This is exactly what I needed to understand! I was so worried that I'd have to wait a whole week before I could even start the process, but now I see it's just that first week won't be paid. It's still frustrating when you're already stressed about money, but at least I know what to expect. I'll make sure to file that first weekly claim even though I won't get paid for it, and I'll start tracking my job search activities right away. Thanks everyone for breaking this down - the Washington ESD website really doesn't explain it clearly at all.

I just went through this exact same confusion when I filed my claim three weeks ago! The waiting week really threw me off too. What helped me was thinking of it this way: you're still "in the system" and following all the rules from day one, but Washington state just withholds payment for that first week. It's like they're testing to make sure you're serious about being unemployed and following through with all the requirements. The good news is that once you get past that first unpaid week, payments come pretty regularly if your claim is approved. Just remember to keep doing those 3 job search activities and log them in WorkSourceWA even during your waiting week - I made the mistake of thinking I could slack off that first week since I wasn't getting paid anyway, but you definitely can't!

I'm in a similar situation - laid off from my retail job but also do part-time work as a substitute teacher. From what I've learned through this process, the key is being completely transparent with ESD about everything. When you file your weekly claims, always report the volunteer firefighter hours and the $40 stipend. I use the online system and there's a section where you can add notes - I always write something like "volunteer firefighter stipend" so it's crystal clear what the income is from. One thing that helped me was calling my local WorkSource office (not ESD directly, but they can often answer questions). They confirmed that as long as I'm actively job searching and available for full-time work, my substitute teaching doesn't hurt my claim. Also, keep records of your volunteer schedule and any communication with the fire department about your flexibility. If ESD ever questions your availability, you'll want to show them that you can adjust your volunteer hours around job interviews or if you get hired. Good luck with both the job search and the volunteer work - it's great that you're giving back to your community during this time!

I'm actually in a very similar boat! Just got my layoff notice from the warehouse where I work, and I've been volunteering with our local search and rescue team for the past two years. We get a small stipend too - about $25 per call, which isn't much but it does add up. From what I've researched so far, the most important thing is being completely upfront about everything when you file your weekly claims. I've been documenting all my SAR activities and keeping track of the flexibility I have with scheduling. Our coordinator is really understanding about people having job interviews or work commitments. One thing I'm curious about - have you thought about how the volunteer firefighter experience might actually help with your job search? I know a lot of employers really value that kind of community service background, especially the reliability and teamwork aspects. Might be worth highlighting on applications even if it's not paid work. Also, I've heard that some people actually use their volunteer work as networking opportunities for job leads. Fire departments work with lots of local businesses and contractors - you never know who might know about job openings in manufacturing! Keep us posted on how it goes with ESD. Your situation is helping me think through my own approach when I file in a few weeks.

Quick update based on recent information: ESD is currently working through a backlog of claims from December and January. Many claims from December 8-15 should be processed within the next two weeks according to their latest internal timeline. Keep filing those weekly claims and make sure to check your correspondence inbox in eServices daily.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now. Filed my claim in mid-December and still stuck in adjudication with zero explanation. What's really frustrating is that I have all my documentation ready - termination letter clearly shows layoff due to company restructuring, W-2s, everything. But the system just sits there doing nothing while bills pile up. Has anyone had luck with contacting their state representatives? I'm at the point where I'm considering reaching out to my local legislators office to see if they can put pressure on ESD to actually process these claims. This can't be legal to just leave people hanging for months without any communication or timeline. Also keeping detailed records of every attempt to contact them in case I need to file a complaint later. This whole situation is beyond unacceptable.

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.

Just want to add one more important detail - when you're gathering your employment information, make sure to include ALL employers from the past 18 months, even if you only worked there briefly or it was temporary work. Washington ESD uses something called your "base year" to calculate benefits, and leaving out any employment could reduce your benefit amount. Also, if you worked for multiple employers at the same time, list them all separately with their respective dates and wages. I made the mistake of combining part-time jobs on my first application and it caused delays.

Hey Miguel! I just went through this process a few months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. The stress is totally understandable - I was panicking about rent too. Here's what worked for me: Start by going to esd.wa.gov and create your SecureAccess Washington account first. Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and bank info ready. For employment history, write down every job from the last 18 months with exact dates and wages - even short temp jobs count toward your benefits! The application took me about 45 minutes, and I got my monetary determination in about 10 days. Don't worry if you don't have every pay stub - they can verify most wages through their system. The key is to apply ASAP since benefits start from when you file, not when you lost your job. You've got this!