I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My manager has been cutting my hours randomly, being verbally aggressive in meetings, and creating such a stressful environment that I'm having anxiety attacks on Sunday nights just thinking about Monday. What really resonates with me is hearing from people who actually got approved for benefits after quitting for good cause - I was starting to think it was impossible. The documentation advice is spot on. I've started keeping a detailed log of every incident with dates, times, and witnesses present. Even saved screenshots of text messages about sudden schedule changes. One thing I wanted to add for anyone in this situation - I called the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier and they actually got me through to a real ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual busy signals. The agent confirmed that hostile work environment and significant schedule changes can definitely qualify as good cause, but emphasized that documentation is absolutely crucial. They said having witnesses willing to speak to ESD during the investigation makes a huge difference too. It's validating to know that we don't have to just accept abuse to keep our jobs. Mental health matters and toxic workplaces can seriously damage your wellbeing. For anyone on the fence about quitting, start documenting now even if you're not sure yet - having that evidence ready gives you options.

I've been following this conversation and want to add my experience from last year. I was in almost the exact same situation - boss constantly changing my schedule last minute, creating a hostile environment, and cutting my hours unpredictably. I spent weeks agonizing over whether to quit because I was terrified of losing my benefits. What finally helped me make the decision was calling Washington ESD directly (used that Claimyr service people mentioned here - totally worth it to actually get through). The agent walked me through what "good cause" means and emphasized that constructive dismissal is real. I quit after documenting everything for about a month, got approved for benefits after a 3-week investigation. The key things that helped my case: detailed incident log with exact dates/times, screenshots of last-minute schedule changes, and having two coworkers who witnessed the hostile behavior and were willing to talk to ESD. The financial stress during the investigation was tough but manageable with some gig work. Most importantly - my mental health improved dramatically once I left that toxic environment. Don't sacrifice your wellbeing for a paycheck. If you're experiencing genuine hostile conditions, document everything and know that you have options.

just wanna say i feel ur pain... ESD is the WORST!!! moved from seattle to phoenix last year and had to deal with them remotely for 2 months. nightmare. good luck!!!

I went through something similar last year when I moved to Oregon but still had to deal with my Washington ESD claim. A few things that helped me: 1. The messaging system through eServices actually works better than people think - I got responses in 3-4 business days consistently when I was specific about what I needed. 2. For the "additional information" status, check if there's a letter or document request in the "Correspondence" tab. Mine was buried in there and I missed it for weeks. 3. Since you're out of state, make sure his mailing address is updated in the system. Sometimes they mail important documents that never reach you if the address is wrong. 4. I had better luck calling around 2:30-3:00pm PST (5:30-6:00pm your time) - seems like fewer people are trying then. The phone system is still terrible, but don't give up. It took me 6 weeks to resolve my issue, but once I finally got through to someone, they were actually pretty helpful. Keep having him file his weekly claims no matter what - that's crucial!

when i was on unemployment it was like this the whole time. first payment took like 4 weeks after approval, then after that it was pretty regular. hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got approved two weeks ago but all my payments are still showing "pending" with no explanation. It's so stressful not knowing if there's an issue or if it's just their normal slow process. Reading everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful - at least I know I'm not the only one dealing with this. Going to try calling again tomorrow morning right when they open, maybe I'll have better luck getting through then. Thanks for posting about this!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the online application or need to check your claim status, Washington ESD also has a mobile app that can be easier to use than the website sometimes. Also, make sure you keep copies of everything you submit - I learned that lesson when they asked me to resubmit documents I thought they already had. Good luck with your claim!

One more thing to keep in mind - if you receive any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers severance as wages, so depending on how it's structured, you might have a delay before benefits kick in. I had a friend who got 4 weeks severance and couldn't collect unemployment until after that period ended. Just something to check on if you're getting any kind of separation package from your tech company.

Once you get the approval, notice your payments are automatically sent out. Natalie, I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. I know a lot about the unemployment system, and when I was in adjudication, and I got the approval letter, my payments were issued immediately.

This is exactly why ESD needs better transparency in their system. You shouldn't have to pay a third-party service or wait hours on hold just to find out there's a "quarterly review flag" blocking your payments. It's ridiculous that these blocks aren't visible to claimants in the portal. At minimum, they should show a status like "Payment under review" instead of just leaving everyone hanging with "pending" and no explanation. Glad you finally got it resolved, but the fact that you had to go through all that stress and expense just to get money you were already approved for is unacceptable. Hopefully your experience helps others who are stuck in the same situation realize they need to be persistent about actually reaching someone at ESD rather than just waiting and hoping the payments will magically appear.