Just want to add something important for your hearing preparation: In Washington, if your hours were reduced by over 25% from what you were hired for, that can qualify as "good cause" to quit under ESD rules. Since you mentioned going from full-time (presumably 40 hours) to 16 hours, that's a 60% reduction which should qualify. Make sure to specifically mention WAC 192-150-120 during your hearing - that's the regulation about substantial reduction in hours constituting good cause to leave employment. Print it out and bring it with you.

To directly answer your question about expediting: You need to call OAH at 1-800-366-0955 and request the Expedited Hearing Request Form. Complete it and submit it with documentation of your financial hardship (eviction notice, past due bills, bank statements showing low funds). Based on current timelines, even expedited appeals are taking 4-6 weeks, while regular appeals are running 8-10 weeks. One thing to note is that if your appeal is successful, you will receive back payments for all the weeks you properly filed claims, so document everything carefully now. Also, prepare a clear timeline of events leading to your separation from employment, focusing specifically on how your hours were reduced and any attempts you made to resolve the situation before quitting. The judge will want to see that you exhausted reasonable alternatives before quitting.

Thanks everyone for the super helpful responses! I'm going to file my initial claim tomorrow and make sure I report the severance correctly. I'll also keep doing the weekly claims even though I probably won't receive anything during the severance period. I appreciate all the advice!

One last tip - make sure you start fulfilling your job search requirements right away, even during the severance period. You need 3 job search activities each week, and you have to document them. ESD can audit your job search log at any time. This is something many people miss and can cause problems with your claim later.

I've been on unemployment for nearly 18 months now (had to switch from regular UI to extended benefits at one point) and I've found the phone system to be fine for basic claims with no special circumstances. BUT if you have anything unusual to report like hours worked at multiple jobs or holiday pay or anything like that, I strongly recommend using the website. The phone system just isn't designed to handle complex situations. It's pretty much designed for people who either worked zero hours or have a simple single-employer situation with regular hours. Just something to keep in mind!

I always file by phone and never had problem! Just make sure you listen for the confirmation number at the end and write it down!!! Thats how you know it worked for real

One important tip for anyone going through identity verification: If you have any name discrepancies between your ID documents (like a married name on some and maiden name on others), make sure to upload a document that explains the difference (like a marriage certificate). This is one of the most common reasons for extended verification times. Also, make sure your address on file exactly matches what's on your ID documents. Even small differences can flag your account for manual review.

i had the exact same problem last month and my local state representative's office actually helped speed things up! try contacting your district rep - their offices sometimes have direct contacts at ESD who can check on claims.

I had an overpayment issue too when I was on unemployment in 2023... took me FOREVER to reach anyone. When I finally did, they told me they had my payment but it was applied to the wrong quarter or something ridiculous like that. Make sure when you finally reach someone that they check ALL parts of your account, not just the current balance!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! Used the special Thursday window that someone mentioned here AND had sent an email with all my documentation. The agent confirmed exactly what someone here suggested - my payment got flagged for "verification" because it was made from a new bank account (I switched banks in December). They found my payment in their system, removed the late fee, and said it should be properly applied to my account within 3-5 business days. They're also putting a note that no additional fees should be added while this is processing. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help and suggestions. This community saved me from completely losing my mind this week!