As someone who just joined this community after my own recent layoff, I want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! Logan, thank you so much for sharing your experience and following up with the resolution - that kind of transparency is exactly what people in our situation need. I'm planning to file my claim this weekend and will definitely be using the 8am calling strategy if I run into any issues. It's reassuring to know that even when mistakes happen, ESD can usually fix them relatively quickly once you get through to the right person. The collective wisdom in this thread is amazing - from the detailed explanations about subsequent vs. initial claims, to the practical tips about WorkSource offices and callback features. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes dealing with unemployment bureaucracy a little less overwhelming. For anyone else who might be hesitant about filing or worried about making mistakes - this thread is proof that there are solutions and people willing to help. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experience here!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! I was just laid off from my restaurant job yesterday and was feeling pretty overwhelmed about filing for unemployment for the first time. Reading through Logan's experience and seeing how supportive everyone has been is incredibly reassuring. The detailed explanations about subsequent vs. initial claims, the practical tips about calling early, and all the follow-up advice about avoiding common mistakes - this is exactly what someone in my position needs to feel more confident about the process. It's clear this community really understands what people are going through during such a stressful time. I'm planning to file my claim early next week and will definitely keep all this advice in mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - it makes such a difference knowing there are people willing to help navigate this complicated system!

This is such valuable information! I've been running a small graphic design business and had my main contract end abruptly two months ago. I've been scrambling to find new clients but the market is really tough right now. I set up my business as an S-Corp and have been paying myself through payroll, so it sounds like I might actually qualify. Going to dig through my tax documents tonight and see if I can find those unemployment tax payments everyone mentioned. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - makes this whole process seem less intimidating.

I've been through a similar situation with my web development business last year. The key thing that helped me was understanding that Washington ESD treats business owners who pay themselves through payroll just like any other employee for unemployment purposes. Since you mentioned you have an LLC and your accountant handles things, definitely check if you've been classified as an employee of your LLC for tax purposes. If you've been paying unemployment taxes on your wages, you should be eligible. Also, start documenting your job search efforts now - networking events, client proposals, even informal conversations about potential work. The adjudication process can be lengthy, but having everything organized upfront really speeds things up. Don't let the complexity discourage you from applying if you've been paying into the system!

Hey Drew, I just wanted to add my experience to this amazing thread that's clearly helping so many people! I was in almost exactly your situation about 4 months ago - terminated after 9 months for "performance issues" right after I started asking questions about some inventory discrepancies that didn't add up. No formal warnings, no write-ups, just suddenly I wasn't "meeting expectations." I was terrified to file because I thought being fired automatically disqualified me, but reading stories from others (just like all these encouraging responses you're getting) convinced me to apply anyway. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2 weeks! The investigator was really fair and thorough - they asked both me and my former employer detailed questions about what led to the termination. What helped my case was being completely honest about both the performance issues they claimed AND the inventory concerns I had raised. The investigator seemed to understand that questioning potential discrepancies is part of being a diligent employee, not grounds for termination. File immediately and don't second-guess yourself - you've been paying into this system for exactly these situations. Document everything you remember about your termination meeting and those sketchy practices you questioned. Based on your description and everyone's experiences here, you have a really strong case. The system really does work when you're honest and have legitimate grounds!

Drew, I'm so glad you decided to post this question - it's clearly helping way more people than just you! I went through almost the exact same situation about 3 months ago. Got terminated for "not being a team player" after I kept pushing back on some scheduling practices that seemed to violate break requirements. No formal disciplinary actions, no write-ups, just suddenly I was a problem employee after 10 months of good reviews. I was absolutely convinced that being fired meant I'd automatically get denied for unemployment, but after reading similar advice online, I finally worked up the courage to file. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 18 days of investigation! The investigator was really thorough and asked great questions about both what my employer claimed and the scheduling concerns I had raised. What really seemed to help was being completely transparent about everything - both their stated reasons and my legitimate workplace concerns. The investigator actually said that advocating for proper break times shows good employee judgment, not bad attitude. Don't let them scare you out of filing - you've been paying into unemployment insurance for exactly this type of situation. File tonight and document everything you can remember. Based on all these stories and your specific circumstances, you have a really solid case. This system does work when you're honest and fighting for what's right!

This thread has been absolutely amazing! As someone who just started getting unemployment and was stressing about switching to PayPal from paper checks, reading through everyone's real experiences has been so reassuring. The fact that multiple people have shared actual timelines (mostly 2 days for regular payments, 3 for first-time deposits) is way more helpful than the vague "up to 3 business days" on ESD's website. I especially appreciate the practical tips like setting up PayPal mobile notifications, watching for pending transactions in the activity feed, and knowing about the 2 PM cutoff for when transfers actually initiate. Emma, thanks for starting this discussion and following up with your results! And Brian, Malik, Dmitry - your detailed breakdowns of patterns and timing have been incredibly helpful. This is exactly the kind of real-world information people need when dealing with unemployment payments. Bookmarking this thread for sure!

This thread is absolutely incredible! I just signed up for this community specifically because of how helpful everyone's shared experiences have been. I'm currently waiting for my second ESD payment to PayPal (first one took exactly 3 business days like many of you mentioned for initial deposits) and this discussion has given me so much peace of mind knowing what to expect. The practical tips everyone has shared - especially about PayPal mobile notifications, checking pending transactions, and that 2 PM cutoff detail - are game changers. It's amazing how much more useful real community experiences are compared to the generic timelines on official websites. I wanted to add one small thing I discovered: if you have PayPal's debit card, you can actually access pending deposits immediately through their "Instant Transfer" feature (though there's a small fee). Not ideal for regular use, but it could be a lifesaver in emergency rent situations like Emma's original post. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to making this such a comprehensive resource!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - the transition from pending to adjudication is definitely confusing and ESD does a terrible job explaining what's happening. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like your employer's false claim about you quitting (when you were actually laid off) is exactly what triggered the adjudication review. The good news is that you have those layoff emails which should be strong evidence in your favor. While you're waiting, definitely keep filing your weekly claims no matter what - you won't get paid for weeks you don't file even if you're eventually approved. I'd also suggest starting to gather any other documentation about the downsizing (company announcements, coworker contacts who can verify what happened, etc.). The wait times everyone is mentioning (6-12 weeks) are brutal when you're worried about rent, but try to look into local emergency assistance programs while you wait. Many counties have rental assistance specifically for people waiting on UI benefits. Call 211 for resources in your area. I know the uncertainty is incredibly stressful, but from what I'm reading here, most people with legitimate layoff documentation do eventually win their adjudication and get all their back pay in one lump sum. Hang in there and don't let your employer's lies discourage you from fighting for what you're owed!

I'm in the exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! My claim just moved from pending to adjudication yesterday after being disputed by my former employer who's claiming I was terminated for "poor performance" when I was actually laid off in a company-wide downsizing. The anxiety is through the roof, especially reading about 8-12 week wait times. What's really helping me cope is creating a daily action plan based on all the great advice here: 1) Continue filing weekly claims religiously, 2) Gather every piece of evidence I can find (company emails about layoffs, news articles about our financial struggles, coworker contacts), 3) Practice explaining my timeline clearly for when the adjudicator calls, 4) Look into emergency assistance programs through 211. The most frustrating part is how employers can just lie with zero consequences while we're left scrambling to prove the truth. But seeing all these success stories where people eventually got thousands in back pay gives me motivation to keep fighting. We shouldn't have to become unemployment law experts just to get benefits we earned, but here we are! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - knowing we're all supporting each other through this broken system makes it feel less overwhelming when the stress peaks.