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Almost forgot to mention - if your waiver gets denied, don't give up! You can still request a payment plan. I know someone who got a 48-month payment plan with really low monthly payments. Not as good as a waiver but WAY better than having to pay it all back at once or getting your wages garnished!
If you need some guidance on filling out the form, the Northwest Justice Project has a really helpful guide specific to ESD pandemic overpayment waivers. Just search "Northwest Justice Project ESD overpayment waiver guide" and it should come up. They walk through exactly what to include in each section and what documentation is most important. Also - be sure to check if you qualify for a "blanket waiver" which is different from the individual waiver process. In some specific situations, ESD is automatically waiving certain types of overpayments from the pandemic period. This includes cases where you were eligible under one program but should have been paid under a different program.
I found that guide - it's incredibly helpful! After reading through everything, I think I might qualify for the blanket waiver since my overpayment notice mentions something about being paid under regular UI when I should have been under PUA. I'm going to call ESD (using that Claimyr service if I can't get through) to confirm if I'm eligible for the blanket waiver before I go through the whole individual application process. Thank you all for the help - feeling much less panicked now!
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One tip - have your resume ready to share on the Zoom call. They asked to see mine during the meeting and wanted to go over it. Also be ready to talk about what wage you're looking for and what industries you're targeting. They might ask if you're being too picky about jobs you're applying to (at least mine did).
Good tip, thank you! My resume needs updating anyway so I'll make sure to have it ready.
Just make sure you attend the meeting - it's mandatory. If you miss it, your benefits will be suspended. If for some reason you can't make the scheduled time, call the number on your letter ASAP to reschedule. They usually allow one reschedule for good cause.
Definitely planning to attend! I've set multiple reminders so I don't forget.
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Wait when did you file your claim? You said last Sunday but also said you were in adjudication "for the first two weeks"? Timelines not making sense...
Sorry if I wasn't clear! I filed my initial claim 3 weeks ago, then submitted weekly claims each Sunday since then. The first two weekly claims showed as "adjudication" status, but now when I check on my third week, nothing shows adjudication anymore - everything just says pending now.
Got it that makes more sense. Yeah pending is def better than adjudication!
Just to follow up on this thread - the standard progression of an ESD claim is: Submitted → Processing → Adjudication (if there are issues) → Pending → Paid Some claims skip adjudication entirely if there are no eligibility questions. The fact that yours moved from adjudication to pending is definitely a positive sign. Make sure you continue completing your job search activities (3 per week) and filing your weekly claims while you wait for payment processing.
Thank you! I just got an update this morning - it switched to paid! You were right about the progression. For anyone finding this thread later, it took exactly 3 days to go from pending to paid. Such a relief!
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btw the whole system is rigged. ESD always sides with employers first cuz they dont wanna pay out benefits. its all about saving money for them. but the appeal judges are seperate from ESD and actually listen to evidence. thats why so many denials get overturned on appeal. the system is designed to hope people give up without appealing.
This is a common misconception, but it's important to clarify: Initial adjudicators aren't incentivized to deny claims. They're making decisions based on available information, and employers often respond to claims while claimants may not provide their full side. The appeal process exists because initial decisions are made with limited information and time constraints. OAH judges have more time to thoroughly review evidence and hear testimony from both sides.
Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! I've started gathering all my evidence - emails showing approved absences, doctor's notes, and I'm reaching out to a couple sympathetic coworkers for statements. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims during the appeal process too. I'm going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow to hopefully speak with an ESD agent about exactly what they need from me. Then I'll draft a clear timeline and practice my testimony like several of you suggested. This whole situation is so stressful, but hearing your success stories has given me hope. I'll update this thread after my hearing to let everyone know how it went!
Sounds like you're taking all the right steps! Don't hesitate to come back with more questions as you prepare. The fact that you have documentation is really encouraging - that's often what makes or breaks these cases.
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this happened to my friend and she just didn't report the work trial at all and kept getting her benefits no problem 🤷♀️
This is extremely bad advice. Not reporting income is fraud and can result in having to repay all benefits received plus penalties, and in serious cases can even lead to criminal charges. Never risk your future benefits by failing to report income.
Just to follow up on my earlier comment - make sure you mention these specific things in your explanation: 1. It was explicitly a "work trial" or "evaluation period" 2. The excessive hours requirement (60+ vs standard 40) 3. The hostile work environment (screaming/verbal abuse) These factors clearly establish that this was unsuitable work under RCW 50.20.100, which protects your benefits eligibility. Also be sure to answer any ESD messages promptly as delayed responses can further delay your claim processing.
Thank you for the follow-up! I didn't know about that specific law. Just submitted my weekly claim with all those details included. Fingers crossed it goes through without issues!
