UPDATE: I finally got an adjudicator call today! After 5.5 weeks, they scheduled a phone interview regarding my voluntary quit. The adjudicator was actually very understanding about my situation with my disabled son. She asked for documentation about his medical needs and my school schedule, which I had ready. She said she'd make a decision within 48 hours. I'm cautiously optimistic! Will update again when I get the final decision.

FINAL UPDATE: I was APPROVED! All those weeks of waiting and worrying and my claim was approved with backpay for the 6 weeks I've been filing. The determination letter specifically mentioned that caring for my disabled son qualified as good cause for leaving work, and my educational program was approved under CAT. I'm so relieved! For anyone else waiting - hang in there. The wait is horrible but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

congrats on winning!!! honestly dealing with esd is like banging your head against a wall. i was in the same boat last yr and finally got my money but took almost 3 months after the judge ruled in my favor. you have to be super persistent and call like everyday. good luck with ur new claim too!

Quick update on the process since I just helped my brother-in-law through this exact situation last month: Call 833-572-8400, choose the option for questions about an existing claim, then when asked about your specific issue, say "appeal decision payments." This should route you to the right department faster. Have your appeal decision handy - specifically the part listing which weeks you should be eligible for. They'll ask for the OAH docket number (starts with "OAH" followed by numbers) from the top right of your decision letter. The system has improved somewhat since 2024. Back payments after appeals now take about 3-4 weeks instead of 2-3 months like before. Just make sure you're very clear that you're requesting payment for weeks that were approved in your OAH decision, not regular weekly benefits.

This might sound weird but try checking your account late at night. For some reason my decision showed up at like 11:30 PM on a Tuesday. I think they must run some kind of batch update to the system overnight.

One thing I learned during my appeal process - the decision might not automatically trigger payments even if you win. If you win your appeal, you may need to contact ESD directly to ensure they process any back payments owed to you. In my case, I won my appeal, but had to call several times before they released my back payments for the 9 weeks I was initially denied. Just something to keep in mind once you do get your decision.

To follow up on your question about alternatives if you don't qualify for regular UI due to insufficient W-2 hours: Unfortunately, the pandemic-era programs that covered self-employed workers (PUA) have ended. If you don't qualify for regular UI, you might want to look into: 1. WorkSource job placement services 2. DSHS emergency assistance programs 3. Local workforce development programs that might offer retraining 4. Apply anyway and appeal if denied - sometimes ESD misses eligible wages in their system And yes, absolutely apply even if you're unsure about qualifying. The formal determination is necessary if you need to appeal or pursue other options.

@OP regarding the Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - yes, it definitely worked for me. It's not sketchy at all - they basically just help you navigate the ESD phone system and get placed in the callback queue properly. Once they connect you, you're talking directly with ESD. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days. The agent I got was able to explain exactly what I needed for my new claim application after my benefit year ended.

Following up on my earlier comment - I think it would be helpful to understand that under WAC 192-220-017, ESD can reexamine a decision at any time if they receive new information. However, any benefits paid before a redetermination are typically only considered overpayments if there was claimant fraud or misrepresentation. In your case, since it appears to be your employer potentially contesting the claim after an initial determination, you should be entitled to continue receiving benefits during the review unless ESD specifically notifies you of a hold. Even if they eventually rule against you, you might qualify for a waiver of overpayment if you received the benefits through no fault of your own (which appears to be the case here).

btw did u use a fact finding form to respond to their new questions? make sure u fill that out SUPER detailed. my friend got denied cuz she just wrote short answers and they said she didn't provide enough info