UPDATE: First, thank you all for the helpful suggestions! I finally got through to ESD this morning (I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested, and it actually worked). Turns out my former employer DID contest my claim saying I had "quit without good cause" when I was actually laid off. The ESD agent said this triggered automatic disqualifications but there was no notification in the system because of a "correspondence error" (whatever that means). The agent has scheduled me for a fact-finding interview next week where I can present my layoff documentation. She said if the adjudicator rules in my favor, all my disqualified weeks will be paid retroactively. Fingers crossed! Thank you all again for the help - I'd have been completely lost without your advice.

So glad you got through and found out what was happening! This is exactly why I always tell people to document EVERYTHING when they leave a job - employers contest claims way more often than people realize. For your fact-finding interview, also bring any emails or texts from your supervisor about the layoff, performance reviews showing you were doing well, and if possible, contact info for coworkers who witnessed the layoff. The more evidence you have that contradicts your employer's story, the better. Wishing you the best - hopefully you'll get those back payments soon!

Update: I got through to ESD finally! Turns out my weekly claims were disqualified because I wasn't correctly reporting my job search activities. The agent explained I need exactly 3 per week and they need to be entered correctly in the system. She helped me file an appeal for those weeks and showed me how to properly document activities going forward. For anyone with similar issues - definitely call them right away instead of waiting like I did!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! Your experience highlights something really important - the difference between "disqualified" and "pending" status that many people don't understand. I've seen so many posts where people think disqualified just means "waiting for approval" when it actually means there's a specific issue that needs to be addressed. The job search documentation requirement definitely trips up a lot of first-time filers. It's great that you were able to file an appeal for those weeks - hopefully you'll get them approved retroactively since you were actually doing job searches, just not reporting them properly in the system.

UPDATE: My payment finally hit my account this morning! Looks like it was just delayed by a couple days. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!

I'm dealing with the same issue right now - my payment shows "paid" in eServices but still hasn't deposited after 3 days. This is so frustrating when you're relying on these funds for basic expenses. Has anyone found that calling ESD directly actually helps speed things up, or do you just have to wait it out? I'm worried there might be some kind of hold on my account that I don't know about.

have u tried the ESD escalation form on their website?? Sometimes that works better than calling. Go to esd.wa.gov > unemployment > customer care > escalation form. It's burried on purpose I think lol

my neighbor works for the legislatur and said the best way to get ESD attention is to file a complaint with the state ombdusman office. they have legal authority to investigate state agencies. might be worth a try if the other stuff doesn't work

Really hope you find a better solution than payday loans. Those things are designed to keep people trapped in debt cycles, especially people on fixed incomes like unemployment.

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from researching this. Yes, Washington ESD unemployment benefits do count as income for payday loans, but like others have said, the interest rates are predatory - often 400% APR or higher. At $485/week, you'd be looking at potentially paying back $1200+ on an $800 loan. Before going that route, I'd strongly suggest: 1) Getting multiple repair quotes (prices can vary significantly), 2) Asking the repair shop about payment plans or financing, 3) Checking with your credit union for a personal loan (even at 15-20% APR it's way better than payday rates), 4) Calling 211 for local emergency assistance programs, and 5) Using that Claimyr service others mentioned to see if Washington ESD has any emergency transportation assistance. You might also consider selling items you don't need or doing some gig work like food delivery on weekends to raise part of the money. I know it's stressful when you need transportation for job interviews, but a payday loan could make your financial situation much worse in the long run.