Update on my situation - after using Claimyr to reach an ESD agent, they told me my claim needed additional employment verification (which was never communicated to me through the portal). I uploaded my final paystub and W-2 from previous year, and my claim was approved within 6 business days. All pending weeks were paid at once. The agent also told me they're dealing with a major backlog due to their new verification system that was implemented in October. Apparently a lot of legitimate claims are getting caught in the new fraud prevention filters.

I'm in week 6 of pending status myself and reading everyone's experiences here is both comforting and terrifying. What strikes me is how many different reasons there can be for delays - wage discrepancies, identity verification, employer responses, system flags - yet ESD doesn't communicate ANY of this to us! I've been doing everything "right" - filing weekly claims, job searches, answering unknown calls - but getting zero feedback about what's actually happening. It's cruel to leave people in financial limbo without basic information about their case status. Based on what I'm reading here, it seems like the common thread is that most people eventually get their benefits with full backpay, but only after weeks or months of unnecessary stress. I'm going to try contacting my state rep tomorrow and look into that Claimyr service too. Thank you to everyone sharing their stories - at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess.

Quick reminder that if you get a job offer, you need to report it even if you turn it down. Washington ESD will want to know why you refused suitable work.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'm feeling much more confident about my job search requirements now. It's reassuring to know that 3 activities per week is the standard and that I'm on the right track. I'll make sure to keep detailed records in a spreadsheet like some of you suggested. Really appreciate this community - it's so much easier to get clear answers here than trying to navigate the ESD website or phone system!

The whole system is designed to be temporary assistance, not long-term support. 26 weeks is actually pretty generous compared to some states. Just stay focused on the job search and don't get discouraged.

I'm currently on week 12 of my unemployment claim and reading through all these responses is really helpful but also making me nervous! The 26-week limit seems to be pretty firm. I've been doing my 3 job searches per week and documenting everything, but the market in my field (marketing) is really competitive right now. Has anyone had success with contract or freelance work while still collecting partial benefits? I'm wondering if that might be a way to stretch things out while still looking for something permanent.

One last tip - if your claim stays in processing for more than 5 business days, document everything and be prepared to explain your situation when you do get through to an agent. Having dates and details ready helps speed up the resolution.

I went through something similar last year and found that processing delays are often triggered by system updates or maintenance on their end. Sometimes it's not even related to your specific claim - just general system slowdowns. The good news is that when it does clear, you usually get all your back payments at once. Hang in there!

Thanks again everyone! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more prepared to file my claim now.

Just wanted to add that you should also keep records of all your job applications and contacts for your weekly claims. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time, so it's important to document everything - where you applied, when, contact person if you have one, and what type of position. I learned this the hard way when they requested my records and I had to scramble to recreate everything from memory.