Just wanted to add - the Washington ESD website has a section for employers that explains all the tax stuff if anyone wants to read more about it. But the key point everyone made here is right: don't feel bad about filing for benefits you're entitled to.

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. Just to put your mind completely at ease - when someone files for unemployment, we get a notice from Washington ESD asking us to confirm the separation details (dates, reason, wages, etc.). That's it. We don't get a bill, we don't write a check, and honestly most of the time it's just routine paperwork for us. The tax implications everyone mentioned are real but very gradual - we're talking about small rate adjustments that happen annually, not immediate financial hits. Please don't let concern for your former employer prevent you from accessing benefits you've earned. File your claim!

I went through this exact same confusion when I got laid off last month! The terminology really is misleading - I kept seeing "waiting week" and thought it meant I had to literally wait a week before I could even apply. What it actually means is that your first week of unemployment serves as an unpaid waiting period, but you still need to file your initial claim AND your weekly claim for that first week to keep everything active. I finally got through to someone at Washington ESD who explained it perfectly: Think of it like this - Week 1: File initial claim + first weekly claim (unpaid), Week 2: File second weekly claim (this one gets paid), and so on. The waiting week is built into the system automatically, so don't let that stop you from filing immediately. I wish I had found this thread when I was going through it - would have saved me a lot of stress!

I've been helping people navigate Washington ESD for years, and I can confirm what everyone is saying - file immediately! The "waiting week" is one of the most misunderstood concepts in unemployment benefits. You're not waiting to file, you're filing but the first week you claim is unpaid. Think of it as serving your waiting period while getting everything set up in the system. The sooner you file your initial application, the sooner you establish your claim date, which protects you from losing any potential benefits. I've seen too many people wait thinking they needed to, only to regret it later. Also, don't worry about making mistakes on your application - you can always provide clarifications or corrections later, but you can't go back and change when you first filed. Get that claim started today and then focus on understanding the weekly filing process. You've got this!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation. Amazon's PIVOT program is notorious for being used to push out employees they want to get rid of, especially those with medical issues or accommodation needs. Your case actually sounds quite strong for appeal. The key elements that work in your favor are: 1. **You have medical documentation** - surgery and doctor's notes showing legitimate medical limitations 2. **You requested accommodations first** - this shows you tried to preserve employment before leaving 3. **Amazon initially granted accommodations then essentially revoked them** through PIVOT placement 4. **The PIVOT metrics were incompatible with your documented medical restrictions** This isn't a voluntary quit - it's constructive dismissal. Make sure to use that exact phrase in your appeal. You were forced out through impossible working conditions while dealing with a legitimate medical condition. Some immediate steps: - File your appeal within 30 days (crucial deadline!) - Request all documents ESD used in their determination - Get a specific letter from your doctor explaining why PIVOT requirements were medically contraindicated - Gather all your HR communications about accommodation requests - Keep filing weekly claims even though they show disqualified Don't let the negative comments discourage you. Medical necessity cases have higher success rates when properly documented, and you clearly have the foundation for a strong appeal. The system isn't perfect, but your situation has all the right elements to overturn this decision. You've got this - stay persistent and don't give up!

I'm so sorry you're going through this ordeal on top of recovering from surgery. Your situation really highlights how broken the system can be for workers dealing with legitimate medical issues. I wanted to add one more resource that might help: if you're in the Seattle area, the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO sometimes provides free assistance with unemployment appeals, especially for cases involving medical accommodations and workplace discrimination. They have advocates who understand the appeals process and can help you prepare your case. Also, when you're documenting everything for your appeal, don't forget to include any witnesses who saw how the PIVOT program affected you or heard your conversations with management about needing accommodations. Even brief written statements from coworkers can add credibility to your timeline. The fact that you have emails to HR and medical documentation puts you way ahead of many appellants. Amazon's pattern of initially granting accommodations then using PIVOT to make them impossible is exactly the kind of employer misconduct that appeals officers look for in constructive dismissal cases. Stay strong and don't let this process wear you down. You clearly have a solid foundation for appeal, and medical necessity cases like yours are absolutely winnable with proper preparation. Keep us updated on how it goes!

One important thing to remember - if you're transitioning from standby to regular UI because you reported reduced hours, make sure you start logging your job search activities (3 per week) ASAP. Even if you're still waiting for the adjudication to complete. If they determine you need to switch to regular UI, they'll expect you to have been doing job searches during this time. I learned this the hard way and almost lost a week of benefits because I didn't have job search logs for the week I was in adjudication.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Week 4 of standby went fine, but week 5 got flagged for adjudication. In my case, I think it was triggered because I reported some part-time hours for the first time after weeks of zero earnings. From what I'm reading in these comments, it sounds like the combination of hitting the 4-week standby threshold AND reporting earnings is what sets off their review system. They want to verify if you should stay on standby or transition to regular UI with job search requirements. I've been trying to get through to ESD for days with no luck. Might have to try that Claimyr service if this drags on much longer. The uncertainty is killing me - I just want to know what they need from me to resolve this! Keep us posted on how it goes, and definitely keep filing your weekly claims even without payment. Sounds like that's crucial for getting backpay once they sort it out.

my freind did appeal in january took almost 10 weeks!! but she won and got all back pay. bring all ur evidence to hearing they wont believe u otherwise

I'm in a similar boat right now - filed my appeal 2 weeks ago for a disqualification and still waiting to hear back from OAH. The stress is killing me! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying. Some people got hearings in 3-4 weeks, others waited months. I've been keeping meticulous records of everything since filing the appeal and continuing to file my weekly claims like everyone suggests. Does anyone know if the current wait times are longer than usual because of the holidays or is this just the normal pace? Also wondering if anyone has tips for staying sane during this waiting period - the uncertainty is the worst part.