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This EXACT thing happened to my nephew last month!!! ESD is SO BROKEN!!!! He did everything right for 6 months then suddenly $0 payments with NO EXPLANATION!!! Called for WEEKS with no answer!!! By the time he got through they said it was a "system error" and fixed it but he almost got EVICTED waiting!!!! THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKING PEOPLE!!!
While it's definitely frustrating, most of these issues aren't actually "system errors" but legitimate verification checks that ESD has to perform by law. The real problem is their understaffed phone lines making it impossible to resolve simple issues quickly.
did u change anything in ur last claim? sometimes even tiny things trigger their system. my friend put she was "not available" for ONE day (for a doctor appointment) and that messed up her whole payment
Update for everyone: I finally got through to ESD! The issue was that I had reported an interview (which I'm supposed to do for job search activities) but their system flagged it as possibly affecting my availability. The agent cleared it up right away and said both weeks' payments should arrive within 2 business days. Such a relief!
Just a quick follow-up question - is this your first payment? If so, it might include several weeks of back payments if you've been filing weekly claims while waiting for approval. The first payment often takes slightly longer to process through the banking system due to the larger amount. Also, if you're expecting a substantial sum, be aware that some banks place holds on unusually large deposits until they clear.
did the $$ come through yet? curious how long it took for u
To clarify the partial unemployment situation further - when you file weekly claims with reduced hours, make sure you're answering the question about whether you worked during that week correctly. You'll need to report the exact hours worked and gross earnings (before deductions) for each week. The system will then calculate your partial benefit amount. Just be consistent and accurate to avoid issues down the road.
Exactly! Report exactly what you worked each specific week, even if it varies. ESD understands that hours can fluctuate, especially in restaurant work. Just be accurate and report your hours and earnings for the specific week you're claiming for.
I just went through this last month and finally got my benefits after 5 weeks of waiting! What worked for me was calling the technical support line instead of the claims line. They transferred me to a claims specialist after I explained my situation had been pending for over a month. Worth a try!
I think it was 855-682-0785. Say your having technical problems with eServices and can't submit your documents online. They were way more helpful than the regular claims people.
Just wanted to follow up and see if you managed to get through to ESD with any of these suggestions? Did the adjudication issue get resolved?
Good news! I tried the Claimyr service mentioned above, and it actually worked! Got connected to an agent yesterday who told me my claim was flagged because my employer reported different separation details than I did. The agent helped me provide the additional documentation they needed and said my benefits should resume within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
To directly answer your follow-up question: The fact that you accepted a part-time position before your full-time one ends will NOT disqualify you. Your claim is based on the qualifying job loss (outsourcing = layoff, which is a valid reason). Taking a part-time job just shows you're being proactive about mitigating your unemployment. The key factors that will make this work: 1. Your full-time job loss was not your fault 2. You're still seeking full-time work (and completing those 3 job searches weekly) 3. You accurately report your part-time earnings each week One thing I should have mentioned: Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest-earning quarters in your base year, which is likely from your full-time job. So that's good news for you.
Just wanted to mention one more important thing - when you start filing your weekly claims, you'll see a question about whether you were "able and available" for full-time work each day of the week. Say YES to this question even though you're working part-time. What it's really asking is if you're physically able to work and available to accept full-time work if offered (not whether you're currently working). Saying NO to this will stop your benefits. I know multiple people who answered this wrong and created huge headaches for themselves.
OMG this is such an important tip!! I got messed up on this exact question and my benefits got held up for 3 weeks while I had to talk to an adjudicator to fix it. The wording is so confusing!
sometimes i just scroll down the main page for hours lol. found lots of good info that way too but yeah search is probably faster
One additional tip: When searching, try both acronyms and full terms. For example, search for both "ESD" and "Employment Security Department" or both "UI" and "unemployment insurance." Different users use different terminology, and you'll get more comprehensive results this way. Also, if your issue is time-sensitive (like most unemployment matters are), don't spend too long searching if you can't find an answer. It's better to ask a potentially duplicate question than to miss important deadlines for your claim.
That's really helpful, thanks! My issue is definitely time-sensitive since my claim has been in adjudication for 3 weeks now. I'll do a quick search with those tips and then post if I can't find what I need.
dont forget you need to do those job search activities too while waiting!!! 3 per week!! even with a pending appeal
One more important point: in your appeal, use the specific language from the law that works in your favor. RCW 50.04.294(2)(b) specifically states that "inability to meet the minimum job performance standards or requirements of the position" is NOT misconduct when it's about capability rather than attitude. Quoting the exact legal statute that supports your case can be very effective in these hearings, as it shows you understand the legal basis for your appeal. The judge will be evaluating your case based on these specific legal definitions.
Thanks everyone for the advice! I think I'm going to file my initial claim this week and then report my ongoing paychecks. Seems like the consensus is that establishing the claim early is important even if I won't get benefits right away. And I'll make sure to start recording job search activities right away too.
Smart decision! Just remember to report ALL income (gross, not net) on your weekly claims. And save documentation of your job search activities - ESD does random audits where they ask for proof of your job search efforts. Good luck with everything!
hey also dont 4get that u have to SKIP filing for the week when u get that lump severence if its more than ur weekly benefit. my friend did it wrong n now has to payback like $800 to esd!!!
That's not correct advice. You should NOT skip filing for any week - you always file your weekly claim and report ALL income received that week. If your income exceeds your benefit amount, the system will automatically not pay you benefits for that week, but your claim stays active. Skipping weeks can cause problems with your claim and potentially lead to gaps in your benefit eligibility.
Just wanted to update - it's been a week since I got my payment and everything is still working properly. My weekly claims are being processed normally now too. For those asking how exactly I approached the call - I was polite but direct, explained my situation clearly, and had all my claim details ready. The person I spoke to was really understanding. I honestly wish I'd tried this sooner instead of suffering for a month!
I called this morning!!! The lady was super nice and took all my info. She said they would escalate it to ESD's executive team. Fingers crossed something happens!!
Zara Ahmed
Interesting data point! I've been tracking my UI payment processing times for the past 13 weeks (yes, I'm that person with a spreadsheet 😂). Here's what I've found: - Average processing time: 2.3 days - Filing before 8am Sunday: 1.7 days average - Filing after 6pm Sunday: 3.1 days average - Monday filings: 3.8 days average So your timing of 12:01am Sunday likely made a significant difference! The system was probably just booting up the weekly processing cycle and you got in first. The phone vs. online probably didn't matter as much as the exact timing.
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Freya Larsen
•I'm impressed by your data tracking! That's really useful information. Seems like filing as early as possible on Sunday makes a big difference. I'm going to try the same timing next week and see if I get similar results.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•This data tracking is excellent and matches what we typically see in the system. Sunday early morning filers generally do get processed first in the weekly cycle, regardless of filing method.
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Omar Hassan
my neighbor said she heard from someone at worksource that ESD is switching to a new payment system next month and everything will be faster for everyone... anyone else hear about this??
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Chloe Taylor
•I haven't seen any official announcements about a new payment system launching next month. ESD typically announces major system changes well in advance on their website and through claimant emails. I'd be cautious about relying on unofficial information about system changes.
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