Washington Unemployment
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ESD rejected my claim due to medical condition - can't restart after disqualification
I'm losing my mind with this unemployment situation. I got laid off from my admin position last month and immediately filed for unemployment, but got denied because I was recovering from surgery at the time and wasn't 'able and available for work' (their words). My doctor has now cleared me to return to work, so I tried to restart my claim through eServices, but the system keeps telling me I'm 'disqualified for benefits' without explaining why or how to fix it. I've called ESD like 40 times and either get disconnected or told the wait time is 4+ hours. Does anyone know the proper way to restart a claim after being disqualified for medical reasons? I've got rent due next week and I'm seriously panicking.
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ESD direct deposit delayed - still stuck on 'processing' status?
Has anyone else noticed their ESD payment is still showing as 'processing' today? I filed my weekly claim on Sunday evening like usual, and by Wednesday morning I typically see the deposit hit my account. It's now Thursday afternoon and the eServices portal still shows 'processing' status. My claim hasn't had any issues for months, so I'm getting worried something's changed. No messages in my inbox about additional information needed. Is this happening to others or should I be concerned? My rent is due next week and I'm cutting it close this month.
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UPDATE: My payment just hit my account about 10 minutes ago!! Check yours!
Just checked - mine came through too! What a relief. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance.
SAME!! finally showed up. wish theyd communicate better but at least we got paid
Glad to hear everyone's payments are coming through! For future reference, when ESD does system maintenance, it's usually mentioned in advance on their Twitter account (@ESDwaWorks) and sometimes on their Facebook page too. Those tend to be more up-to-date than the website banners. Might be worth following them if you want to stay in the loop about potential delays.
Good to know! I'll definitely follow their Twitter account. Thanks again for all the help everyone.
ESD claim stuck after Governor's Office escalation - how long until adjudicator approval?
After waiting 7 excruciating weeks with no approval letter from ESD, I finally took the advice of someone on Reddit and escalated my unemployment claim through the Governor's Office yesterday. My weekly claims are still showing as 'pending' with zero payments issued. I called ESD dozens of times but either got disconnected or was told they couldn't help without an adjudicator. The representative at the Governor's Office said they'd forward my info directly to an adjudicator, but didn't give me any timeline. Has anyone gone this route before? How much longer should I expect to wait for approval after escalating to the Governor's Office? I'm getting desperate as my savings are almost gone and rent is due next week. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
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EVERYONE LISTEN UP!!! The real problem is ESD is deliberatly delaying claims to save money!!! My adjudicator ADMITTED this to me when they finally called!!! They make the system complicated on purpose so people give up!!!!
I understand your frustration, but as someone who works in the employment field, I can assure you this isn't accurate. ESD doesn't save money by delaying claims - the funding for benefits comes from employer-paid insurance, not from ESD's operational budget. The delays are typically caused by staffing shortages, complex eligibility rules that require manual review, and the high volume of claims. The system definitely needs improvement, but there's no conspiracy to deny valid claims.
Finally out of ESD adjudication at 45+ - Job hunting advice while on unemployment?
After 6 weeks stuck in adjudication hell, my ESD claim finally got approved yesterday! 🎉 I literally cried when I saw the payment pending in my account. This group has been my lifeline through all the stress and uncertainty - couldn't have stayed sane without you all. Now I'm facing a whole new challenge though... job hunting as a 45+ year old in a tech industry that seems to want fresh college grads. I've got 18 years experience in software QA but my last company downsized our entire department without warning. My savings were already depleted from helping my mom with medical bills last year. Any tips for meeting the job search requirements while dealing with age discrimination? I'm trying to stay positive, but every rejection email hits harder than the last one. Is it even possible to switch careers at my age while on unemployment? I know I need to report 3 job search activities weekly, but wondering if taking classes counts toward that?
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Have you looked into the Employment Recovery Dislocated Worker program? Since you mentioned your entire department was downsized, you might qualify for additional training and support services beyond regular unemployment. The program targets workers in declining industries or affected by mass layoffs. I went through it when my manufacturing plant closed in 2023 and got approved for a coding bootcamp with extended benefits! Definitely worth checking out at your local WorkSource office. For the weekly job search activities, if you get approved for training, your training hours count toward the requirement during that period. Also, even informational interviews and networking events count as valid activities - document everything carefully though!
I hadn't heard of the Dislocated Worker program! That sounds perfect for my situation. Did you have to provide any special documentation from your former employer to qualify? And did the extended benefits give you more than the standard 26 weeks? I'm definitely going to look into this tomorrow.
One more thing! When doing your weekly claims while job searching, be extra careful answering the "able and available" question. If you're taking classes or training without ESD approval, and those classes make you unavailable for work during normal business hours, you could be disqualified. You must remain able and available for suitable work unless specifically approved for a training program. This tripped up several people I know.
Absolutely right! This is a common mistake. The system is pretty strict about availability. When I did commissioner approved training, I had a special code on my claim that exempted me from the availability requirement during class hours. Without that, any indication you're not fully available for work can trigger a disqualification and potential overpayment notice. ALWAYS call and check before doing anything that might limit your availability.
Need ESD customer service number - unemployment benefits cut off
Has anyone successfully reached an ESD agent lately? My unemployment benefits stopped coming 3 weeks ago without any explanation. I've tried calling their main number over 50 times but it just disconnects after the automated message. The eServices portal shows my claim is 'pending issue resolution' but doesn't say what the issue is! I'm getting desperate since I have rent due next week and bills piling up. Is there a different number I should try? Or does anyone know if the governor's office can help speed things up? I've heard some people had luck contacting their state representative.
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Thank you! I'll definitely try the 7:59am trick tomorrow. It's so frustrating that they need documentation but don't tell us what they need. Did they send you any notices in your eServices inbox about the missing documents?
Kayla Jacobson
anybody know if there's a time limit to appeal these decisions? i got denied for something similar like 4 months ago but didnt appeal cuz i thought it was final. wondering if i can still try now that i can work
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Sophia Russo
The standard appeal deadline is 30 days from the date on your determination letter. However, you can request a "good cause" exception if you have a valid reason for missing the deadline, like you didn't understand the process or had ongoing medical issues. It's harder but still possible - worth trying! Submit the appeal anyway and explain why you missed the deadline.
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Amara Torres
UPDATE: I submitted my appeal with my doctor's note yesterday, and today I got a notification that my appeal has been received and is "pending scheduling" for a hearing. The message says it could take 4-6 weeks for a hearing to be scheduled. I'll keep filing my weekly claims in the meantime. Thanks everyone for your help - I'll update again when I have news!
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Mason Kaczka
That's excellent! The timeframe they give is usually worst-case scenario. Keep an eye on your eServices notifications - sometimes they resolve these without a hearing if your doctor's documentation is clear. And yes, absolutely continue filing those weekly claims!
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