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To directly answer your timeline question: Currently in Washington state, the average wait time from appeal filing to hearing notice is approximately 4-5 weeks, with an additional 2-3 weeks until the actual hearing date. However, this can vary based on current case volume. Here's what you should do while waiting: 1. Continue filing your weekly claims without interruption 2. Maintain detailed records of all job search activities (3 per week minimum) 3. Gather documentation of past job search activities, especially for the weeks in question 4. Watch for mail from both ESD and the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) 5. Check your spam/junk folder for emails, as some notices are sent electronically Approximately 60% of work search related appeals are successful when the claimant provides thorough documentation at the hearing.
Yes, most OAH hearings are conducted by phone now. You'll get instructions with your hearing notice about how to call in. They usually give you a specific time window and a conference line to join. Make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception and have all your documents ready. The judge will explain the process at the beginning of the call.
Just a quick update on pandemic-related overpayments - there was actually a special federal waiver program for non-fraud overpayments from the CARES Act period. Make sure you specifically mention this in your appeal and waiver request. The program was designed to address exactly these kinds of situations where honest mistakes or confusion led to overpayments. Also, request your complete claim file from ESD before your hearing. You have the right to see all the evidence they're using against you. This can be incredibly valuable for preparing your case.
You can request your claim file through your eServices account. There should be an option for records request or contact us. If you can't find it there, call the main ESD number and specifically ask for your complete claim file for the overpayment period. Make sure to do this ASAP as it can take 1-2 weeks to receive.
has anyone else noticed they always seem to put first-time claimants in adjudication? happened to me and like 5 other people i know. almost like they do it automatically for new people
It's not automatic for first-time claimants, but new claimants are more likely to have separation issues that require adjudication since they don't have an established claim history. Also, with no prior claims, there's no baseline for comparison, so the system may flag more potential issues for review.
UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning after trying for days! They told me my claim is in adjudication because my employer reported a different reason for separation than what I put. I said I was laid off due to lack of work, but apparently my employer is claiming I was terminated for performance issues (which is NOT true). The agent said they'll be scheduling a phone interview with both me and my employer separately to determine what actually happened. At least now I know what's going on. She estimated 3-4 more weeks before resolution. Going to call my mortgage company to see if I can get an extension. Thanks everyone for your help explaining this!
For future reference, this seems to happen a few times each year. ESD doesn't always announce these processing delays, but they typically resolve within 24-48 hours. The key indicators are: 1. Payment shows as 'paid' in your ESD account 2. Multiple people experiencing the same delay 3. No holidays or announced system maintenance Glad your payment came through! I recommend keeping a small emergency buffer if possible, as these occasional delays can happen without warning.
Zainab Ibrahim
I'm dealing with a current overpayment, so I'm jealous you're getting a refund! But honestly I'm super confused about something - why would they determine you don't have to pay back an overpayment AFTER you already paid it?? Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? Shouldn't they have figured this out BEFORE making people pay thousands of dollars?? The whole system seems backwards!
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LunarEclipse
•You're absolutely right that it seems backward. What happened is that a recent court ruling forced ESD to review their overpayment determinations from certain time periods. The court found that some of ESD's processes were not properly following federal guidelines for determining fault in overpayment cases. Rather than review each case manually (which would take years), they're using an automated review process to identify cases that qualify for refunds based on the new interpretation of the rules. If you're currently dealing with an overpayment, you might want to look into whether your case falls under any of the categories being reviewed. The main categories are: 1. Pandemic-related eligibility misunderstandings 2. Working part-time while claiming benefits where reporting errors occurred 3. Cases where claimants were not properly informed of reporting requirements You can request a review of your overpayment determination even outside the automated process.
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Ava Williams
my sister got her refund after 5 weeks so theres hope! just hang in there
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Dmitry Petrov
•That's encouraging! Thanks for letting me know. I'll try to be patient for a few more weeks.
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