I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - just got approved for only 18 weeks instead of the full 26. Like others mentioned, it really does come down to your base year work history. I had a 4-week gap between jobs last year and that's what did it for me. One thing I learned that might help - when you're checking your monetary determination letter, pay special attention to make sure ALL your employers from your base year are listed. I initially missed that one of my previous employers wasn't showing up at all, which would have cost me even more weeks. Had to contact them to get their wage records submitted properly. The whole system is definitely confusing and they don't explain it well in the letters. But the math others shared about dividing total hours by 40 and then taking about 1/3 of that seems to track with what I'm seeing. Still frustrating though when you're used to hearing "26 weeks" as the standard.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed my claim last week and still waiting for my determination letter, but I'm worried I'll get hit with the same issue. I worked steadily for my main employer but had about 8 weeks off between two different projects during my base year. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful though. I had no idea the 26 weeks wasn't automatic - I thought everyone got that! The math explanation makes sense even though it seems harsh that short gaps can reduce your weeks so much. One question - for those who found missing employers on their determination letters, how long did it take ESD to process the corrections and update your claim? I want to be prepared in case I run into the same issue.

Congratulations Santiago! This is exactly what happened to me last month - went from disqualified to processing to paid within a week. The fact that yours changed so quickly after uploading those job search documents is a really good sign. ESD's system is painfully slow but when it finally moves, it usually means they've cleared whatever was holding up your claim. Keep filing your weekly claims even while it's processing - you don't want to miss any weeks! Hope you get that back pay soon, 8 weeks is a lot to catch up on.

This whole thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar situation - been stuck on "disqualified" for about 3 weeks now after they said I didn't meet work search requirements. I submitted all my job applications and interview proof but haven't heard anything back yet. Seeing Santiago's success story gives me hope that maybe they're just really backed up reviewing documentation. Did anyone else find that uploading documents through the ESD portal actually worked better than mailing them in? I'm wondering if I should try resubmitting everything online just to be safe.

Final update from OP: I ended up using that Claimyr service people mentioned and got connected to a Washington ESD agent who confirmed I have exactly 4 weeks of benefits remaining. No extended benefits available currently. Time to really push hard on job applications. Thanks everyone for the helpful responses!

I'm in a similar situation - started my claim in August and just realized I'm probably close to hitting that 26-week limit too. This thread has been super helpful in understanding what to expect. For anyone else reading this, I'd recommend checking your eServices account regularly to see how many weeks you have left. I wish Washington ESD made this information more prominent in their weekly claim reminders. It's stressful enough being unemployed without surprise deadlines! Has anyone here had luck with temp agencies or gig work to supplement income after benefits run out?

Is anyone else worried about how common identity theft seems to be with unemployment claims? My cousin had the same thing happen last month but she couldn't get it resolved and ended up waiting 6 weeks to file her claim. Then they questioned why she waited so long to file after her job ended! The whole system feels like a catch-22 sometimes.

I'm glad you were able to get this resolved! This is actually a growing problem - unemployment fraud increased dramatically during the pandemic and the systems are still catching up. For anyone else facing this issue, here are a few additional tips: 1) Screenshot everything when you encounter the mystery email screen - ESD agents will need to see exactly what you're seeing, 2) If you suspect identity theft, file a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov before calling ESD - having that reference number can help expedite the process, and 3) Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports while you're dealing with this. The whole situation is frustrating but it's definitely fixable once you reach the right person.

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my unemployment claim 3.5 weeks ago after being laid off from my job at a local credit union, and I'm still seeing "pending employer response" with no updates. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially since I have rent due next week and my emergency fund is nearly depleted. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and frustrating - helpful because I now know about the 10-day rule under WAC 192-130-060 and that I should try calling ESD right at 8am, but frustrating because it's clear this is a widespread problem that shouldn't be happening. It's ridiculous that straightforward layoff cases are taking weeks or months to process when the regulations clearly state employers have 10 days to respond. I'm going to start documenting everything like Savannah suggested - call attempts, dates, screenshots - and try the early morning calling strategy starting tomorrow. If that doesn't work by Friday, I think I'll reach out to my state representative's office like Rudy mentioned. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to after losing our jobs through no fault of our own. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - it really does help to know I'm not alone in this mess, even though none of us should be going through it in the first place.

I'm going through this exact same situation and the stress is overwhelming! Filed my claim 2.5 weeks ago after my restaurant management position was eliminated due to restructuring, and I'm still stuck on "pending employer response." What's making it worse is that I know several coworkers who filed around the same time and they're all in the same boat - none of us have heard anything. Reading all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about the 10-day rule under WAC 192-130-060, and knowing that ESD should make a determination based on our information alone if employers don't respond gives me some hope. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy starting tomorrow - sounds like 8am sharp is the way to go. The documentation idea is brilliant too. I'm going to start keeping a detailed log of every call attempt, when I contact my former employer, and any updates to my claim status. If this drags on much longer, I might also consider reaching out to my state representative's office like some of you mentioned. It's frustrating that we have to work so hard just to get benefits we're legally entitled to, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. At least we know we're not alone in this mess and that these claims do eventually get approved. Keep fighting everyone - we shouldn't have to struggle like this after losing our jobs through no fault of our own!