That's exactly the kind of reassurance I needed to hear! It's amazing how many people in this thread have successfully navigated school while on unemployment. Your Tuesday/Thursday evenings plus Saturday schedule sounds perfect - very similar to what I'm planning with my digital marketing program. It's been so helpful to see the consistent message that Washington ESD actually views skills training positively when it's clearly job-related and doesn't interfere with work availability. The fact that multiple people have called and gotten encouraging responses from agents really puts my mind at ease. I think the key takeaway for all of us is that transparency and choosing the right schedule are crucial. Thanks for adding to this thread - it's been incredible to connect with so many people in similar situations who are using this time to invest in their future careers!

I'm so glad you asked this question! I was in almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago - unemployed for about 8 weeks and considering a healthcare administration certificate program. After reading through tons of forums and finally getting through to a Washington ESD agent (took forever on hold), I learned that evening/weekend programs are totally fine as long as you remain available for work during business hours. The key is being completely upfront about it on your weekly claims from day one. I ended up completing my program and it actually helped me land my current job - employers loved seeing that I used my unemployment time productively to gain relevant skills. Washington ESD never gave me any trouble about it, and the agent I spoke with said they actually prefer when people are taking steps to improve their employability rather than just collecting benefits. Just make sure your program is at an accredited school and directly relates to your career goals. Your digital marketing certification sounds perfect since that field is booming right now!

Just want to emphasize again - do NOT go without health insurance while on unemployment. Even if you think you can't afford it, check all your options first. The financial risk isn't worth it.

Also worth checking if your county has any local health programs or clinics that offer services on a sliding fee scale based on income. Even with marketplace coverage, you might find cheaper options for routine care and prescriptions while you're on unemployment. Some counties in Washington have really good programs that can supplement your insurance coverage.

Currently on week 6 of adjudication here (filed January 8th) and this thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and especially @Brianna Schmidt for all the detailed guidance. My case is also a separation issue - laid off in a "restructuring" but employer is claiming poor performance. Classic move to avoid higher UI tax rates. I have emails and performance reviews that contradict their claims, but like everyone else, getting someone to actually look at the evidence seems impossible. What's really wearing me down is the psychological toll. I wake up every day checking my account hoping for some update, any update, and it's always the same "adjudication in progress" message. I've started having anxiety about answering my phone because I'm so desperate for that ESD call that never comes. I've been doing some contract work to stay afloat (reporting it properly on weekly claims) but it's barely covering basics. Had to move back in with my parents at 32 which is... humbling. @Tyler Lefleur - really interested in your Claimyr experience. Did they charge you anything upfront or was it one of those "only pay if successful" deals? At this point I'm willing to try almost anything to talk to an actual human who can move my case forward. Stay strong everyone - hopefully we'll all have better news to share soon.

I'm on week 3 of adjudication (filed February 5th) and this thread is both incredibly helpful and absolutely terrifying. My employer is also claiming "performance issues" for what was clearly a layoff due to budget cuts - seems like every company has gotten the memo on this tactic. The financial stress is real. I thought I was being responsible by saving 2 months of expenses, but clearly that wasn't nearly enough for Washington's system. Already had to cancel my gym membership and switch to the cheapest phone plan possible. What really gets me is how they can just leave people hanging for months with zero communication. Like @Liam Sullivan said, even a simple "we're still working on it, expect X more weeks" email would make this so much more bearable than constantly wondering if something went wrong or got lost. I've been afraid to take any gig work because I wasn't sure how it would affect my claim, but seeing multiple people here successfully reporting side income gives me courage to try. Might start doing some food delivery this weekend just to have something coming in. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel way less alone in this nightmare. Really hoping we all get some positive movement soon. The system is clearly broken but at least we're supporting each other through it.

This is good info for everyone to know - ESD can request identity verification at ANY point during your claim year, not just at the beginning. Pro tip: keep digital copies of your ID documents in a secure location so you can quickly upload them if asked. This helps avoid payment delays. Also, make sure your phone number is up-to-date in your ESD account because sometimes they'll text verification codes if they need additional verification.

Just wanted to add that if anyone gets flagged for ID verification, don't panic if your documents get rejected the first time. Sometimes the photos aren't clear enough or there's glare on your ID. I had to resubmit my driver's license twice because the first photo was too blurry. Make sure you're in good lighting and the entire document is visible in the frame. Also, if you have an out-of-state ID but live in Washington now, that's totally fine - they just want to verify you're a real person, not necessarily that you're a Washington resident.

One last tip - when you file, be specific about the safety issues you reported and the timeline. Don't just say 'performance problems' if you think it was retaliation. The more context you provide upfront, the better Washington ESD can evaluate your claim.

I went through a similar situation last year - got terminated for "performance issues" but I'm pretty sure it was actually because I had filed a complaint with L&I about workplace safety violations. The timing was just too suspicious. Washington ESD approved my claim without any issues once I explained the full timeline during my initial application. The fact that you reported unsafe conditions and then got fired shortly after is definitely something they'll take into consideration. Make sure to include all those details and dates when you file - it really strengthens your case if they can see a pattern of retaliation rather than legitimate performance concerns.