One last thing - if you ever run into issues with Washington ESD after ending your claim, definitely check out Claimyr. They've helped me reach agents when I couldn't get through on my own. Sometimes you need to clarify things even after your claim is closed.

Best of luck with your new job Hunter! Just to add one more point - if you're starting work mid-week, make sure you report the exact hours you worked on your weekly claim. Washington ESD calculates partial benefits based on hours worked, so being precise helps avoid any confusion. Also, don't forget to report your gross wages (before taxes) for any work you do during that benefit week. The system is pretty forgiving if you make honest mistakes, but accuracy is always better!

If anyone else is reading this and still can't find their PIN, that claimyr service really does work. Used it twice now when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about different issues. Beats sitting on hold forever.

This whole thread is super helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I filed my claim a few weeks ago and have been getting all sorts of mail from Washington ESD. It's honestly overwhelming trying to figure out which document is which. The tip about looking for "UI PIN" on the envelope is great - I'm going to go through my mail pile again tonight. It's reassuring to know that if I can't find it, there are options like calling (even if it takes forever) or using that claimyr service people mentioned. The whole system really could be more user-friendly though!

I'm in almost the exact same boat - my claim has been pending for 3.5 weeks now and I'm getting desperate. Thank you everyone for all the specific advice in this thread! I've been calling at random times during the day but never thought to try exactly at 8:00 AM. Going to set multiple alarms tomorrow morning and try Emma's strategy with option 2 then 3. Also going to look up my state representative tonight - I had no idea that was even an option but if it worked for Malik, definitely worth a shot. The documentation tip from Fatima is really smart too - I wish I had started keeping track of all my failed call attempts from the beginning. One question for those who eventually got through: when you spoke to an agent, were they able to tell you immediately what was causing the delay, or did they have to research it and call you back? I'm trying to prepare myself for what to expect if I actually manage to reach someone. This whole situation is such a nightmare but at least this community makes me feel less alone in dealing with ESD's broken system!

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - been pending for almost 4 weeks now and it's incredibly stressful. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and infuriating to see how widespread this problem is. I'm definitely going to try the 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy tomorrow morning - seems like multiple people have had success with that timing and the option 2 then 3 path. Also planning to reach out to my state representative this week since that worked for Malik. One thing I wanted to add for others in this situation: I found that the Washington State Unemployment Law Project has a helpful FAQ page that explains some of the common reasons claims get stuck in pending status. They also have templates for writing to your representatives if you need help with that approach. The documentation tip from Fatima is spot on too - I've started keeping a detailed log of every attempt to contact ESD. If nothing else, it helps me feel like I'm doing something productive instead of just waiting helplessly. Hang in there Amina - this system is absolutely broken but it sounds like persistence eventually works. The fact that multiple people here have gotten through gives me hope that we'll all get this resolved eventually, even though it's taking way longer than it should!

Bottom line: you need wage credits in at least 2 quarters of your base period, with minimum earnings thresholds. Length of employment at one job doesn't matter as much as total wages earned across the base period quarters.

One thing I'd add is that Washington also has a "waiting week" requirement - even if you qualify for benefits, there's typically a one-week waiting period before payments begin. So factor that into your planning if you're worried about potential job loss. Also, your weekly benefit amount will be based on your wages during the base period, so higher earnings during those quarters mean higher weekly benefits (up to the state maximum).

After helping you get an alternate base year calculation, the ESD representative will need to: 1. Review your wages in the alternate quarters 2. Recalculate your weekly benefit amount 3. Adjust any payments already made If approved, you'll receive a new monetary determination letter showing the updated calculation and benefit amount. This could take 1-2 weeks to process after speaking with them. Make sure to continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for this adjustment! The increased benefit amount (if approved) would be retroactive to when you first filed.

I went through this exact same process last year! Here's what worked for me: When you finally get through to ESD (and you will!), specifically ask for an "alternate base year calculation" and mention that you had a significant wage increase in Q4 2023. Have your pay stubs ready from that quarter to verify the higher wages. One tip that really helped me - when you call, ask to be transferred to a "claims specialist" who can handle ABY requests. Not all representatives are trained to do this, and you don't want to waste time explaining your situation to someone who can't help. The whole process took about 10 days once I got the right person, but the backpay was worth it! Your $5/hour increase should definitely qualify you for the alternate base year. Don't give up - this is exactly what that program is designed for!