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Good luck with your appeal! It's definitely worth fighting if you believe you're eligible. The system makes mistakes and the appeals process exists for a reason. Stay organized and don't let them intimidate you.
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel much better about moving forward with the appeal now.
You've got this! Come back and let us know how it goes.
I went through a similar appeal process about 6 months ago and won my case. One thing that really helped me was organizing all my documents in chronological order - termination letter, any HR communications, performance reviews, etc. The judge appreciated having everything laid out clearly. Also, practice explaining your situation out loud beforehand so you're not stumbling over words during the hearing. The judges are used to dealing with nervous people, but being prepared definitely helps your case. The whole process took about 8 weeks for me from filing to decision, but it was worth the wait when I got my back pay.
That's really helpful about organizing documents chronologically! I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense. Did you have any trouble getting your termination paperwork from your employer? I'm worried they might not cooperate since they're probably the ones who contested my claim in the first place.
You should be able to get copies of your termination paperwork through HR even if they contested your claim. It's your employment record and they're legally required to provide it. If they give you trouble, you can also request it through the Department of Labor or mention during your appeal hearing that your former employer refused to provide documentation. That actually looks bad for them. I'd suggest calling HR and asking politely first - sometimes they'll just email you copies without any hassle.
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why dont u just start doing bad at ur job so they fire u lol... just saying its easier to get benefits that way than if u quit
This is actually incorrect advice. Being fired for performance issues or misconduct will also disqualify you from benefits. ESD investigates the reason for separation regardless of whether it's a quit or termination.
I'm in a very similar situation right now - been commuting 2 hours each way for 3 months and it's absolutely draining. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like you might have a stronger case than you think because of the added weekend shifts that weren't in your original agreement. That's a material change to your working conditions. Before you make any decisions, I'd definitely recommend using that Claimyr service Diego mentioned to talk to an actual ESD representative about your specific situation. The fact that your commute is 2.5 hours each way during bad traffic puts you right at that threshold they mentioned. Document everything - the schedule changes, your car repair costs, gas receipts, any attempts you've made to find alternatives. If you have any health impacts from the stress of commuting (sleep issues, back problems from sitting so long, etc.), get those documented by a doctor too. The housing cost difference you mentioned is also important - if they ask why you can't relocate, having documentation that housing near work costs 40% more on your current salary shows you explored that option but it wasn't financially viable. Hang in there - this is such a tough situation but at least you still have some time left on your benefit year if you do need to use it.
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One last thing - if you're a student or recent graduate, you might need information about your school enrollment. Washington ESD has specific rules about student eligibility for unemployment benefits. Have your enrollment dates and class schedule ready just in case.
Good point. I graduated last year but wasn't sure if that was relevant to my application.
If you're not currently enrolled, you should be fine. But it's good to have that information ready if they ask about recent education.
This is such a comprehensive thread! I'm also preparing to apply and reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think was mentioned yet - if you've received any severance pay or vacation payout from your employer, you'll need those details too. Washington ESD asks about any payments you received after your last day of work, and it can affect when your benefits start. Also, make sure you know your highest quarter of earnings from the past year - they use this to calculate your weekly benefit amount. I found this info on my most recent pay stub, but you might need to dig through a few months of stubs to find your highest earning quarter.
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I just wanted to add that Washington ESD also has a pension offset calculator on their website that can give you a rough estimate of how your Social Security will affect your benefits before you file. It's under the "Calculate Your Benefits" section. Not perfect but gives you a ballpark figure to work with while you're planning your finances during the job search.
That's really helpful! I didn't know Washington ESD had a calculator like that. Will definitely check it out before I file my initial claim. Having some idea of what to expect financially will make this whole process less stressful.
Just went through this exact situation myself! At 62 I was collecting early Social Security ($1,623/month) when I got laid off from my retail management job. Washington ESD treated my SS as pension income, which reduced my weekly unemployment by about $200 but I still received $340/week. The key things that helped me: 1) Report your SS amount accurately every single week - don't skip this step, 2) Keep your Social Security award letter handy for verification, and 3) Use the pension offset calculator on the ESD website first to estimate your benefits. The whole process was much smoother than I expected once I understood the rules. You'll be fine as long as you're upfront about everything from day one!
Keisha Johnson
Wow, this thread has become an amazing resource! As someone who's been dealing with ReliaCard issues for months, I wish I had found this community sooner. The detailed breakdown of all the workarounds is incredibly helpful - especially the multiple grocery store money order strategy and the timing tips for maximizing ATM withdrawals. It's really frustrating how ESD provides such minimal information about these ReliaCard restrictions upfront. The one-transaction daily limit at US Bank branches should be clearly explained when they mail the card, not something people have to discover during stressful situations when they need to access their benefits for essential expenses. I made the switch to direct deposit about two months ago after dealing with similar withdrawal headaches, and it's been such a relief. The 7-10 day processing time felt long when I was in the middle of a crisis, but having that predictable direct access to funds has eliminated so much stress around payment timing and withdrawal limits. For anyone new to this thread - definitely save all these strategies! The community knowledge here is honestly more comprehensive and useful than any official ESD guidance I've received. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions!
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Oliver Schulz
•I couldn't agree more about this thread being an incredible resource! I'm fairly new to the unemployment benefits system and just received my ReliaCard last week. After reading through all these experiences, I'm honestly pretty shocked at how many important limitations aren't clearly communicated upfront. The one-transaction-per-day rule at US Bank branches seems like such a basic thing that should be prominently displayed on the card packaging or in a welcome letter, not hidden in fine print. What really strikes me is how this community has essentially had to create its own unofficial user manual for navigating ReliaCard issues. The money order strategy, ATM timing tips, grocery store cash back options, direct deposit switch process - all of this practical knowledge came from people sharing their real-world problem-solving experiences. It shouldn't have to be this way, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help newcomers like me avoid these pitfalls. I'm definitely going to proactively switch to direct deposit based on everyone's recommendations here. Better to deal with the 7-10 day processing time now than get caught in a crisis situation later. Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this such a comprehensive guide!
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Daniel Rivera
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got my ReliaCard last week and had no idea about any of these withdrawal restrictions. It's pretty concerning that ESD doesn't clearly communicate these limitations upfront - the one-transaction-per-day rule at US Bank branches should definitely be prominently displayed when they send the card, not something you discover when you're stressed about paying rent or other essential expenses. I'm definitely going to bookmark all these workarounds (money orders at grocery stores, ATM + cash back combinations, etc.) just in case I run into similar issues. The detailed strategies everyone has shared here are honestly more useful than any official ESD documentation I've received. Based on all the positive feedback about direct deposit, I think I'm going to proactively make that switch before I encounter any withdrawal headaches. The 7-10 day processing time seems worth it to avoid these ReliaCard limitations entirely. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable for navigating all these ESD quirks!
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