Just wanted to add that even if your employer contests your claim, don't panic. The appeal process exists for a reason and Washington ESD hears both sides. I won my appeal even though my former employer made it sound like I was terrible at my job.

I was in a very similar situation - got fired for not meeting performance targets at a customer service job despite being on a performance improvement plan. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify for benefits, but I filed anyway and was approved after about 4 weeks of adjudication. The key thing Washington ESD looks at is whether you were making a genuine effort to do the job versus willfully not doing it. Since you were trying to improve and following the PIP, that shows good faith effort. Definitely file your claim immediately and be completely honest about the circumstances. Don't wait thinking you won't qualify - you might be surprised. The worst they can do is say no, but performance issues are often approvable.

One important note: while waiting for expedition, make absolutely sure you're still filing your weekly claims on time. I've seen too many cases where people stop filing weekly claims during this waiting period, thinking they don't need to until their initial claim is approved. This causes even more delays. You need those weekly claims on file to get backdated payments once your claim is processed.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and totally understand the stress you're feeling right now. My claim was stuck for over a month before I contacted my state rep. After she intervened, it took about 10 business days before I saw any movement in my account status, and then another 3 days before the actual payment hit my bank account. The good news is they did backdate everything properly - I received all the weeks I had been filing for. One thing that helped me stay sane during the waiting period was setting up text alerts through my bank so I'd know immediately when the deposit came through instead of obsessively checking. Also, if you haven't already, document everything - save the email from your state rep and any reference numbers they gave you. That way if you need to follow up, you have all the details handy. Hang in there, the expedition route really does work, it just takes a bit more patience than we'd like when bills are looming.

thanks for all the info everyone! this thread answered way more questions than the Washington ESD website did

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - been working in tech and might need to file soon. One thing I'm curious about - does Washington state have any waiting period before you can start collecting benefits? Some states make you wait a week or two before payments begin, even after your claim is approved.

One more thing to watch out for - if you have any adjudication issues or appeals, those weeks still count toward your 26 week maximum even if you're not receiving payments during the delay.

I'm also collecting unemployment in Washington and this thread has been really helpful! Just want to add that you can track your weeks used vs remaining in the SAW portal under "Payment History" - it shows each week you've claimed and calculates how many you have left. Also, make sure to keep copies of all your job search documentation because Washington ESD can request it at any time during those 26 weeks, not just at the end. I learned this the hard way when they audited my claim at week 12 and I had to scramble to find old application confirmations.

Thanks everyone for explaining this! I was getting worried that something was wrong with my claim when I didn't see a payment for my first week. Now I know it's just the waiting week and everything is normal.

One thing that helped me understand the waiting week better is to think of it as serving your "penalty week" upfront rather than at the end of your claim. Some states make you serve an unpaid week at the end of your benefits, but Washington makes you do it at the beginning. It's still frustrating when you need money right away, but at least you get it over with early and then know exactly when your payments will come.