To answer your questions from earlier: 1. There isn't technically a strict statute of limitations on ESD appeals and hearings, though this delay is extremely unusual even for Washington. 2. Yes, hearings are conducted by phone. You'll need to be available at the exact time specified and have any documentation ready to reference. 3. If you win, you would potentially be eligible for benefits from the time of denial until you became employed again, minus any waiting week. 4. The fact that your employer waited 18 months to use a previously addressed issue as grounds for termination is actually a strong point in your favor. The judge will likely want to know why the company waited so long if the issue was serious enough for termination. Definitely attend this hearing. You have a reasonable case, especially if you can document that the issue was previously addressed with just a warning.

One more thing to consider - if you win the hearing and get back payments, make sure you check if there are any issues with your 2023 tax returns. You might need to file an amended return to account for the unemployment income if they end up paying you for those weeks. Just something to keep in mind!

i had 2 go through this last yr with seasonal work & tbh it depends who looks at ur claim when u reopen. 1st time was easy peasy, took like 4 days & i was back getting benefits. 2nd time they decided they needed 2 "investigate" why my seasonal job ended (um, cuz the season ended???) & i got nothing for 3 weeks. no rhyme or reason 2 it just luck of the draw with which case worker u get lol

One more thing that could help you avoid adjudication when reopening: make sure your employer reports your final day correctly to ESD. Many reopenings get flagged for adjudication because of mismatched information between what you report and what your employer reports. When your temp job is ending, it might be worth confirming with your supervisor or HR what date they'll be reporting to ESD as your final day. Having matching information can prevent unnecessary flags on your claim.

This is likely related to the ESD system upgrade they announced last month. They're transitioning to a new payment processing system that's supposed to be more efficient, but during the transition period, some payment times might fluctuate. I received an email about it, but it didn't specifically mention changes to deposit timing. For anyone experiencing this, I'd recommend adjusting your autopayments to happen a day later than usual, at least until the system stabilizes. Better safe than sorry with overdraft fees.

UPDATE: My payment just posted at 12:45pm. So it seems like the new normal might be early afternoon rather than morning. Definitely adjust your autopayments if you haven't already!

One other important point - make sure you're continuing to look for work and documenting your job search activities while your appeal is pending. You need to complete and document at least 3 job search activities each week. Even though your initial claim was denied, if you win on appeal, they'll ask for your job search logs for the weeks you're claiming. Many people forget this and lose out on benefits they would have otherwise received.

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I'll definitely be documenting everything carefully, getting statements from former coworkers, and making sure I maintain my job search records. I'll try that Claimyr service to get through to ESD - I've been calling for days without success. I feel much more prepared for my hearing now. Will update when I have news!

my cousin works at ESD (not in appeals tho) and she says they're super backed up right now. apparently they lost some staff recently and appeals are taking longer than usual. not what u want to hear probably but just setting expectations...

One thing no one has mentioned yet - while you're waiting on the appeal, you should apply for other benefits you might qualify for temporarily. Check into emergency assistance, food benefits, utility discount programs, etc. Most counties have resources for people in situations like yours. It won't replace your income, but it might help stretch your savings until the appeal decision. Also, make sure you mention the financial hardship during your hearing - sometimes judges consider that when making their decisions.