Bottom line: they have serious collection powers and won't forget about the debt. But if you communicate with them, they'll usually work with you. The worst thing you can do is ignore it and hope it goes away.

Paolo, I went through something similar last year. Washington ESD is serious about collections - they can garnish wages (usually 25%), intercept tax refunds, and even put liens on property. The interest compounds at 1% per month plus penalties, so a $2,800 debt can quickly become much larger. However, they do offer payment plans and sometimes hardship deferrals if you can prove financial distress. The key is to contact them before they start collection actions. I'd strongly recommend trying that Claimyr service others mentioned - it really does work for getting through their phone system. Don't ignore this hoping it will go away - it won't, and your options will only get worse with time.

I went through a similar situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. I had exactly 2 weeks between getting my offer and start date, just like you! Here's what I did: I submitted my standby request immediately and then called ESD every single day starting day 3. I know it's frustrating, but persistence pays off. Try calling right when they open at 8 AM - that's when I had the most success getting through. When I finally reached an agent on day 5, they expedited my request and I got approval 2 days later. The key things that helped: - Had my offer letter ready with clear start date - Emphasized the urgent timeline when I spoke to the agent - Kept doing job searches until I saw "APPROVED" in my account - Filed my weekly claims normally and answered YES to having a return-to-work date You've got this! The timing should work out if you stay on top of it. And honestly, even if the approval comes through after you start work, at least you'll have those final benefit payments coming your way.

Just wanted to add another data point - I went through standby approval in December 2024 and it took exactly 8 business days. I submitted on a Monday and got approved the following Tuesday. One thing I learned that might help: when you submit your standby request, make sure to select "Return to Work - Definite Date" as your reason (not just "Return to Work"). The agent I spoke with mentioned this helps flag it properly in their system. Also, don't panic if you don't hear anything for the first week - that seems to be pretty normal based on what I've seen. Just keep doing your job search activities and filing your weekly claims. The system will backdate everything once your standby gets approved. Good luck with your new job! Retail management can be really rewarding if you enjoy working with people and problem-solving.

Final thought for anyone reading this thread - don't let the complexity of the system overwhelm you into inaction. Whether it's using Claimyr to get clear answers from Washington ESD, applying for other assistance programs, or checking into training opportunities, taking some action is better than just hoping things work out. The system is confusing but there are people and resources that can help you navigate it.

One more resource that helped me - the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has a benefits calculator on their website where you can see what assistance programs you might qualify for based on your income and family size. It's called the Washington Connection and it pre-screens you for multiple programs at once instead of having to apply to each one separately. Really saved me time when my UI ran out last year.

just wanted to add that if you ever need to call washington esd about claim issues, that claimyr thing actually works. saved me from spending all day trying to get through on the phone

Processed means you're all set for that week! Congrats on getting through your second weekly claim. It gets easier once you get into the routine.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My identity verification has been "under review" for 4 weeks despite submitting everything they asked for. What's really frustrating is that I can see in my portal that all my documents were "received" but there's zero communication about what's actually happening. I've been trying the phone lines every single day with no luck. Reading through these responses, I'm definitely going to try the WorkSource office visit first thing Monday morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll look into contacting my state representative. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get basic communication about our own claims. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

I went through this exact same identity verification nightmare about 6 months ago and it took almost 8 weeks to resolve! What finally worked for me was a combination of approaches. First, I re-uploaded all my documents but this time I made sure they were extremely high quality scans (not photos) and that every corner was visible with no shadows or glare. Second, I kept detailed records of every attempt to contact them - dates, times, what happened. Finally, I sent a formal complaint through the ESD website's "Contact Us" form specifically mentioning the exact number of days my claim had been blocked and requesting escalation. Within a week of that formal complaint, I got a callback from a supervisor who was able to see that my documents were actually fine but had been sitting in a queue waiting for manual review. The supervisor cleared it immediately. I know it's incredibly frustrating but document everything and don't give up! Also try multiple approaches at once - WorkSource visit, formal complaint, and keep trying the phones.