One more thing to consider - you should apply for standby status if you're expecting to return to work soon or have job prospects. This temporarily waives the job search requirement. Also, prepare yourself mentally for the adjudication process. It can be really stressful and the uncertainty is tough. Make sure you're taking care of your mental health during this time - the ADHD + unemployment stress combo can be really challenging.

I'm a disability rights advocate and wanted to add some important legal context here. The fact that you disclosed your ADHD when hired but weren't provided accommodations could actually work strongly in your favor. Under the ADA, employers have a duty to engage in the "interactive process" once they know about a disability - even if you didn't formally request accommodations. The key question ESD will ask is whether your errors were due to your disability or willful misconduct. Document everything: your diagnosis timeline, any medical treatments, specific ways ADHD affects data entry (like hyperfocus making you miss details or working memory issues), and all the strategies you tried. Also keep records of your job search efforts during adjudication. This isn't just about proving you weren't being careless - it's about showing your employer failed to provide a reasonable workplace accommodation for a known disability.

I work with a workforce development program that helps people navigate training while on unemployment. Here are some additional facts that might help: 1. You must apply for Training Benefits within the first 52 weeks of your claim 2. If approved for TB, you can get up to 26 additional weeks of benefits beyond your regular UI claim 3. Part-time training doesn't require special approval as long as you maintain your job search requirements 4. For IT specifically, many programs qualify as "high-demand" in Washington state I'd recommend contacting your local WorkSource office too - they have specialists who can help you determine if your training plan will be approved before you invest time applying.

hey what happened with this? did u end up going to school? i'm thinking about it too

I had a similar disqualification week situation and it turned out to be a job search documentation issue. Even though I was doing my job searches, I wasn't logging them properly in WorkSourceWA. The tricky part is you need to log activities in WorkSourceWA AND report them when filing your weekly claim - both are required. Since you mentioned being busy with your part-time job that week, double-check if you completed and logged all 3 required job search activities for that specific week. That's the most common cause of single-week disqualifications I've seen.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months now and disqualification weeks are unfortunately pretty common. From what I've learned, it's usually one of a few things: missing job search activities in WorkSourceWA (you need 3 per week AND they have to be logged properly), marking yourself as unavailable for work for any reason during that week, or issues with how you reported your work earnings. Since you worked 15 hours and reported it, I'd bet it's either a job search documentation problem or maybe you accidentally marked something wrong when filing that week's claim. The good news is it's just that one week - it won't affect your other benefits as long as you keep filing weekly and meet all requirements going forward. I'd definitely recommend trying to get through to an actual ESD agent to find out the exact reason though, even if it takes forever on the phone.

Just to add one more important point - there's a time limit for requesting backdates. You generally need to request backdating within a reasonable timeframe after the issue that prevented you from filing is resolved. Since you just got help last week, you should be within this window, but don't delay further. Also, make sure you're very specific about the reasons when you submit your backdate request. Focus on the system issues (unanswered messages in the portal) rather than your uncertainty about how to file. Technical problems and ESD's failure to respond are stronger "good cause" reasons than personal confusion.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Ruby, I really hope you're able to get your backdate approved. The fact that you have documented evidence of trying to reach ESD through their own system should definitely count as "good cause." One thing I wanted to add that might help - when I was researching this issue, I found that ESD's own policy manual states that their failure to respond to inquiries through official channels (like eServices messages) can constitute good cause for backdating. You might want to reference this specific policy when you make your request. Also, don't let that first rep discourage you. Like others have said, different reps give completely different answers. The key is getting someone who actually understands the backdate process and your rights under it. Keep us updated on how it goes - there are probably other people in similar situations who could benefit from hearing about your experience!

Just a tip - make sure you keep doing your weekly claims even while waiting for this to resolve! My cousin missed filing for one week during her adjudication period and then she couldn't claim that week at all when everything else finally got approved.

I went through something very similar last year! My adjudication issue disappeared after about 4 weeks, and I had that same "Processing - Web" status for 6 weeks that were backed up. The good news is that when you see "Processing - Web" with dollar amounts listed, it really does mean you've been approved and the money is coming. In my case, all 6 weeks hit my account at the same time on a Wednesday morning - it was like Christmas! The wait was nerve-wracking but it all worked out. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts on my bank account so I'd know immediately when the deposit came through. Hang in there - from what you're describing, it sounds like you're in the final stretch of waiting for processing to complete.