One more tip - make sure you have a secure email address that you check regularly. All communication from Washington ESD will come through email, including important notices about your claim status.

Also want to add - if you're filing for the first time, make sure you have your bank account information ready for direct deposit setup. Washington ESD strongly encourages direct deposit over paper checks, and it's much faster. You'll need your routing number and account number. If you don't have a bank account, some credit unions offer free checking accounts specifically for unemployment recipients.

Bottom line: check your payment status online first, call the automated line if you need faster updates, and if there's a real problem that needs human help, don't waste time on hold - use whatever resources you need to get connected to someone who can actually help you.

One thing that helped me was setting up a routine - I check my payment status every Tuesday and Thursday morning instead of obsessively checking every day. The status usually updates overnight Monday/Tuesday for claims filed on Sunday, so checking Tuesday gives you the real info. If it's still showing "Processing" by Thursday, that's when I know to take action. This approach saved my sanity during the months I was on unemployment!

Bottom line: yes you pay federal taxes on unemployment, no you don't pay Washington state taxes on it, and yes you should have received a 1099-G showing the amount. File your taxes on time even if you can't pay immediately.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago. One thing that really helped me was setting aside about 20% of each unemployment payment for taxes - I know it's hard when money is tight, but it saved me from a huge shock at tax time. Also, if you're doing your own taxes, make sure to double-check that the 1099-G amount matches what you actually received. I had a discrepancy where they included a week that was later denied, and it took forever to get corrected. The tax software like TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA handles unemployment income pretty well and will walk you through it step by step.

update us when you get approved!! sending good vibes

I'm dealing with something similar right now - been in adjudication for 3 weeks and just noticed my status changed from "under review" to "pending decision" yesterday. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope! It's reassuring to know that the status changes actually mean progress is being made. I was starting to think the system was broken or something. @Malik Johnson - really hoping you get good news soon, it sounds like you have all the right documentation for your medical situation. The fact that you're at "pending decision" status sounds really promising based on what everyone else is sharing!

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation too! Been stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks and just saw a second claim number pop up yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like this is actually a sign that someone is finally reviewing our cases rather than them just sitting in a pile somewhere. @Atticus Domingo - did you end up getting any updates since posting this? I'm hoping your case got resolved quickly after the second claim appeared. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you're stressed about bills piling up. One thing I learned from calling around is that sometimes the second claim number appears when they need to verify specific eligibility requirements or when your case gets flagged for manual review (which isn't necessarily bad - could just mean they want to double-check something). The person I spoke with at my local WorkSource office said to keep filing weekly claims no matter what, and that the second number usually means you're in the final stages of review. Fingers crossed for all of us waiting - sounds like most people here got approved within 1-2 weeks after seeing that second claim number appear!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same situation! Been stuck in adjudication for about 5 weeks and just noticed a second claim number appeared in my account yesterday. I was honestly panicking when I first saw it because I thought maybe they had duplicated my claim or something went wrong with the system. Reading through everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief - it sounds like this is actually a good sign that our cases are finally getting reviewed rather than just sitting in limbo. The whole process is so opaque and stressful, especially when you're already dealing with financial pressure. I also contacted my state representative about 2 weeks ago, so the timing seems similar to what others have experienced. Going to keep doing my weekly certifications and job search activities while I wait for this to process. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess and that there might actually be light at the end of the tunnel! Fingers crossed we all get approved soon. 🤞