Update: I was able to get through to ESD (finally!) and they confirmed I should only report hours actually worked by claim filing time. They helped me correct my previous week's claim where I over-reported. Thanks everyone for your help sorting this out! For others with overnight shifts - definitely split your hours at midnight between claim weeks.

Great to see this got resolved! As someone who also works overnight shifts, I can confirm this is exactly how it works. The midnight split rule seems confusing at first but it actually makes sense once you understand that ESD weeks run Sunday-Saturday. For anyone else dealing with this - keep detailed records of your actual work hours by day, not just by shift. It makes filing claims much easier and helps avoid these kinds of mix-ups. The key thing to remember is always report what you've ACTUALLY worked, not what you're scheduled to work.

I'm currently in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I was laid off in December and received what my employer called "severance" but was actually paid through their regular payroll system. I've been getting those same "excess earnings" determinations every week and was starting to worry I'd done something wrong with my claim. What really helped me understand this was reading everyone's explanations about how ESD treats continuation pay versus true lump-sum severance. Since my payments were processed through regular payroll at my normal rate, ESD is rightfully treating them as wages that exceed my weekly benefit amount. The most valuable thing I learned from this discussion is that those weeks with excess earnings aren't wasted - they still count toward my benefit year and one satisfies the waiting week requirement. I have about two more weeks of continuation pay left, but now I feel confident that my UI benefits will start automatically once that ends, as long as I keep filing every Sunday. The anxiety around this whole process is real, especially when ESD's messaging isn't very clear about what "excess earnings" actually means. But knowing that so many others have gone through this exact scenario and had their benefits start normally once the severance/continuation pay ended gives me a lot of peace of mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now and this thread has been so helpful! Got laid off in early December and my company provided what they called "severance" but it's been coming through their regular payroll system every two weeks. I've been getting those "excess earnings" determinations on every weekly claim and was starting to panic that I'd somehow screwed up my application. What really clicked for me after reading everyone's responses is understanding that this is continuation pay, not true severance, which is why ESD treats it as regular wages. Since these payments are higher than my weekly benefit amount, they're completely offsetting any UI benefits I would receive during this period. The most reassuring thing I learned is that these weeks still count toward my benefit year - they're not lost time. I have about 4 more weeks of continuation pay left, but now I feel confident that my benefits will start automatically once that period ends, as long as I keep filing every Sunday. The anxiety around not being able to reach anyone at ESD to confirm what's happening has been brutal, especially when you're already stressed about being unemployed. But seeing so many others go through this exact scenario successfully gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made such a difference in my peace of mind!

UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for the great advice! I followed the suggestions here and have some progress to report. I tried calling during the recommended off-peak hours but still couldn't get through. However, I sent a detailed email to my state representative yesterday afternoon with all the information suggested, and this morning I received a response saying they've contacted ESD on my behalf! They said to expect an update within 5-7 business days. I'll post again when I hear more, but wanted to thank you all for the guidance. This community has been more helpful than any official ESD resource.

That's fantastic progress! Your state rep responding that quickly is a really good sign. I went through something similar last year and once my representative got involved, things moved much faster than the usual ESD timeline. The fact that they gave you a specific 5-7 day window means your case is now being actively tracked rather than sitting in the general adjudication queue. While you're waiting, make sure to keep checking your eServices account daily - sometimes updates appear there before you get any other notification. And definitely keep filing your weekly claims even though you're still in adjudication. Fingers crossed you get good news soon! This community really does know what works better than the official channels sometimes.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and it's so stressful! I filed my weekly claim on Sunday as usual, but with Monday being a holiday I have no idea when to expect my payment. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful - sounds like Tuesday or Wednesday is realistic to expect. It's frustrating that Washington ESD doesn't give us any advance notice about holiday delays, especially when we're already struggling financially. I'm going to start tracking my payments like some of you suggested and maybe set up those federal holiday reminders too. At least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this confusion!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here! I was panicking thinking something was wrong with my claim when my payment didn't come on Monday, but reading all your comments about holiday delays has really put my mind at ease. It sounds like this is just a normal part of the process that Washington ESD doesn't bother to explain to us. I'm definitely going to start keeping track of federal holidays and maybe set up those calendar reminders like some of you suggested. It's ridiculous that we have to figure this stuff out ourselves when we're already stressed about money, but at least we have each other to share information. Fingers crossed my payment hits tomorrow!

Thank you - I've been filing my weekly claims religiously even with the disqualification status. I'll check out the hardship resources in my county. Appreciate the suggestion!

I went through a similar appeal process about 8 months ago after quitting due to workplace bullying. The timeline can vary quite a bit - mine took about 5 weeks to get scheduled, but I've heard of people waiting up to 10 weeks depending on the complexity of their case and current backlog. A few things that really helped me during the hearing: - Having a chronological list of incidents with specific dates and witnesses - Screenshots/emails showing I attempted to resolve issues through proper channels - Medical documentation linking my health issues to the workplace situation The judge in my case was very thorough and asked detailed questions about why I felt I had no other choice but to quit. Since you have recordings and medical notes, you're in a much stronger position than many people who go through this process. One thing to prepare for - your former employer will likely participate in the hearing and may try to dispute your version of events. Don't let that intimidate you; just stick to the facts and your documentation. The burden is on you to prove good cause, but it sounds like you have solid evidence. Hang in there - I know the financial stress while waiting is awful, but with your level of documentation, you have a good shot at winning your appeal.