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Wow, this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got offered a job that's 36 miles away and was really stressed about whether I could decline without losing my benefits. Reading everyone's experiences, it seems like the key is really thorough documentation. I'm going to follow the advice here and create a detailed breakdown of all costs (gas, wear and tear, time, etc.), document my car's reliability issues, and call ESD ahead of time using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. One question for those who have been through this - did anyone have success stories with distances in the 30-35 mile range? Most of the examples here have been 38+ miles, so I'm curious if there's anyone who declined something closer to that 30-mile threshold that gets mentioned and how it went. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating ESD's complicated system!
I actually declined a job at exactly 32 miles last summer and didn't have any issues! The key for me was really emphasizing the economic impact - even at 32 miles, the gas costs plus wear and tear would have been about 22% of my net pay, which I argued was unreasonable. I also documented that the commute would be 55-65 minutes each way during work hours due to traffic patterns, which put it right at that "1 hour threshold" several people mentioned. ESD approved it without any follow-up questions. I think as long as you can show the economic burden is significant and document everything thoroughly like everyone's suggesting, you should be fine even in that 30-35 mile range. The fact that you're being proactive about calling ahead will definitely help your case!
This entire thread has been so helpful! I'm actually facing a very similar situation - got offered an administrative position that's about 38 miles from my home in Tacoma. My car has been having issues lately (spent $600 on repairs last month) and I was really worried about declining and losing my benefits. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences and documentation strategies has given me a clear roadmap for how to handle this. I'm particularly grateful for the specific examples of economic calculations and the tip about WAC 192-170-050. I had no idea there were actual regulations I could reference! I'm definitely going to use the Claimyr service to speak with an ESD agent before making my decision, and I'll document everything thoroughly - exact mileage, gas costs based on my car's MPG, maintenance concerns, lack of public transit, and the percentage of wages that would go to transportation. It's so reassuring to see that multiple people have successfully declined jobs in similar distance ranges when they presented their cases properly. This community is amazing for sharing real experiences with ESD's process. Thank you all for taking the time to help fellow Washingtonians navigate this stressful system!
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im in the same boat!!! been trying to call for 3 weeks and nothing!! this is my 1st time on unemployment and its been a NIGHTMARE. let me know if u find a way to get thru please!!!!
Will do! This is my first time too and I had no idea it would be this difficult just to speak to someone. I'll post an update if I manage to get through with any of these suggestions.
Just checking back - were you able to get through to ESD? I'm curious if any of the suggestions worked for you.
I finally got through! I ended up using Claimyr like you suggested and was connected with an agent in about 20 minutes. My issue was that my employer had reported different dates than what I put on my application, which triggered the adjudication. The agent was able to update my file and said my payments should be processed within 48 hours. Such a relief after weeks of stress!
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I'm so sorry you're going through this - 7 weeks in adjudication with potential eviction is absolutely terrifying. I just went through a similar nightmare that lasted 9 weeks, so I completely understand the desperation. A few additional thoughts to add to all the excellent advice already given: When you contact your state rep, ask specifically to speak with their "constituent services" staff - they're usually the ones who handle ESD cases. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, consider posting about your situation on social media and tagging @WAStateESD - sometimes public pressure helps move things along faster. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every single interaction attempt (date, time, method of contact, reference numbers if any). When I finally got through to someone, having that timeline really helped them understand the severity of the delay. Also, please don't give up on the weekly claim filings - I know it feels pointless when nothing's happening, but once your case gets resolved, you'll get all that back pay. Hang in there, and keep us posted on how the state rep contact goes!
This is all such helpful advice! I'm definitely going to start documenting everything better - I wish I had been keeping a log from the beginning. The social media idea is interesting too, I hadn't thought of that. I'm usually pretty private but at this point I'm willing to try anything. Thank you for the encouragement about not giving up on the weekly filings, it really does feel pointless right now but you're right about the back pay. I'll update everyone once I start making these calls tomorrow. Fingers crossed something works!
I'm really sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - being stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks with rent hanging over your head is absolutely awful. I went through something similar last fall and what finally broke things loose was a combination approach. First, definitely try your state representative like others mentioned - their constituent services teams often have direct lines to ESD supervisors. But also consider reaching out to local news outlets, especially if you have a good story about the impact this is having on your life. I contacted my local TV station's consumer advocacy reporter and they ended up doing a story about ESD delays. Within a week of the story airing, I had three different ESD managers calling me. Also, when you do get through to someone (and you will eventually), ask them to put notes in your file about the urgency due to housing instability. Sometimes that can flag your case for faster processing. One more tip - if you have any documentation about your separation from your job (termination letter, resignation email, etc.), make sure that's uploaded to your account. A lot of adjudications get held up over missing separation documents even when the issue seems unrelated. Keep fighting - the system is broken but persistence through multiple channels usually pays off eventually. We're all rooting for you!
The media approach is brilliant! I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense - public accountability can really light a fire under government agencies. I'm actually in the Seattle area so there should be plenty of local news options to reach out to. Do you remember which reporter you contacted, or have any tips on how to pitch the story to them? I'm not great at that kind of thing but I'm definitely willing to try. And thank you for the tip about the separation documents - I uploaded my termination letter when I first filed but maybe I should double-check that it's still there and visible. This whole thread has given me so much hope and so many concrete steps to take. I really can't thank everyone enough!
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This has been incredibly helpful. I was so worried about messing up my unemployment eligibility because of my severance. Now I feel confident about filing my claim and know what to expect with the timing.
That's exactly what these discussions are for - helping people navigate these complicated situations. Good luck with your claim!
Agreed! This thread has been a lifesaver. Going to file my claim first thing Monday morning.
I'm in a very similar situation - just got laid off and have a severance package. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! I was panicking that I'd have to choose between taking the severance or filing for unemployment, but it sounds like I can do both. The timing delay makes sense since they're essentially treating the severance period as if I'm still employed. Going to gather all my paperwork and file my claim this week. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually been through this process with Washington ESD!
Welcome to the community! You're absolutely right that this thread has been super helpful - I was in the same boat feeling overwhelmed about how severance would affect my unemployment claim. It's such a relief to know from everyone's experiences (especially hearing from the former ESD employee) that severance doesn't disqualify you, just potentially delays when benefits start. The key seems to be filing right away and being completely honest about all the severance details. Good luck with your claim - sounds like you're well-prepared with all the insights from this discussion!
You've got the right approach! I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - 8 weeks severance and totally confused about how it would work with unemployment. This thread really does cover all the key points. Just make sure when you file that you have your severance agreement handy because they'll likely ask for specific details about the payment schedule and terms. The waiting period feels long when you're stressed about finances, but having both the severance and knowing unemployment benefits are coming later really helped me get through the transition. One thing I'd add is to start your job search right away even during the severance period - it shows good faith effort when you do start claiming benefits.
Mateo Rodriguez
This thread was so helpful! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions.
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Keisha Robinson
•Agreed! Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help out
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Malik Davis
Wow, this thread has been so helpful! I was just about to start searching for my 2024 1099-G from Washington ESD and was dreading having to navigate their website. Looks like checking under Payment History for the Tax Forms link is the key. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - saved me what probably would have been hours of frustration!
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