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This makes me so angry for you! They make the process INTENTIONALLY CONFUSING! Everyone saying "you should have appealed" doesn't get that ESD never clearly tells you WHEN something becomes appealable vs when it's just "in process." It's not like they send a bright red letter saying "THIS IS YOUR FORMAL DENIAL, APPEAL NOW OR LOSE FOREVER." I hope you get your money but prepare to fight hard because they use these technicalities to avoid paying legitimate claims!!!
One more tip - if you do pursue this, be extremely specific in documenting the timeline. Write out exactly when you filed each week, what the status showed, what communications you received (or didn't receive), and any attempts you made to resolve the issue. The more detailed your documentation, the better chance you have with a late appeal. Also, if you get denied at the OAH level, remember you can appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office and then to Superior Court if necessary. Each level gives you another chance to make your case.
eSD is the WORST!!! u should contact ur state representative office too. thats what i did when they messed up my claim. they have special liaisons who can cut through the red tape. google ur district rep + constituent services.
I want to clarify something important: If this was your last payable week on your claim, ESD's system is programmed to recover as much of the overpayment as possible from that final payment. This is because once your claim is exhausted, their ability to recover funds through offsets ends. For future reference (or for others reading this thread), if you receive an overpayment notice while still having multiple weeks left on your claim, you can contact ESD proactively and request a repayment plan to avoid having large chunks taken from your weekly benefits. They can often set it up to take smaller amounts over time. I hope you're able to get some emergency assistance for your immediate needs. Working with your utility company for an extension might help with the electricity bill. Many have hardship programs, especially if you've generally paid on time before.
Thank you for explaining that. I wish they had made that clearer in their letter! I've called my utility company and they did give me a 2-week extension, which helps. I'm going to try reaching ESD tomorrow using that Claimyr service someone mentioned, and I'll definitely file the hardship waiver. I'll update here if I get anywhere with this.
Anyone know if ESD is actually APPROVING any of these waivers? Or are they just making us wait years only to deny everyone? I'm wondering if it's even worth continuing to wait or if I should just give up and keep paying. This system is crushing people financially and mentally.
They are definitely approving waivers, but they're evaluating each one individually based on the criteria in WAC 192-220-028. The key factors are whether the overpayment was your fault, your financial situation, and if repayment would cause significant hardship. I've seen many pandemic-era overpayments get waived, especially ones caused by ESD calculation errors or unclear guidance. Don't give up hope - document your financial hardship carefully when they finally review your case.
Update: I just tried calling again today and finally got through to someone after a 2.5 hour wait! They confirmed my waiver request is still in the system but couldn't give me any specific timeline. The agent said they're still processing requests "in order" but admitted some complex cases take longer than others. She recommended I continue making payments until a decision is made. Not much new info but at least I know it's still in their system and wasn't lost or anything.
This whole sytem is rigged against us anyway. i worked 12 hours one week and my benifits got cut by almost half. makes no sense. The calculatin they claim to use is BS. probably just making up numbers to keep more $$$ for themselves.
I know it can seem that way when the calculations aren't clear! But the formula is actually consistent - if your benefits were cut by half for 12 hours of work, you might have been earning a pretty high hourly wage. The higher your wage, the more your benefits are reduced. Did you try calling ESD to get a breakdown of your specific calculation?
Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! This has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about the 25% earnings deduction formula but now it makes sense. I'll be reporting my gross wages ($22.50 × 16 = $360) and expecting around $555 in benefits based on the calculations above. I'll be continuing my job searches too - hoping to find something full-time soon but this part-time gig helps in the meantime.
Aisha Hussain
Did anyone else notice they changed the payment schedule recently? I used to always get paid on Tuesdays like clockwork if I filed on Sunday, but starting last month it's been Wednesday every time. I called and the agent said they adjusted their processing schedule in April 2025. Just FYI for anyone confused by timing changes!
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Mateo Martinez
•ya i noticed that 2!! thought it was just me but makes sense now
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StarStrider
One thing to watch out for - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even after you see the first payment. I made the mistake of thinking I was all set after getting approved, missed a week of filing, and then had to restart my entire claim! The weekly claims are due every Sunday, though you technically have until 4pm on Saturday of the following week before they count it as "late." Set a calendar reminder so you don't forget!
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Luca Ferrari
•That's super helpful advice - thank you! I've set a recurring reminder on my phone for every Sunday morning. Do I need to report any job search activities when filing the weekly claim? I've heard conflicting things about job search requirements.
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Nia Wilson
•Yes, you absolutely need to report job search activities. The current requirement is 3 job search activities per week (as of 2025). These can include submitting applications, attending interviews, going to WorkSource workshops, working on your resume with a career counselor, etc. Make sure you record all the details in your job search log - employer name, contact information, position applied for, application method, and date. ESD can audit your job search log at any time, so keep good records! The only exception is if you've been approved for "standby" status, which temporarily waives the job search requirement.
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