my cousin works for the state (not ESD) and she says theres a HUGE backlog cuz they fired a bunch of judges or something last year. system is totally broken!!!!

One last suggestion - if you do get your hearing scheduled soon, make sure you're fully prepared. The judge will only consider evidence presented during the hearing. Gather all relevant documents (employment records, communications with your employer, records of job search activities if that's relevant to your case). The preparation you do now can make a big difference in the outcome. Good luck!

I can confirm this afternoon callback strategy works. I spent months trying to get through in the mornings with no luck. Then I tried calling at 3:30pm, got into the callback queue, and received a call back the same day. The representative explained they have staffing dedicated to callbacks in the afternoon. She ended up resolving my adjudication issue on the spot and my payments started processing immediately. One important tip: make sure your phone accepts calls from unknown or blocked numbers. ESD calls often show up as "No Caller ID" and if your phone blocks these, you'll miss their callback.

For anyone still struggling to reach ESD, here's a comprehensive approach that might help: 1. Try the afternoon callback strategy mentioned in this thread (request callback after 3pm) 2. Make sure your phone accepts unknown/blocked numbers 3. Check your eServices account for any alerts requiring action 4. Submit a secure message through the portal (sometimes they respond within 48 hours) 5. Contact your state representative if you've been waiting more than 3 weeks 6. Consider using Claimyr if you're in a desperate situation Also, always keep documenting your weekly claims even if you're waiting for adjudication. Once approved, you'll receive backpay for all properly filed weeks.

my mom got laid off at 59 and ended up starting her own business with her severance money! now she makes more than she did at her old job lol. maybe instead of looking for someone to hire you, you could be your own boss?

Just an important update regarding what I mentioned earlier - definitely talk to someone at WorkSource about the Commissioner Approved Training/Training Benefits program. If approved, you could get up to 26 ADDITIONAL weeks of benefits while you train for a new occupation, and you wouldn't have to look for work during that period. The Training Benefits program is specifically designed for people in your situation - dislocated workers who need to gain new skills. There are deadlines for applying though, so don't wait too long. You need to submit your application within your current benefit year, ideally well before your regular benefits run out.

Just to add one important point that hasn't been mentioned: If you stop claiming UI because you found work, but then lose that job and need to reopen your claim within the same benefit year, you'll need to re-engage with WorkSource requirements. The benefit year typically lasts 52 weeks from when you first applied, even if you stop claiming for a while in between.

To summarize what everyone's said and add clarity (I'm an employment counselor): 1. WorkSource requirements ONLY apply when actively claiming UI benefits 2. Once you stop filing weekly claims, requirements end immediately 3. You may continue receiving automated emails/calls for a while (systems take time to update) 4. You can still voluntarily use WorkSource services even when not on UI 5. If you reopen your claim in the same benefit year, requirements resume Also worth noting - in 2025, all UI claimants must complete 3 documented job search activities each week. WorkSource participation counts toward these activities but isn't always required depending on your situation.

One important piece of advice - whatever you do, keep filing your weekly claims even though you're not receiving any money. If your waiver is approved, they'll pay all those weeks retroactively, but only if you've been consistently filing each week. Also, be aware that overpayment waivers are currently taking 8-12 weeks to process according to what an ESD rep told me last week (I work with unemployment cases). So you'll need a plan to manage financially during this time.

UPDATE: I filled out the hardship form and cited WAC 192-230-100 as someone suggested. It took three phone calls (using Claimyr to get through), but they finally reduced my recoupment rate to 40%! Not ideal but at least I'll get some money while waiting for the waiver decision. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll update again when I hear about my waiver.