when i got unemploymnet in 2018 i didnt have taxes taken out and wow did i regret it at tax time lol. ur doing it the smart way trust me

One more thing to be aware of - sometimes ESD will adjust your claim amount slightly based on other factors. For example, if you had any part-time earnings during a week, or if there was an offset for something like child support. The adjustment might not be taxes in those cases. But since you mentioned this is your first payment and the difference is almost exactly 10%, tax withholding is definitely what you're seeing.

Sorry to hijack but this reminds me of my appeal from last month! I was so nervous I couldn't sleep for days, and then when I finally got the decision (took 5 days), I won but they miscalculated my backpay amount. Had to call 27 times to get them to fix it. Now dealing with a whole new issue about my job search requirements. Does the nightmare ever end with ESD??

I want to address something important: the length of deliberation time is NOT directly correlated with whether you win or lose. I've seen quick denials and quick approvals. I've also seen lengthy deliberations for both outcomes. A more complex case typically requires a more detailed written decision regardless of outcome. The judge needs to cite specific regulations, address each piece of evidence, and create a legally sound document. This takes time. What you can do now: 1. Continue filing weekly claims 2. Check both your mailbox and online portal daily 3. Prepare documents for a further appeal if needed (you'll have 30 days if you need to appeal to Commissioner Review) 4. Look into temporary assistance if you're in immediate financial need Hang in there - a week is completely within normal timeframes for appeal decisions.

Just to add something important here: WorkSource workshops absolutely DO count as job search activities! They're actually one of the best ways to fulfill the requirement when you're working partial hours because: 1. Many workshops are available online now 2. Some are offered evenings/weekends 3. One workshop counts as one activity 4. They're free You can register for them through WorkSourceWA.com. Using these for 1-2 of your activities each week can make the job search requirement much more manageable while working part-time.

Update: I used Claimyr today and finally got through to ESD! The agent confirmed I DO need to do job searches even with partial employment since my standby was denied. She also explained I can reapply for standby if my return to full-time date is within 4 weeks now. For anyone else in my situation - they said workshops definitely count and recommended keeping extra detailed records of all job search activities. Thanks everyone for your help with this!

have u tried emailing ur state representative? my brother did that when his claim was stuck and suddenly esd called him like 2 days later lol

Update: Just got off the phone with ESD after using the Claimyr service someone recommended above. The agent told me my claim is delayed because they're waiting for my former employer to respond to their inquiry. Apparently, they have 10 business days to do so, and that period just ended yesterday. The agent said my claim should move forward within 7-10 days now, whether my employer responded or not. She also noted that my doctor's notes were properly attached to my file, which was a relief. So now I wait...again...but at least I know what's happening!

i think i know whats happening - did you put in the decimal point when entering your hours? like did you type 12.00 instead of just 12? i did that once and it messed up my whole calculation

Quick follow-up: If this was indeed caused by entering your hours as 12.0 (which the system might have read as 1.20 hours instead of 12 hours), you should explain this specifically when you talk to an ESD agent. They see this error frequently and can quickly correct it without going through a lengthy adjudication process. Just make sure to have your exact earnings information ready when you call.