One thing to watch out for - make sure you're still doing your 3 job search activities each week and documenting them properly. I've seen people get denied when applying for a new benefit year because they got sloppy with job search requirements toward the end of their previous claim. ESD sometimes reviews your job search logs when you apply for a new claim.

my neibor said you have to wait a week between claims??? is that true?? seems dum if your already looking for work

This is why I always tell people to KEEP A SEPARATE BROWSER just for unemployment stuff! Don't use it for anything else. Just ESD. I have Firefox that I ONLY use for ESD and haven't had a single login issue since I started doing that in 2025. Too many cookies and trackers from other sites mess with the secure login process.

btw when i had this happen it was because my account got flagged for "suspicious activity" even tho it was ME trying to login from MY SAME COMPUTER I ALWAYS USE!!! make sure to ask them to check if your account is flagged when you get through to someone!!

wait so your saying the 2 months doesnt even matter for the hours? thats weird. what if they were at a different job before the disability? does it still count?

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to proceed with my application and answer "yes" to the disability question, providing my exact LTD dates. I'll gather all my documentation from Prudential now so I'm ready when ESD requests it. It's a relief to know that they can look at my work history from before my disability period, as I definitely had more than 680 hours in those quarters. I'll update this thread once I hear back from ESD about my claim status.

One more important thing - since her employer is in New York, there might be a slight delay as Washington ESD requests her wage information through the interstate system. This is normal, but it could add an extra week or two to the process. She should still file in Washington ASAP though, as the filing date matters for when benefits can begin. Also, Washington requires 3 job search activities per week that must be documented. New York has different requirements, but she'll need to follow Washington's rules since that's where she's filing.

Thanks everyone for the super helpful advice! I just talked to my friend and she's going to file her WA claim tonight. She's feeling much more prepared knowing what to expect with the interstate wage verification and the potential for adjudication. She also found that position elimination email and is going to save everything. Really appreciate all the insights!

I don't get why everyone complains about ESD so much. I filed my claim last month and got approved in like 3 days with no issues at all. Maybe y'all are just filling things out wrong? Just saying...

quick update - did they explain what the hold up was about your claim when they called? sometimes knowing helps prevent issues on future claims

Don't forget to document EVERYTHING - take photos of the checks, save all emails, keep a log of all your calls and attempts to contact ESD. Write down dates, times, and who you spoke with. This will be important if you need to prove you acted promptly and didn't cash the fraudulent checks.

That's great advice. I'll start keeping detailed records of everything. I actually just got through to ESD using that Claimyr service someone recommended. They confirmed it's fraud and are opening an investigation. They're sending me paperwork to complete and told me to write VOID across the checks and return them.

Something else to consider - filing deadlines for Supreme Court are SUPER strict. Missing even by one day means automatic loss. Make sure you're counting calendar days not business days. Also remember you need to serve ESD's attorneys too, not just file with court.

One last suggestion - check if any law schools in your area have legal clinics. Sometimes they take on interesting cases like yours as teaching opportunities for law students (supervised by professors). Might be worth a call to see if they'd be interested, especially since multiple attorneys think your case has merit.

My neighbor had the same problem last month. She contacted our state representative and had her claim fixed in like a week. I'll ask her for the contact info when I see her tomorrow. hang in there!!

Update to my previous comment: When contacting the governor's office or your legislators, make sure you sign the privacy release form they'll send you. They can't access your specific claim information without your signed permission due to privacy laws. This is often what delays getting help - people don't return the forms quickly. Also, to be honest, your state representatives are often more effective than the governor's office because they have dedicated constituent services staff who handle ESD issues regularly. I'd recommend trying both approaches simultaneously.

I went through an OAH hearing last year and won. Here's what helped me: 1. I organized a binder with tabs for each piece of evidence, numbered to match the exhibits 2. I wrote out answers to likely questions so I wouldn't get flustered 3. I practiced explaining my situation in under 2 minutes (judges appreciate conciseness) 4. I made a simple timeline showing key dates (when housing issue arose, when I notified employer, when I moved, etc.) 5. I had documentation showing I'd been applying for jobs consistently Stay calm during the hearing, address the judge respectfully, don't interrupt anyone, and stick to the facts. The judge will likely ask if you've reviewed all exhibits - make sure you have! Definitely use the Unemployment Law Project - they can review your case and might even represent you at the hearing if they have availability.

btw did they actually told u why they denied u? my letter was so vague i had no idea what they were even saying i did wrong lol

One thing to consider: if the overpayment notice says it's due to unreported earnings, get an official earnings record from every employer you had during your claim period. You can also request your official wage records from ESD themselves as evidence. If there's a discrepancy between what you reported and what employers reported to ESD, that could explain the issue. Also, check whether they're claiming this was a fraudulent overpayment or non-fraudulent. The difference is important for penalties and repayment options. If they're alleging fraud, you'll want to take that very seriously.

Update: I was finally able to get through to ESD this morning. Turns out they somehow duplicated my entire claim history and counted it TWICE, plus they're claiming I didn't report income from a job I never even had! The agent said it looks like a system error combined with possible identity mix-up with someone with a similar name. She's escalating it to a supervisor but said I should still prepare for the hearing just in case it's not resolved by then. Thank you all for your help and advice!