Bottom line - plan for 26 weeks maximum, use your time efficiently, and don't count on extensions that probably won't happen. The job market is competitive so cast a wide net early.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! This has been really helpful. I'm feeling more confident about filing my claim now that I understand the 26-week maximum and the importance of keeping up with job search requirements. Going to check out that benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website first, and if I need to talk to someone directly about my specific situation, I might look into that Claimyr service a few people mentioned. Really appreciate this community sharing their experiences - makes navigating the system feel less overwhelming.

Wage discrepancies are definitely frustrating but they're usually straightforward to resolve once the employer responds. Since you now know what's causing the delay, you might want to reach out to your former employer's HR department to let them know ESD is waiting for their response - sometimes they don't prioritize these requests unless they know someone is waiting on them. In my experience, a polite follow-up call can sometimes speed things along. Keep filing those weekly claims in the meantime!

I've been through something similar and that date change is definitely a good sign! When my adjudication date updated, it meant an actual adjudicator was actively reviewing my case. Since you found out it's a wage discrepancy with your employer, I'd suggest also checking if you have any documentation on your end - final pay stub, separation notice, etc. Having everything ready can help speed things up once they get your employer's response. The waiting is brutal but at least you know what's happening now. Keep filing those weekly claims and you'll get all that back pay when it's approved!

One last thing - make sure your address is up to date with all your accounts and the post office. Sometimes fraudsters try to redirect mail to cover their tracks.

I went through something similar last year and it was a nightmare to deal with. Here are the key steps that helped me get it resolved: 1) File the fraud report with Washington ESD immediately - don't wait, 2) File a police report for identity theft and get a case number, 3) Contact the IRS and file Form 14039, 4) Pull all three credit reports and look for other fraudulent activity, 5) Document EVERYTHING with dates and reference numbers. The whole process took me about 4 months to fully resolve, but acting quickly definitely helps. Also consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports while you're dealing with this. Stay persistent - you'll get through this!

One last thing - if you end up needing to talk to Washington ESD about anything specific to your situation, Claimyr really does help with getting through. I used it when I had questions about restarting my claim after maternity leave and got connected right away.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! As someone who works with unemployment claims, I can confirm that pregnancy absolutely does not disqualify you from benefits in Washington. The state follows federal anti-discrimination laws, so as long as you meet the basic eligibility requirements (lost job through no fault of your own, earned enough wages, able and available for work), you're good to go. The "able and available" part just means you can work right now - which it sounds like you can at 6 months. When you eventually can't work due to childbirth or medical reasons, you'll just pause your weekly claims and can potentially restart them later if you have benefit weeks remaining. Don't let pregnancy stop you from claiming benefits you've rightfully earned!

I'm so glad you asked this question here instead of just panicking! This is actually a really common misconception that causes unnecessary stress for people. To be absolutely clear: regular unemployment insurance benefits in Washington State are NOT loans and do NOT have to be paid back under normal circumstances. You've already "paid" for these benefits through the unemployment insurance taxes that were deducted from your paychecks while you were working. Think of it like any other insurance - you pay premiums (through payroll taxes), and when you need coverage (unemployment), you receive benefits. The only exception is if Washington ESD determines you received benefits you weren't entitled to (called an overpayment), but that only happens if there was an eligibility issue, fraud, or reporting error. As long as you're honestly reporting your work search activities, any part-time work, and following all the requirements, you have nothing to worry about. Your neighbor was definitely misinformed - maybe they were thinking of pandemic loans like PPP or confused unemployment with some other program. Keep doing what you're doing and don't lose sleep over this!

I just wanted to add another perspective since I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. Your neighbor is absolutely wrong - regular UI benefits are not loans and never have to be repaid under normal circumstances. What might be confusing people is that during the pandemic, there were so many different programs (PPP loans, EIDL loans, etc.) that DID have repayment requirements or forgiveness conditions. But regular state unemployment insurance has always been exactly that - insurance that you and your employer pay into while you're working. The Washington ESD system is funded by employer taxes and employee contributions, so when you collect benefits, you're simply using the insurance you've already paid for. The only time repayment comes up is in overpayment situations, which typically occur when someone works but doesn't report it, provides false information, or isn't actually available for work when they claim to be. As long as you're being honest on your weekly claims and following the job search requirements, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Don't let misinformation cause you unnecessary stress during an already difficult time!