One thing to remember is that the rules were different for 2021 because of COVID relief programs. Depending on WHEN in 2021 you received unemployment and how much income you had overall, some unemployment benefits might have been tax-exempt under the American Rescue Plan. So even if you did forget to report it, you might not actually owe anything additional.

Update us after you figure it out! I'm curious what happens. I've been paranoid about my taxes too lol

I had this exact problem two weeks ago! The website was down all Sunday and Monday, and I panicked because I thought we only had 48 hours to file. But the ESD rep told me we actually have the entire following week to submit a claim before it's considered late. So if your claim week ends Saturday, you have until the following Saturday to file. That info really reduced my stress level!

Just to provide the complete information for future reference: 1. Regular weekly claim phone line: 800-318-6022 2. TTY/TDD line for hearing impaired: 800-365-8969 3. ESD Technical Support (for eServices issues): 855-682-0785 And if you encounter website issues in the future, try these steps first: • Clear browser cache and cookies • Try a different browser (Edge sometimes works when Chrome fails) • Try a mobile device on cellular data instead of wifi • Try very early morning (5-6am) or late evening (10-11pm) when server load is lower

I'm in a similar situation - family of 5 in Kirkland. When I lost my tech job, going from $175k to maximum unemployment was a MASSIVE shock. We're burning through savings just to keep up with the mortgage. The thing is, I understand the system was designed decades ago when having a max benefit made sense - most people weren't earning what tech/healthcare/professional services pay now. The system hasn't evolved to match the modern economy. On the flip side, I spoke with a friend who lost a retail job in Spokane, and for her, the benefits are actually not bad compared to her previous income. Shows how much geographic disparity there is.

Just as an update on the timeline - I looked it up and the maximum weekly benefit amount increases each July based on the previous year's average annual wage. So the $999 amount was set in July 2023 based on 2022 wages and will adjust again this July (2025) based on the state's average wage from 2024. As several people noted, the challenge is that it's a statewide average that doesn't account for regional differences. The benefit amount is intended to be approximately 63% of your average weekly wage, up to that maximum cap. For anyone wanting to advocate for change, the relevant laws are in RCW 50.20.120.

wait did u answer all the questions right on the phone? sometimes i accidentally press the wrong button and it seems like it went thru but it didnt actually file. make sure when u call that u stay on until it says "thank you your claim has been filed" or someting like that at the very end

Just checking back - did your claim update in the system yet? It should show as filed by now if you did it yesterday morning.

Update for the OP: You might want to check if your appeal was properly transmitted from ESD to OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings). They're actually separate agencies. Sometimes ESD receives the appeal but fails to forward it to OAH, which is who actually schedules and conducts the hearings. If you contact OAH directly and they have no record of your appeal, that's your smoking gun that ESD failed to process it correctly. At that point, you can request that ESD immediately transmit your appeal to OAH with documentation showing when you originally filed it. This would establish that any delays were administrative errors, not your fault.

This is a HUGE problem with Washington's unemployment system! They deliberately make the appeal process confusing and difficult to navigate. I had to appeal a disqualification last year and the ONLY reason I got a hearing was because I sent a certified letter to the Commissioner's Office stating I would be contacting my state representative and filing a formal complaint. Magically, my "lost" appeal was found and I had a hearing scheduled within two weeks. DON'T GIVE UP! The system is designed to make you quit fighting for what you're entitled to. Get everything in writing and escalate as high as you need to go.