Has anyone done the virtual WorkSource appointments? Are those faster to get scheduled than in-person ones?

UPDATE: I used Claimyr this morning and got through to ESD in about 15 minutes! The agent confirmed my WorkSource appointment was actually scheduled for next Wednesday but the notification email had an error. She resent it right away. Such a relief to have this sorted out! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

I waited 9 WEEKS for my claim to move!!! Governor's office was no help at all for me. What finally worked was I sent a message through eServices every single day for a week straight, each time adding "Day X of message attempts" in the subject line. On day 7 someone finally called me. The squeaky wheel gets the grease sometimes!

One more thing - when you call the Governor's office, ask them to create a "constituent services case number" for your inquiry. That way you can reference this case number in follow-up calls, which shows you're serious and keeping track. Follow up after 3-5 business days if you don't hear anything from ESD. The system works, but sometimes you need to be persistent and methodical.

One important thing to note - if the pandemic waiver is approved, ESD should return any money they've intercepted from tax refunds. But the timeline is unpredictable. I've seen it take anywhere from 2-8 months after waiver approval for refunds to be processed. Make sure you keep documentation of everything, including your tax returns and any communication from ESD about the waiver.

Thank you everyone for the advice! We've decided to file separately this year to protect my refund, even though it'll cost us some tax benefits. We'll keep pursuing the pandemic waiver for his overpayment, but at least this way we'll have my refund for our immediate needs. I'm documenting EVERYTHING in case we need to fight for his refund later. This system is so frustrating!

Quick update - I contacted both my state representatives as suggested, and one of their offices actually called me this morning. They've assigned a caseworker who's going to contact ESD directly about my claim. They said they're seeing a lot of healthcare administration layoff claims stuck in verification right now because ESD is batch-processing them by industry. Apparently there was a large healthcare system that did layoffs, so they're checking all healthcare-related claims extra carefully. Still frustrating, but at least I have some explanation now.

That's such helpful information! I am part of that healthcare admin layoff wave - my former employer let go 45 people in my department alone. I reached out to my representatives yesterday and already got a response from one asking for my claim details. This gives me some hope. Thank you again!

Quick update on banking specifics since a few people mentioned it: Credit unions often process UI payments faster than big banks. I switched from Chase to a local credit union and now consistently get my deposits Tuesday morning instead of Tuesday afternoon/evening. Also, the ESD weekly maintenance can occasionally delay things. They do system updates on Sunday nights sometimes, which can push processing to Tuesday and payment to Wednesday.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! Sounds like I should expect payment on Tuesday in most cases, but I'll plan for Wednesday just to be safe. I'm with a credit union, so hopefully that speeds things up a bit. I'll update here with my experience once I get my first payment in case it helps someone else.

Important reminder: Even with claims showing as disqualified, continue filing your weekly claims on time! If you get approved after adjudication, you'll only receive payment for weeks that were properly filed. Many people make the mistake of stopping their weekly claims during adjudication and then have to file for backdating, which creates even more delays.

Any update on your situation? Were you able to reach someone at ESD?

dont forget you need to be looking for full time work even while doing contract stuff!!! esd still requires the 3 job search activities every week

Yes, that's correct. Unless you're specifically approved for standby status (which is rare these days), you must continue performing and documenting three job search activities each week regardless of part-time or contract work. The job search requirement is tied to receiving any amount of benefits, even partial benefits. Make sure to keep detailed records of all your job search activities in case of an audit.

This is actually correct. The online system works best with Chrome and Edge. If you're using Safari or Firefox, you might encounter more sync issues. The phone system is more consistent but the tradeoff is the delay in database updates.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my claim finally updated to 'submitted' in the online system! It took about 20 hours, but at least now I know everything is working correctly. Thanks to everyone for the reassurance and helpful information. I'll definitely keep filing by phone since it works for me, but now I know not to panic if the online status doesn't update right away.

lol everyones all "contact ur rep" but ESD is SO BROKEN nobody can fix it. my cousin works for the state and says the whole system is falling apart and they cant even process half the claims right. im on week 11 of adjutication with no end in sight!!!

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked for me! I contacted both my state senator and representatives through their websites yesterday. My senator's office already called me back this morning and had me fill out a release form. They said they have a dedicated staff person who handles ESD issues and will submit my case to their ESD liaison today. I'll post again when I hear more. Thanks for all the advice - feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks!

Employment law attorney here. This is indeed a gray area, but Washington's unemployment system does recognize mental health as a potential "good cause" for voluntary separation. Under WAC 192-150-055, a medical condition that was caused or worsened by your work environment can qualify as good cause if: 1. You can prove that the work environment was indeed causing or exacerbating your condition (medical documentation is essential here) 2. You made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment before quitting In practice, I recommend: - Submitting detailed documentation from your therapist specifically linking your condition to workplace conditions - Providing a clear timeline of all attempts to resolve the situation (complaints to HR, requests for transfers, etc.) - Being prepared for an initial denial and appeal process - Requesting a copy of your employer's response to your claim (they have a right to contest) About 60% of my clients with mental health-related voluntary separations eventually receive benefits, but often only after appeal.

Thank you all for the advice! I'm going to file my claim tomorrow and make sure I include detailed documentation from my therapist and all my HR communications. I'll also try using Claimyr to actually speak with someone at ESD about my specific situation. I'll update this thread after I hear back about my claim in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.