Just went through this process myself about 6 months ago! One thing that really helped me was creating a checklist before I started. Make sure you have your business structure documents ready (LLC articles, partnership agreement, etc.) because they ask about ownership structure during registration. Also, if you're planning to have employees in multiple locations within Washington, you'll need to register each location separately. The whole process took me about 3 weeks from start to finish, but most of that was waiting for my EIN from the IRS first. Once I had all my documents together, the actual ESD registration was pretty straightforward through the online portal.

I just completed my Washington ESD registration a couple months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The key thing is to gather everything upfront - your EIN, business license info, and estimated payroll numbers. I actually called the ESD Business Services line early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) and got through pretty quickly - they were super helpful in explaining which forms I needed. One tip: if you're unsure about your NAICS industry code, they have a lookup tool on their website that's really detailed. Also, don't forget that once you register, you'll get assigned a unemployment account number that you'll need for all future filings. The whole process from submission to getting my account number took about 10 business days. Make sure to bookmark the SecureAccess Washington portal because that's where you'll be doing all your quarterly reporting going forward!

I went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago - got fired for attendance issues that were mostly due to public transit delays and some family medical emergencies I was dealing with. I was usually about 10-20 minutes late a few times per month, nothing excessive. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2.5 weeks of review. The adjudicator I spoke with during the phone interview was really understanding when I explained that the tardiness was due to circumstances largely outside my control. She asked if I had communicated with my employer about the transportation issues and if I had tried to find solutions, which I had. The key things that seemed to help my case were: 1) The tardiness wasn't extreme (not hours late), 2) There were legitimate external factors causing it, and 3) I had been a good employee otherwise. Your situation with bus delays and personal issues sounds very similar to mine. Definitely file your claim right away - even if your employer contests it, Washington ESD will give you a fair hearing to explain your side. Don't let the stress get to you too much, most people in situations like ours do get approved once they can tell their story.

I just went through this exact situation about 4 months ago - fired for tardiness due to a combination of unreliable public transit and caring for my sick father. I was typically 5-20 minutes late maybe 2-3 times per week over about 6 weeks. Washington ESD approved my claim after a thorough review that took about 3 weeks. During the phone interview, the adjudicator was very thorough but fair - they asked about the specific reasons for my lateness, whether I had communicated with my employer about the issues, and what steps I had taken to try to resolve them. What really helped my case was being completely honest about the circumstances and showing that the tardiness wasn't due to laziness or disregard for my job, but genuine life challenges that were largely outside my control. Your situation with bus delays and personal issues sounds very similar to mine, and the fact that you were only 10-15 minutes late (not hours) works in your favor. File your claim immediately and don't get discouraged if it goes into adjudication - that's normal for terminations. Be prepared to explain your situation clearly and honestly when they call for the interview. Most importantly, keep filing your weekly claims even during the review period so you don't miss out on any benefits you're entitled to. You've got a really good chance of getting approved based on what you've described.

I actually went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my partner lost his job. We withdrew about $35k from his 401k and I was terrified it would mess up his unemployment benefits permanently. Here's what actually happened: Week 1: Reported the 401k withdrawal under "retirement pay" on his weekly claim Week 2: Benefits were reduced to $0 for that week only (since the withdrawal was larger than his weekly benefit amount) Week 3: Regular benefits resumed at full amount like nothing happened The key things that helped us: - Report it honestly on the EXACT week you receive the money - Don't panic if that week shows $0 - it's temporary - Keep all your 401k paperwork in case they ask for it later (they didn't ask us) Also want to echo what others said about the tax hit - we're still dealing with that. The 10% penalty plus regular income tax was brutal, but we were in a desperate situation too. Make sure you set aside money for taxes next year! One more tip: if your husband's former employer had any employee assistance programs, some offer emergency financial counseling that might help you explore other options before touching retirement funds.

