The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose. I swear they make it complicated so people give up and don't claim benefits they're entitled to. Stick with it and ask questions when you need help.

One more thing to keep in mind - if you're planning to file, do it as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits, and you can't backdate your claim beyond the week you actually file. So even if you're unsure about the exact amount, it's better to file early and figure out the details later rather than lose out on potential weeks of benefits.

Bottom line: file for regular unemployment through Washington ESD if you lose your job, be prepared to explain your work capacity during adjudication, and use services like Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD about your specific situation. The system can work for people with disabilities, it just takes some extra documentation and patience.

One thing that might help clarify your situation is knowing that Washington State also has Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) through the ESD, which is different from both regular unemployment and disability benefits. If you're currently working part-time but need to reduce hours or take time off due to your health condition, you might qualify for PFML benefits while still maintaining your employment. This could be an option to explore before you reach the point of needing to file for unemployment. The PFML program allows for intermittent leave, which might work better for managing a chronic condition while staying employed.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know I got my payment this morning - took exactly 4 business days after the expedite call! All back weeks paid at once. If anyone else is stuck in adjudication hell, definitely contact your state rep or the governor's office. It really works!

So glad to see this success story! I'm currently on week 5 of waiting for my claim to be processed after filing an appeal. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like contacting the Governor's office might be my next step. For those who reached out to elected officials, did you call directly or submit through their website contact forms? And did you need to provide any specific documentation when you contacted them? Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines - it helps to know there's light at the end of the tunnel!

btw did ur husband get the extra $35 for dependents? i have 2 kids and it took FOREVER to get that added to my weekly amount

I'm new to this whole unemployment process and reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! My partner was just laid off from their tech job last week and we're about to start the application process. Based on what I'm seeing in this thread, it sounds like the key things to focus on are: 1. Keep detailed records of everything from day one 2. Check the eServices account regularly for any updates or letters 3. Make sure to understand and follow the job search requirements exactly 4. Don't panic if it processes quickly - that can actually be normal! @MoonlightSonata - thanks for sharing your experience! It's helpful to see that sometimes the system does work as intended. I'm bookmarking this thread in case we run into any issues down the road. Fingers crossed our process goes as smoothly as your husband's did!

Hope this helps! Sounds like you should expect your first payment this Wednesday if everything goes smoothly with your claim.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for about 6 months now and the payment timing has been pretty consistent - file your weekly claim by Sunday and expect the money Wednesday morning. The only time I had issues was when my claim got flagged for additional review, which delayed payments for almost 2 weeks. If you run into any problems where you need to actually talk to someone at ESD, I'd recommend checking out that Claimyr service others mentioned. I used it once when I couldn't get through their phone lines and it saved me hours of frustration trying to reach an agent.