I'm going through something similar right now - won my overpayment appeal last month after they claimed I owed $22,000. I've paid about $4,500 through their payment plan while fighting it. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both encouraging and terrifying! It sounds like the key is being really proactive about requesting the refund rather than waiting for them to automatically process it. I'm going to follow Paolo's detailed steps and send both a secure message and certified letter this week. Has anyone had experience with getting refunds for payments that were automatically deducted from ongoing unemployment benefits? They were taking money out of my weekly payments for months before I even knew about the appeal process, so I'm hoping those count toward what should be refunded too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is incredibly helpful for navigating this mess!

This thread has been so enlightening! I'm currently dealing with a $16,800 overpayment notice that I'm appealing, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize I need to start documenting everything NOW rather than waiting until after I (hopefully) win. A few questions for those who've been through this: 1. Should I keep making payments on the payment plan while appealing to avoid interest, or does that hurt my case somehow? 2. When you submit the formal refund request, do you need to include proof that you weren't at fault, or is referencing the appeal decision number enough? 3. For those who used both secure message AND certified mail - did you send identical content or tailor each one differently? I'm printing out Paolo's step-by-step guide and Javier's regulatory references to keep handy. It's incredible that we have to become experts in ESD bureaucracy just to get back money they wrongfully took, but at least this community is helping each other navigate it! Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's way more helpful than anything on ESD's official website.

I went through this exact same situation last year - 8 weeks stuck in adjudication! What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I emailed all three of my district reps (found through the leg.wa.gov finder tool mentioned above) AND used Claimyr to actually get through to ESD on the same day. The rep's office followed up a few days later, but Claimyr got me connected to an actual person who was able to see that my claim had been sitting in a queue with no action. Turned out to be a simple documentation issue that took 5 minutes to fix once someone actually looked at it. If you're desperate after 6 weeks, I'd definitely try both approaches simultaneously. Also make sure you're checking your eServices account daily - sometimes they request additional docs through there and if you miss it, your claim just sits indefinitely. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been in adjudication for 4 weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful! I'm going to try the district finder tool to contact my representatives and also look into Claimyr. One thing I wanted to add that helped me stay organized - I created a simple spreadsheet to track all my attempts: date, method (phone/email), who I contacted, and any response received. It's been useful when explaining my situation to different people so I don't have to remember all the details. Also, for anyone else reading this, make sure you're calling ESD right when they open at 8 AM - I've had slightly better luck getting into the queue early in the morning rather than later in the day. Still haven't gotten through, but at least I get further in the hold system! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and resources here.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! I was working remotely from my home in Olympia for a tech company headquartered in North Carolina. When they laid me off, I was initially confused about where to file, but it's definitely Washington ESD since that's where you physically performed your work. The application process was actually pretty straightforward - I filed online and got approved within about 2 weeks. The key is having all your employment info ready: exact start/end dates, your employer's full legal name and address, and your wage information. Don't let the remote work aspect stress you out - Washington handles these cases all the time now. Since you mentioned you have bills to pay, I'd recommend filing ASAP since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. You've got this!

I'm currently in almost the exact same situation! Working remotely from Spokane for a Boston-based software company and just got the news that my position is being eliminated next week. This entire thread has been a lifesaver - I was completely confused about whether to file in Massachusetts or Washington, but now I understand it's all about where I physically work, not where the company is located. It's incredibly reassuring to see so many people who've successfully navigated this with Washington ESD. The tips about gathering all employment documentation beforehand are really helpful, especially the advice about getting my employer's exact legal name and making sure they have my work location listed correctly in their payroll system. I'm going to start organizing everything this weekend so I can file immediately after my last day. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping people through these stressful situations!

UPDATE: Just got a call from an adjudicator this morning! They only asked a few questions about my layoff, and I was able to email them my termination letter right away. They said everything looked good and my benefits should be processed within 48 hours. So the date change definitely meant something was happening! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

Congratulations Dylan! This is exactly what we all hoped would happen. Your positive outcome gives me so much relief as someone who's been through this nightmare before. The fact that they processed everything so quickly once they actually reviewed your case shows that having proper documentation (like that termination letter) makes all the difference. Thanks for coming back to update us - so many people disappear once their issues get resolved, but it really helps others going through the same stress to see successful outcomes.

I've been on PFMLA with Chime for about 7 months now and wanted to share my experience since I see you're just getting started! The consistency advice everyone's giving is spot on - I submit every Sunday evening around 9 PM and get my deposits Wednesday mornings like clockwork. One thing that really helped me in the beginning was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my submission dates and deposit dates for the first month or two. It helped me see the pattern clearly and gave me confidence in the timing. Now I don't even think about it - just submit Sunday night and know Wednesday morning I'll have my payment. Also, don't stress too much about the reduced income adjustment period. It's tough at first, but once you get into a rhythm with the predictable payment schedule, budgeting becomes much more manageable. The key is just being consistent with that Sunday night submission routine that so many people have mentioned. You've got this!

I've been on PFMLA with Chime for about 10 months now and can definitely confirm the Sunday night submission strategy that everyone's recommending! I submit every Sunday around 8-9 PM and get my deposits Wednesday mornings between 5-6 AM consistently. One thing I wish someone had told me early on - if you're doing continuous leave (like I am for medical), make sure you understand how to properly fill out the "hours worked" vs "hours on leave" sections. I made mistakes in my first couple submissions that caused delays because I wasn't clear on how to report full days off vs partial days. Also, pro tip for budgeting with reduced PFMLA income: I set up a separate savings account at Chime specifically for these deposits and then transfer my budgeted amounts to checking for bills. Helps me avoid accidentally overspending since the PFMLA amount is usually quite a bit less than regular pay. The system really is predictable once you get into the groove - that first month of uncertainty is the hardest part!