I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got laid off in June and expecting a severance/bonus combo payment next month. This thread has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed yet: does the timing of when you actually RECEIVE the payment matter for reporting purposes? Like if the payment is dated for a Friday but doesn't hit my bank account until the following Monday, which week should I report it on? I want to make sure I'm reporting it on the correct weekly claim to avoid any issues. Also, has anyone had experience with ESD asking for bank statements to verify when you actually received the funds vs when they were issued?

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The key thing to remember is that ESD will likely put your claim on hold temporarily to review the lump sum payment, so don't panic when that happens. When I reported my severance + bonus combo (mine was about $9k total), they sent me a questionnaire asking me to break down exactly what each payment was for. I had to provide my final paystub and a letter from HR detailing the severance terms vs the bonus calculation. The whole review process took about 3 weeks, but once they sorted it out, my benefits resumed normally. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during the review period - don't stop filing just because your benefits are on hold or reduced to zero. That was the mistake I almost made!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm a seasonal worker at a Christmas tree farm and had no idea I could collect unemployment during the slow months. I've been working there for two winters now and always assumed seasonal employees weren't eligible for benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me confidence to file a claim this spring. It's frustrating how little information is out there specifically for seasonal workers - you really have to dig to find clear answers. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!

I've been working seasonal river rafting tours for the past 4 years and just discovered through this thread that I could have been collecting unemployment during winter months! Can't believe I've been missing out on this. My season runs April through October and I always scrape by during the off months doing random gig work. Question for those who've been filing - do you need to report the occasional one-off jobs like helping someone move or doing yard work for cash? I want to make sure I do this right when I file my first claim this winter.

Update us when you figure out what caused the adjudication. One other thing worth knowing: adjudication time frames have increased lately. ESD's current estimate is 3-6 weeks for resolution, though it can be shorter if your issue is simple. While waiting, make sure you continue to file weekly claims by the deadlines - if you're eventually approved, you'll receive back payments for all eligible weeks you claimed.

That's great news that you finally got some answers! It's amazing how much stress gets lifted when you at least know what's causing the delay. The employer not providing a return date initially makes total sense - that's probably one of the most common causes of adjudication for standby claims. 7-10 business days is way better than the horror stories some people have shared here. Definitely keep filing those weekly claims like the agent said. Once this gets resolved, you should get all that back pay at once. Thanks for sharing the Claimyr recommendation too - sounds like it really works for getting through to ESD when you're stuck.

I'm in a really similar situation - my benefits run out in about 2 months and the stress is keeping me up at night. After reading through all these responses, it's clear there aren't any extensions available, which is really disappointing but at least now I know for sure. What's really helpful though are all the suggestions about WorkSource retraining programs and temp agencies. I had no idea about the partial unemployment option where you can still collect reduced benefits while working temp jobs - that could be a real lifesaver during the transition. Vincent, I hope you're able to get some clarity through one of those callback services people mentioned. It sounds like several people here have had success with career pivots through those certification programs, so maybe this forced change will end up opening new doors for all of us. Thanks for asking this question - even though the answer isn't what we wanted to hear, the community support and practical advice here has been incredibly valuable.

Vincent, I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my manufacturing benefits ran out after 26 weeks. It's incredibly stressful, I know. Unfortunately, everyone here is right - there are no extensions available beyond the standard 26 weeks in Washington state right now. The pandemic programs ended years ago, and Extended Benefits only trigger when unemployment rates hit specific thresholds we haven't reached. However, I want to echo what others said about exploring WorkSource retraining programs IMMEDIATELY while you still have benefits. I got into an industrial maintenance certification program that was 10 weeks and completely covered by WorkSource. With your aerospace background, you'd be perfect for programs in precision manufacturing, quality control, or CNC operation. Also, definitely look into temp agencies like Aerotek and Randstad - they have strong connections with Boeing suppliers and other manufacturers who value aerospace experience. The partial unemployment option is huge too - you can work temp jobs and still collect reduced benefits. Don't lose hope, this forced transition might actually open better opportunities than what you had before!

I went through this exact same situation about a month ago! Got approved after 5 weeks of adjudication and then had to wait another few days for the actual payment. In my case, I was approved on a Tuesday and the money hit my account that Friday (3 business days). The key thing is to make sure all your banking info is correct in your profile - any issues there will delay it even more. Also, don't panic if the back pay comes in weird amounts or on different days, that's totally normal. The system processes everything in batches. You're so close to the finish line after all that waiting!

I'm in a similar situation - just got approved yesterday after 7 weeks of waiting! It's such a relief to finally see that status change. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like most people are getting their first payment within 2-4 business days, which gives me hope. I've been filing my weekly claims the whole time so hopefully all that back pay processes smoothly. The hardest part was not knowing if I'd ever get approved, but now it's just a matter of waiting a few more days. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines - it really helps to know what to expect!