Washington Unemployment
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Can caregiver apply for ESD unemployment after 26-day background check delay?
So frustrated right now! My sister works as an in-home caregiver for our elderly father (has been doing this for 4 years). Her background check expired and she submitted the renewal paperwork ONE DAY late. The agency immediately stopped her pay while waiting for the new background check to process. It took from Feb 3rd to March 1st - that's 26 DAYS without any income! Her background check came back clean (of course) and she's back working now, but the agency says they won't pay her for those 26 days she couldn't work because of their policy. Is she eligible for any kind of temporary unemployment for just that period? Maybe something like standby status or partial unemployment? She's not technically laid off since she's working again, but that's almost a full month's income just gone! Anyone dealt with something similar with caregiver agencies and background check delays?
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Best direct phone number to contact ESD about unpaid benefits?
I've been waiting almost 5 weeks for my benefits to hit my account but still nothing. Tried calling the main ESD number (855-682-0785) at least 12 times this week but keep getting the 'high call volume' message and disconnected. Is there a better direct number or extension to reach an actual human? My rent is due in 3 days and I'm seriously panicking. My claim status says 'paid' online but no money has shown up in my account. Has anyone successfully gotten through recently? What's the best way to contact them about this??
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btw did u try the online message center thing? sometimes they actually respond to those
I sent 2 messages already with no response. The website says to expect 5-7 business days for a reply but it's been 8 days now.
UPDATE: I just learned that ESD recently changed their phone system. Try option 2, then 1, then 3 in the menu to bypass some of the general queues. Also, if you're willing to drive to a WorkSource center in person, they sometimes have direct lines to ESD representatives that can help with payment issues. Bring ID and your claim information if you go that route.
Thank you! I'll definitely try that phone menu sequence tomorrow morning. There's a WorkSource about 20 minutes from me so that might be my backup plan if I can't get through by phone. Really appreciate all the help from everyone.
What happens at an OAH hearing after Christmas? When to expect payment if approved?
I've finally got my OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings) hearing scheduled for December 26th - great timing right after Christmas! I'm super nervous and have no idea what to expect. Can anyone who's gone through this process tell me what kind of questions they typically ask during these hearings? Also wondering how long it takes to hear their decision and if I win, when I might actually see my benefits hit my account? Been waiting 8 weeks already and my savings are running dangerously low. Thanks for any help, and Merry Christmas to everyone dealing with ESD stress during the holidays.
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btw if u need to talk to esd before ur hearing theres this service called claimyr that can help u get thru. my friend used it when she couldnt get anyone on the phone for 2 weeks. it costs money but she said it was worth it cuz they got her connected in like an hour. their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3
Thanks for the tip! I'm definitely at my wit's end trying to get through to someone. I'll check out the video and see if it might be worth it.
Just a heads up - since your hearing is the day after Christmas, there might be some delays with the decision and payment processing due to the holiday season. Many ESD staff take vacation time around the holidays, which can slow things down. I'd mentally prepare for an extra week beyond the normal timeframes just to be safe.
That's a really good point that I hadn't considered. I'll definitely adjust my expectations about the timeline. Thanks for the heads up!
ESD payment stuck in 'processing' status - usually deposits Wednesday but nothing today
Is anyone else having delayed payments this week? I filed my weekly claim Sunday night like usual, but it's still showing as 'processing' on the ESD website. Normally my funds hit my bank account by Wednesday morning at the latest, but nothing's come through today (Thursday). The status hasn't even changed to 'paid' in the system yet. No messages about issues with my claim or anything in my ESD inbox. Getting worried since I've got rent due Monday and this has never taken so long before. Anyone else experiencing this delay or know what's going on?
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Quick update: My payment just switched from 'processing' to 'paid' about an hour ago. Hopefully everyone else's will update soon too. Looks like they're working through the backlog as promised.
Just checked mine and it's changed to 'paid' too! Relief!! Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance. Hopefully the actual deposit hits tomorrow.
Will temp agency work during waiting week disqualify my ESD benefits?
I just filed for unemployment and I'm in my waiting week now. A temp staffing agency called with some potential work, but I'm really concerned about how this might affect my benefits. The temp jobs are all minimum wage ($18.50/hr) doing physically demanding stuff like assembly line work or warehouse tasks. The schedule is super unpredictable - could be 2 days one week, then 5 days, then nothing at all. Would accepting temp work during my waiting week mess up my claim? I'm worried that taking these sporadic low-paying gigs won't cover my bills, but I also don't want to decline work and lose my benefits. I know ESD can see when you're working through their system. I'd honestly rather just collect unemployment while searching for a stable, permanent position. Anyone have experience with temp work during unemployment?
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my brother took temp work during his waiting week last year and it totally messed up his claim. system thought he was employed full-time and denied everything. took him MONTHS to get it sorted out. just my two cents...
That's exactly what I'm afraid of! The ESD system seems to get confused easily. Did he eventually get it straightened out?
yeah but only after filing an appeal and waiting like 12 weeks for a hearing. he was almost evicted during that time. the whole system is broken.
Just to add some clarity to your specific situation - the waiting week is always unpaid, but you still need to follow all unemployment rules during that week. Taking temp work during your waiting week won't affect your overall eligibility as long as you report it correctly. The real decision point is what happens AFTER your waiting week. You'll need to decide if you want to continue with temp work (and potentially receive partial benefits) or focus solely on finding permanent employment while collecting full benefits. Either way, maintain your 3 job search activities every week and document everything clearly. If the temp work is sporadic as you mentioned, having some income plus partial benefits might be better than no income while waiting for the perfect job. Just make sure your weekly claims are accurate regarding hours worked and earnings received.
Thank you! I think I'll accept the temp work for now and see how it goes. I'll be super careful about reporting everything accurately. I appreciate everyone's help explaining how this works!
Skylar Neal
For her unemployment application, make sure she uses these exact terms when explaining the situation: 1. "Administrative furlough due to background check processing" 2. "Temporary work stoppage not due to misconduct" 3. "Unable to perform work duties solely due to required administrative processing" These specific phrases will help trigger the right classification in the ESD system. Also, when she applies, she should select "laid off" rather than "quit" or "fired" when asked about her separation reason. Background check processing delays are considered administrative furloughs in most cases, which fall under the laid off category. If she gets denied (which happens to many first-time applications), definitely appeal right away. The appeal form will give her more space to fully explain the situation.
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Brady Clean
AuthorThis is extremely helpful! I've written down these exact phrases for her to use on the application. She's going to try filing online tonight. Will update how it goes!
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Angelina Farar
sorta off topic but this happened to my neighbor who is also a caregiver and she ended up applying for emergency assistance through DSHS for that month instead of dealing with unemployment. might be another option if the ESD route doesn't work out.
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