Just wanted to add one more resource that might help - Washington State has a free financial counseling service through the Department of Financial Institutions called "Financial Education Public-Private Partnership" that offers emergency financial planning sessions. They can help you figure out if there are other options before touching your 401k. My sister used them when her husband was laid off and they helped her navigate some assistance programs she didn't even know existed. You can find them on the DFI website under consumer services. Might be worth a quick call before making the final decision on the withdrawal. Hope things turn around for you both soon!

I'm in week 3 of adjudication and this thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! It's both reassuring and frustrating to see I'm not alone in this mess. I've been trying the 8am calling strategy with no luck, and after reading about everyone's success with Claimyr, I think I'm going to bite the bullet and try it. The cost stings when you're already financially stressed, but if it can get me actual answers about what's holding up my claim, it'll be worth it. Has anyone noticed if certain types of separation issues take longer to adjudicate? Mine was a standard layoff but I'm wondering if my previous employer dragging their feet on responding to ESD is what's causing the delay. Going to also reach out to my state rep's office tomorrow - didn't realize that was an option until reading this thread. Thanks again everyone for the solidarity and practical advice!

I'm in week 5 of adjudication and this thread has been a lifesaver - finally feels like I'm not going crazy! Reading everyone's experiences has given me both hope and a better understanding of what I might be dealing with. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims and keeping detailed work search records, but the complete silence from ESD is maddening. After seeing multiple success stories with Claimyr, I think I'm going to give it a try this week. It's frustrating to pay extra for what should be basic access to government services, but at this point I just need to know if there's something specific holding up my claim or if it's just the normal backlog. Also planning to contact my state representative's office - had no idea they could help with individual cases like this. My situation is a straightforward company closure, so there shouldn't be any complicated separation issues, but who knows what ESD is thinking. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and advice - it's really helpful to know there's light at the end of the tunnel even if the process is awful.

As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, I wanted to share a few additional tips that helped me during my pending period: 1. **Document everything with timestamps** - I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking when I filed, when I checked my status, any communications, etc. This was super helpful when I finally got through to an agent. 2. **Set up account alerts** - In your eServices account, make sure you have email and text notifications turned on for any status changes. Sometimes the system updates overnight and you might miss it if you're only checking manually. 3. **Don't panic about the pending duration** - Reading everyone's experiences here, it seems like anywhere from 1-6 weeks is unfortunately normal right now. My claim took 18 days total and I was convinced something was wrong, but it resolved on its own without me having to call. 4. **Use WorkSource for job search activities** - Their system integrates with ESD and makes it easier to track your required job searches. Plus they have resources that can actually help your job search beyond just meeting the requirement. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you're counting on those benefits, but based on all the stories shared here, the vast majority of legitimate claims do eventually get approved. Hang in there everyone!

What a comprehensive and helpful discussion this has become! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, I'm really impressed by how everyone has shared their experiences and created such a valuable resource for understanding the "Pending" status issue. A few observations from reading through all these experiences: **The "Pending" status seems to be a catch-all** - It covers everything from routine processing delays to employer verification issues to system glitches. The frustrating part is that claimants have no way to know which category their claim falls into. **Timing varies wildly but most resolve eventually** - We've seen everything from 4 days to 6 weeks, with 2-3 weeks seeming to be the current norm. Sofia's instant resolution once she got through to an agent really highlights how many of these aren't complex issues. **The job search requirement during pending is crucial** - This seems to catch a lot of people off guard, but multiple folks have emphasized how important it is to start those 3 weekly activities immediately, not after approval. **Being proactive pays off** - Whether it's calling ESD, checking with former employers, or using services like Claimyr, the people who took action seemed to get faster resolutions than those who just waited. For anyone dealing with this now: you're definitely not alone, and based on all the experiences shared here, legitimate claims do get approved. The system is just frustratingly opaque about timelines and next steps. This thread has become an amazing unofficial guide that fills in all the gaps the official ESD resources leave out!