Does anyone know how long these appeal hearings usually last? My friend just went through one and said it was only like 20 minutes, seems way too short to explain everything!

I work in HR (different state) and from the employer perspective, this sounds like a badly handled termination that they're now trying to classify as a quit to avoid the UI claim. That's actually against the rules. If they initiated the separation convo by saying "we're letting you go" then it's THEIR decision regardless of whether your husband offered to give notice afterward. One question - did they give any reason for letting him go? If it was something like "position elimination" or "restructuring" that would further support your case that it wasn't a quit.

Just to ease your mind about the deadline - even if you can't resolve this by the weekly claim deadline, ESD can and will backdate your claim once the error is fixed. Make sure you document all your attempts to file (screenshots of errors, etc.). The key is to keep trying to file and to contact them about the issue before the deadline passes. That way they can see you made a good faith effort to file on time.

UPDATE: Finally got this resolved! I used the Claimyr service that someone recommended here, and it actually worked! Got through to an agent in about 30 minutes. She confirmed TempForce had submitted incorrect quarterly wage data that included me in January even though I stopped working there in December. She removed the error and I was able to file my weekly claim while still on the phone with her. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

One more tip - when you call, ask for the name and contact information of the person you're speaking with at the governor's office. Then follow up with an email summarizing your conversation and thanking them for their help. This creates a paper trail and shows you're serious. I did this and included all my documentation as attachments (screenshots of my ESD account status, my call log showing all my attempt to reach ESD, etc.). The email follow-up seemed to really help move things along.

OMG I had to call Gov Inslee's office TWICE and lemme tell you the second call was totally different than the first!! First time they were like "we'll look into it" and nothing happened for 3 weeks. Second time I called I mentioned I was working with a JOURNALIST about ESD problems (total bluff lol) and BOOM got a call from ESD leadership team the next day!! Sometimes you gotta get a little creative 😂

i think i read somewhere that the average wait for OAH heraings is like 8-10 weeks now dont quote me on that but its def getting worse every year. ive done two appeals (won 1 lost 1) and second one took way longer than first one trick is to call right when they open at 8am thats when u can actully get a human on the phone

One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier reply - once you do get your hearing scheduled, you may have the option to do it by phone rather than in person. I HIGHLY recommend doing it by phone if possible. It's less intimidating, and you can have all your notes and documentation spread out in front of you where you can easily reference them. Also, judges typically allocate 45 minutes for each hearing, so practice explaining your situation concisely. Focus on the key facts that demonstrate why you qualify for benefits under Washington law. The judge will likely ask both you and your former employer specific questions, so just answer truthfully without embellishment. The good news is that a significant percentage of appeals are decided in the claimant's favor, especially when the employer doesn't present strong evidence for disqualification.

my cousin didnt file his last week and said it was way easier just to be done with ESD forever lol. but i think he missed out on like $200 so probably worth doing it right

One more thing to keep in mind: After you file that partial week claim, there's a section at the end where you can indicate that you've returned to full-time work. Make sure to check that box or select that option. This lets ESD know they should close your claim properly. It helps prevent any confusion down the road and makes things smoother if you ever need to apply for benefits again in the future.