a lot of headaches. Also, if you use the WorkSource job match system and apply through there, those activities are automatically recorded in their system which provides additional verification if needed during an audit.

Just wanted to add that I've been in a similar situation multiple times during my job search. What I do now is send a confirmation email the day before any scheduled interview (even phone interviews) saying something like "Looking forward to our call tomorrow at 2pm. Please let me know if anything changes." This creates another paper trail and sometimes catches scheduling mix-ups before they happen. Also, if you're ever short on activities for the week, attending virtual job fairs or webinars hosted by WorkSource or local organizations count too. They usually have several each week and you can find them on the WorkSource calendar. It's a good backup when employers flake on you like this!

The bottom line is we're all in the same boat here. Keep doing your job search requirements, stay on top of any news from Washington ESD, and have backup plans ready. That's all we can really do right now.

I'm in a similar situation at week 21 and honestly the stress is getting to me too. From everything I've read and heard, it seems like we're pretty much stuck with the standard 26 weeks unless something major changes at the federal level. I've been trying to prepare mentally for that reality while still hoping something comes through. One thing that's helped me is setting up alerts for Washington ESD news and checking their social media regularly - figured if anything changes, I want to know immediately. Has anyone found any reliable sources for staying updated on potential policy changes beyond just the main ESD website?

One more thing - if you do run into any issues or have questions about your claim, don't hesitate to call Washington ESD. Yes the wait times can be long, but the agents are generally helpful once you get through. Or use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier if you want to skip the hold time.

Just wanted to add that as someone who recently went through this process, the key is to be patient but persistent. I filed in March after getting laid off from my manufacturing job and everything went smoothly. The online system walks you through each step pretty clearly, and as long as you keep up with the weekly filing and job search requirements, you should be fine. The benefits really do help bridge the gap while you're looking for new work. Good luck with your application!