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I've been trying to get through to ESD for THREE WEEKS to ask this exact question!!! The phone system is impossible - I've called 42 times and either get hung up on or told the wait is over 2 hours and then disconnected anyway. I've tried eServices messaging but no response. I'm going to miss out on benefits because I can't get a simple answer about holiday pay!
I had the same issue trying to reach ESD last month. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It really saved me when I needed to ask about my adjudication issue. Way better than getting disconnected dozens of times.
Here's the official guidance: When filing by phone, answer all questions truthfully. For holiday pay specifically: 1. When asked if you received or will receive holiday pay, press 1 for YES 2. Enter the GROSS amount (before taxes) using the keypad 3. The system will calculate any deductions automatically Keep in mind that ESD can verify your earnings with your employer, so reporting accurately is crucial. As others mentioned, your benefit will be reduced by 75% of what you earn above $162.25, not eliminated entirely unless your holiday pay exceeds your weekly benefit amount plus the earnings allowance. If you continue to have questions about the phone filing process, the automated system does have an option to speak with a claims specialist, though wait times can be long during holiday periods.
To answer your original question - today (March 15, 2025) isn't a federal banking holiday, but there are sometimes processing delays due to month-end reconciliation periods at some financial institutions. If your payment normally appears Wednesday morning and ESD shows it as 'paid,' I would expect it by tomorrow at the latest. For future reference, here's the process: ESD typically processes payments 48 hours after you submit your weekly claim. Then it goes through the ACH banking system which can take 1-3 business days depending on your bank's processing schedule. If you don't see it by Friday morning, that's when I'd contact ESD to investigate further.
ESD HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOREVER!!! They delay payments even after judges order them to pay hoping people will just give up. It's criminal what they do to people who are already struggling. I waited 14 weeks after winning my appeal before I saw a dime. The system is BROKEN BY DESIGN. Don't let them wear you down.
While I understand your frustration, it's important to note that most post-appeal delays aren't intentional. The implementation of appeal decisions requires manual review to ensure the correct weeks and amounts are paid, and unfortunately, ESD's staffing hasn't kept pace with the volume of claims in recent years. They're legally obligated to pay valid claims and eventually do, even if the timeframe is frustrating.
Update: I want to thank everyone for their advice! I took several of your suggestions: 1. Called the OAH number and they confirmed our appeal should have been implemented weeks ago 2. Emailed unemployment.help with URGENT in the subject line and included all our claim details 3. Used Claimyr to finally get through to an actual person at ESD The agent I spoke with was actually very helpful once I got through. She said our payment was stuck because the appeal decision required manual processing of back payments, and it was sitting in a review queue. She escalated it while I was on the phone. This morning I checked our account and ALL 10 WEEKS have been processed for payment! They should be in our account by Monday. I'm so relieved I could cry. For anyone else stuck in appeal limbo - persistence and using multiple channels simultaneously seems to be the key. Thanks again everyone.
congrats!! im gonna try the same approach. its ridiculous we have to jump through all these hoops but at least you got your money!
One thing that helped speed up my adjudication was submitting very detailed job separation information. My claim was stuck for weeks until I uploaded a detailed letter explaining exactly why and how I was separated from my employer, with dates, supervisor names, and relevant company policy information. Within days of uploading this documentation (using the document upload tool in my ESD account), my claim moved forward. The more specific information you can provide upfront, the less the adjudicator has to investigate.
anybody else notice wen u finally get thru to ESD they act like ur bothering them?? lady i talked to was so rude like im just trying to feed my family here not trying to scam anyone
Fatima Al-Farsi
Am I the only one who thinks its CRAZY that they can just decide someone isnt "good enough" for a job they PROMOTED them to and then fire them?? The whole system is rigged against workers!!! At least document the issues and give people a chance to improve before cutting them loose!!
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Giovanni Greco
•yea its pretty messed up. washington is an at-will state tho so they can fire for almost any reason as long as its not discrimination
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Amara Eze
•While it may seem unfair, the good news is that Washington's unemployment system generally recognizes this situation as qualifying for benefits. Being unable to perform in a new role is not considered misconduct for unemployment purposes.
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Liam McGuire
Update: We submitted the information to ESD yesterday explaining exactly what happened - that he was promoted to lead, tried his best for 3 months, but wasn't meeting expectations in that specific role, and there weren't other positions available. We emphasized that he had 3 years of good performance before the promotion. Now we're just waiting to hear back. Thanks everyone for your advice! I'll update again when we get a decision.
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Amara Eze
•Sounds like you provided exactly the right information. Make sure he continues to file his weekly claims while waiting for their decision. This prevents any gaps in payment once they make a determination.
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