Hope you get this sorted out! Let us know what Washington ESD says when you finally reach them. It might help others who run into the same issue.

I went through something similar last year. One thing to check is whether you might have accidentally reported being out of state or unavailable for work during that week. Even if you were just visiting family for a day or had a medical appointment, if you marked that you weren't available for the full week, it can trigger a disqualification. Also, make sure your job search contacts were entered correctly in WorkSourceWA - sometimes incomplete employer information or missing application dates can cause issues. The appeal process is pretty straightforward if you do find it was an error on their part.

I'm in a really similar boat and this conversation is giving me hope that there might be a path forward. I've been at my current job for about 6 months and the anxiety I feel every Sunday night before the work week starts is getting unbearable. My manager constantly criticizes my work in front of other team members and assigns impossible deadlines that set me up to fail. I've started having panic attacks in the bathroom at work, which never happened before this job. Reading about everyone's experiences with documentation makes me realize I need to start being more systematic about tracking these incidents. Has anyone here successfully used text messages or emails as evidence? I have some messages from my supervisor that are pretty harsh and unprofessional. Also wondering if anyone knows whether Washington ESD considers the size of the company when evaluating accommodation requests - my workplace only has 12 employees so there's no real HR department to go through.

I've been through this exact process and want to share what I learned the hard way. First, don't underestimate how thorough Washington ESD's investigation will be - they contacted my former employer, reviewed all my medical records, and asked incredibly detailed questions during the phone interview. The key thing that helped my case was having a comprehensive treatment plan that showed I was actively working on my mental health while also demonstrating that my specific workplace was the primary trigger. Make sure your therapist understands they may need to speak with ESD directly - mine had to do a brief phone interview to verify the medical necessity of my resignation. Also, be prepared for your employer to potentially contest your claim. They'll likely argue that you never formally requested accommodations or that your performance issues were unrelated to your mental health. Having that paper trail everyone mentioned is crucial. One thing I wish I'd known earlier is that you can request your personnel file from your employer after you quit - sometimes there are documented performance discussions or complaints that actually support your case by showing the hostile work environment. The whole process took about 10 weeks for me, but I was eventually approved and received full backpay. Hang in there and document everything you can.

Just wanted to add one more tip for construction workers on standby - make sure your employer actually submitted the proper standby request to ESD. Sometimes employers think they've put you on standby but haven't actually filed the paperwork with the state. You can verify this in your eServices account under "Claim Status" - it should specifically show "Standby" as your current status. If it just shows "Active" or something else, your employer may need to submit additional documentation. This happened to a coworker last year and he had to do job searches for 3 weeks before they got it sorted out. Better to double-check now than find out later when you get a notice about missing job search activities!

Great thread everyone! As someone new to this community and unemployment benefits, this has been incredibly helpful. I'm in a similar situation - just filed my first claim ever after being laid off from my retail job. My former manager said there's a chance they might call me back when they reopen the location after renovations in a few months, but I'm not sure if that qualifies for standby status or if I need to actively job search. From reading this discussion, it sounds like standby has to be formally approved by ESD and submitted by the employer - it's not just an informal "maybe we'll call you back" situation. Can anyone confirm if my situation would qualify for standby, or should I plan on doing the regular job search requirements from day one?

Just want to add that if anyone else is in this situation, don't let anxiety stop you from making the call! I was terrified to report my late income change last year, but the DSHS worker I spoke with said they appreciate when people self-report rather than trying to hide it. They deal with these situations all the time and are generally understanding. The key is being honest about the timeline and showing that you're trying to do the right thing. Also, keep detailed notes of your call - date, time, worker's name, and what was discussed. This can be really helpful if there are any issues later.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! I was so stressed about it, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I waited about 3 weeks to report my unemployment benefits to DSHS and when I finally called, the caseworker was actually understanding. She explained that they see this all the time because people don't always realize UI counts as income that needs to be reported. They recalculated my EBT benefits going forward and I did have a small overpayment (around $180), but they let me pay it back gradually by reducing my monthly benefits by like $30 until it was paid off. The most important thing is that you're reporting it now rather than continuing to wait. Don't beat yourself up about it - just make the call and get it sorted out!

I'm dealing with the exact same identity verification nightmare! Been stuck for almost 3 weeks now with documents uploaded but no movement on my claim. Reading through all these responses is giving me some hope though - definitely going to try that direct ID verification number (360-486-2822) first thing tomorrow morning. The Claimyr service sounds interesting too, might be worth the cost if it actually works. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips, this community is literally the only place I've found actual helpful advice about navigating ESD's broken system!

Just want to add another option that worked for me - I contacted my state representative's office when I couldn't get through to ESD after 2+ weeks. They have a constituent services team that can actually get ESD to respond within 24-48 hours for urgent issues. You can find your rep at leg.wa.gov and most have a form specifically for unemployment issues. It felt weird at first reaching out to a politician, but their office was super helpful and professional about it. Within two days I had an ESD supervisor call me directly to resolve my claim. Sometimes you have to use every tool available when the normal channels aren't working!