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I wish you luck but I'm on month 3 of waiting for a decision on my pandemic waiver and can't get ANY updates when I call. They'll make you jump through 50 hoops just to apply then let it sit in some digital pile for months. The whole system is a joke. Make sure you keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, copies of everything you submit. ESD is notorious for "losing" documentation.
This is unfortunately common with waiver requests. I recommend sending your waiver form and documentation via certified mail with signature required, or if submitting online, save a screenshot of the confirmation page. Also, after submitting, call weekly to check status and document each call. If you don't hear back within 45 days, contact your state representative - they often have liaisons who can help move things along with ESD.
I just went through this exact same situation! The collections number (360-486-5817) that Omar mentioned is definitely the right one to call. When I called, I had to wait about 20 minutes but got through to someone who was actually helpful. They emailed me the PUA overpayment waiver form the same day. One tip - when you call, have your Social Security number and the overpayment notice reference number ready because they'll ask for both right away. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems confused about the waiver - I had to explain that I received a letter saying I might qualify for a waiver and they transferred me to someone who knew exactly what I was talking about. The form itself took me about an hour to complete once I had all my financial documents together.
I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this exact problem. My Washington ESD claim was approved almost 3 weeks ago, I've been filing my weekly claims religiously every Sunday, and everything shows as "processed" in my account - but I haven't seen a penny of actual payments. It's incredibly stressful when you're depending on these benefits for basic survival. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a widespread issue affecting tons of people right now. The common thread seems to be that there are hidden system holds or verification flags that don't show up in our regular account view, and the only way to identify and resolve them is by getting through to an actual Washington ESD agent who can access the backend systems. Since calling directly is basically impossible (I've tried 40+ times), I'm seriously considering the Claimyr service that multiple people have recommended. It shouldn't have to come to this, but when rent is overdue and you're running out of options, you do what you have to do. Has anyone here successfully gotten retroactive payments for all the weeks that were held up once their issue was finally resolved?
Yes, from what I've seen in other similar cases, people do typically get their retroactive payments once the underlying issue is resolved! The money isn't lost during the hold period - it just gets released all at once when an agent fixes whatever was blocking the payments. Since you're at almost 3 weeks, that could be a significant lump sum once it comes through. I'm in a similar boat (2+ weeks of missed payments despite approved claim) and also considering Claimyr based on all the positive experiences shared here. It's absolutely infuriating that we have to pay a third-party service to access benefits we're legally entitled to, but when you're facing eviction or can't buy groceries, sometimes you just have to use whatever tools actually work. Keep us posted if you end up trying it - your experience could help others in this same awful situation!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's driving me absolutely crazy! My claim was approved 2.5 weeks ago, I've filed every weekly claim on time, everything shows as processed, but zero payments have hit my account. Like so many others here, I've tried calling Washington ESD probably 60+ times and can never get through to an actual human. The automated system just keeps saying my claim is active with no explanation for the payment delays. Reading through all these comments, it's clear there's some kind of systematic issue affecting tons of people right now. I'm really considering trying Claimyr at this point since multiple people have vouched for it actually working. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to resort to paying a third-party service just to access benefits we're entitled to, but when you're behind on rent and bills, you get desperate. Has anyone who used Claimyr been able to get their full retroactive payments for all the weeks that were held up? That's my biggest concern - I can't afford to lose those back payments on top of everything else.
Just wanted to add that if you do run into any issues with your claim - like if it gets stuck in adjudication or you need to appeal a decision - Claimyr can also help with those situations. They're not just for initial questions but can help throughout the whole process.
Good to know there are options if things get complicated. Hopefully I won't need it, but it's reassuring to know it's there.
As a fellow union member (IBEW Local 46), I can confirm everything that's been said here is accurate. I've collected unemployment benefits multiple times over the years during slow periods, and being union has never been an issue. One additional tip I'd add - keep good records of all your job search activities, including dates you checked in with your hall, jobs you applied for, and any networking you do with other tradespeople. Washington ESD can audit your work search activities, and having detailed records makes that process much smoother if it ever happens. Also, don't forget that attending union meetings or training classes can sometimes count toward your work search requirements too. Good luck with your claim!
Boeing employee here - just went through this in December. Make sure you attend the layoff information session HR provides. They'll give you a packet that explains exactly how to handle unemployment with the severance. There's actually a specific code Boeing gives ESD for our layoffs that helps them process everything correctly. Don't skip that meeting!
Oh! I didn't know about a specific meeting. We just got the initial notification. I'll ask my manager about this tomorrow - thank you for the heads up!
Another Boeing employee here who went through this exact situation last year. The key thing everyone's mentioned about filing immediately is absolutely correct, but I want to add one more important detail: when you report your severance on the weekly claims, make sure you report it in the week you actually RECEIVE the payment, not spread across the weeks it's meant to cover. ESD will do the allocation calculation on their end. So if Boeing pays your 12 weeks of severance as a lump sum on your last day, you report that full amount in that first week's claim. Then ESD reduces your benefits for the following 12 weeks based on their calculations. This tripped me up initially because I tried to divide it myself across the weeks, which caused delays in processing. Also, keep copies of ALL your Boeing severance paperwork - the calculation sheet, the payment stub, everything. ESD may ask for documentation later and having it ready speeds things up significantly.
Amelia Martinez
Update on my situation - after using Claimyr to reach an ESD agent, they told me my claim needed additional employment verification (which was never communicated to me through the portal). I uploaded my final paystub and W-2 from previous year, and my claim was approved within 6 business days. All pending weeks were paid at once. The agent also told me they're dealing with a major backlog due to their new verification system that was implemented in October. Apparently a lot of legitimate claims are getting caught in the new fraud prevention filters.
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Sophia Miller
•I'm definitely going to try this Claimyr service. Just knowing what's actually happening with my claim would be huge. The silence from ESD is the worst part of all this. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Eleanor Foster
I'm in week 6 of pending status myself and reading everyone's experiences here is both comforting and terrifying. What strikes me is how many different reasons there can be for delays - wage discrepancies, identity verification, employer responses, system flags - yet ESD doesn't communicate ANY of this to us! I've been doing everything "right" - filing weekly claims, job searches, answering unknown calls - but getting zero feedback about what's actually happening. It's cruel to leave people in financial limbo without basic information about their case status. Based on what I'm reading here, it seems like the common thread is that most people eventually get their benefits with full backpay, but only after weeks or months of unnecessary stress. I'm going to try contacting my state rep tomorrow and look into that Claimyr service too. Thank you to everyone sharing their stories - at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess.
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Isabella Martin
•You're absolutely right about the lack of communication being the worst part. I'm new here but going through the exact same thing - week 4 of pending status and complete radio silence from ESD. It's maddening that we have to play detective to figure out why our claims are stuck when they could just send a simple message explaining what they need. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. It helps to know this isn't just me doing something wrong. I'm going to try the state rep route and maybe that Claimyr service if I can't get anywhere. Hang in there - sounds like most people do eventually get their benefits, even though the wait is brutal.
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