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my cousin quit bcuz of harassment and got denied twice!!! the system is so unfair sometimes just warning u it might be an uphill battle
Each case is evaluated individually. The key difference is often in how specifically you document the hostile behavior and whether you attempted to resolve it before quitting. Vague claims of "harassment" without documentation are often denied, while specific documented incidents with dates and details have a much better chance of approval. Also, having a new job already lined up shows ESD that the claimant is serious about working, which strengthens their case.
Update: I filed my initial claim yesterday and selected "quit" with "hostile work environment" as the reason. I got a notice that my claim needs adjudication (which I expected from your helpful comments). The message says it could take 5-8 weeks for adjudication! That's longer than the gap until my new job starts. Should I still do the weekly claims while waiting? Will they backpay me for these weeks if approved? Really stressing about making rent now...
Absolutely continue filing your weekly claims even while in adjudication! If your claim is eventually approved, they'll only backpay for weeks you properly claimed. If you don't submit weekly claims, you won't get paid for those weeks even if your overall claim is approved later. And yes, adjudication is taking forever right now - I was in it for 7 weeks before they made a decision on my claim. Hang in there!
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i contacted governors office in march waited 2 weeks nothing happend then i called my state senator and they fixed it in 3 days... different offices get different results i think it depends who u get maybe try both?
SEE! That's what I was saying! State reps and senators seem to get way better results than the governor's office!
Has anyone else noticed that ESD tends to process things in batches at the end of the week? When my claim was stuck last year, nothing happened for days and then suddenly on Friday afternoon everything updated at once. Maybe check again tomorrow?
That's interesting - I hadn't heard about Friday batch processing. I'll definitely check again tomorrow and update this thread if anything changes. Thanks for the tip!
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The whole system is RIDICULOUS. My cousin was Navy for 12 years and when he got out they made him jump through a million hoops just to get his unemployment. Had to prove he was looking for work CONSTANTLY even though the economy was terrible. And then they STILL messed up his payments multiple times!!! The way this state treats veterans is shameful!!!!! OP, if I were you I'd get a lawyer who specializes in veteran benefits to help with this. The ESD system is designed to DENY benefits not help people who need them!!!
Sorry your cousin had such a rough experience. I'm hoping mine goes smoother, but it's good to be prepared for complications. I'm going to try working with the veteran specialists at WorkSource first before considering legal help, but will keep that option in mind if things get too complex.
After reading all the advice here, I think your best course of action is: 1. Apply for UCX benefits through ESD right away, even though you're past the 12-month window 2. Use Claimyr to actually reach a human at ESD who can review your specific situation 3. Visit WorkSource and ask specifically for their veteran employment representative 4. Bring your DD-214 and any other military service documentation to both ESD and WorkSource 5. Be prepared to explain why you didn't apply sooner (legitimate lack of awareness) Even if you don't qualify for retroactive benefits, you might still be eligible going forward. And the veteran specialists at WorkSource can help connect you with other resources regardless of what happens with your UCX claim.
Thank you so much for outlining these steps! This gives me a clear plan to follow. I'm going to start with the application today and then try to reach someone at ESD using Claimyr. Will definitely update on how it goes in case it helps other veterans in similar situations.
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I just remembered something else - when you get your hearing notice from OAH, it will have instructions for submitting evidence. Make sure you submit EVERYTHING at least 1 week before the hearing. I made the mistake of trying to introduce new evidence during my hearing and the judge wouldn't accept it because I didn't submit it ahead of time.
That's really good to know! I'll make sure to get everything submitted early. Does that include text messages between me and my supervisor?
Yes, text messages are absolutely evidence you should submit! Take screenshots and organize them by date. Also, I forgot to mention - the OAH hearing will be by phone (not in person), so make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception when the time comes. Have all your documents spread out in front of you for easy reference.
Just got my hearing scheduled for February 28th. Still seems like forever away, but at least it's on the calendar now. Thanks for all the help everyone - I'm going to start organizing my evidence today.
Arjun Patel
wait so if i keep filing claims after benefits end do i still need to do the 3 job search activities every week?? seems pointless if not getting $
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Ella rollingthunder87
•Yes, you still need to complete and document your 3 job search activities each week if you're filing claims, even after benefits exhaust. This maintains your claim as "active" in the system. If you don't do the activities or don't file, your claim becomes inactive. It might seem pointless, but if any extensions or additional benefits become available, having an active claim with documented job search activities means you could receive those benefits immediately rather than having to restart the whole process.
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Tony Brooks
Has anyone actually HAD extended benefits magically appear after their regular UI ran out recently? This sounds like an urban legend or something from the COVID era. I don't think they're doing any extensions in 2025.
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Julia Hall
•You're right that there aren't currently any federal extensions like during COVID. However, there are still some situations where additional benefits might become available: 1. If your state's unemployment rate rises above certain thresholds, Extended Benefits (EB) can automatically trigger 2. If you qualify for Training Benefits while pursuing approved training 3. If there's a major economic downturn or localized disaster 4. If wage corrections or late-reported wages are added to your claim While these aren't common, maintaining an active claim ensures you'd be eligible if any apply to your situation.
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