


Ask the community...
im pretty sure they check everything cuz my friend got caught lying about his hours and had to pay back like $5000 plus they added a penalty. dont mess with esd they will find out eventually
Update: Wanted to share what happened in case anyone finds this thread with the same question. After 6 weeks of working part-time and claiming, I got a letter from ESD saying they're doing a routine audit of my claim. They asked me to submit copies of my paystubs for verification. Just like you all said - they do check! I'm glad I've been reporting everything accurately. Still waiting to hear back after submitting my documentation.
whats the best number to call for regular unemployment? i have like 5 different ones saved in my phone and i never know which one to try
The main UI Claims Center number is 800-318-6022. That's the best one to use for most unemployment issues. They're open Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm (except holidays). If you have a specific adjudication issue, sometimes the claims center agents will give you a direct number to the adjudication department after your initial contact.
When I had issues last year they were actually pretty helpful once I got through. Speaking of which, does anyone know if they're hiring? Might be worth working for them if the pay is decent since I haven't found anything else yet...
Yes, ESD is actually hiring quite a few positions right now! They have a high turnover rate in their call centers. Check careers.wa.gov and search for Employment Security Department. The entry-level claims specialist positions start around $3,800-4,200 per month with full benefits. The training is about 6 weeks long.
Any luck getting through? I'm dealing with something similar and wondering if I should just keep trying online or bite the bullet and call.
Finally got it figured out! After trying everything online with no luck, I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Got through to an ESD rep in about 30 minutes. Turns out there was a flag on my account from my previous employer that was preventing the reopen button from showing. The rep was able to clear it and reactivate my claim. Filed my weekly claim for this week right after the call. Such a relief!
be super careful with how u answer the weekly claim questions!! my boyfriend got fired from his warehouse job and his claim was pending forever until we realized he accidentally clicked YES to 'did you refuse any work' when he meant NO. small mistakes can trigger adjudication and then ur stuck for weeks. double check everything!!!
After reading through your responses, I think you're dealing with a combination of issues: 1) A separation that requires adjudication due to potential misconduct allegations, 2) Possible delays due to involving both a staffing agency and school district, and 3) The normal ESD backlog. One thing worth mentioning - if your claim is approved and you're found eligible, you'll get paid for all those weeks you've been claiming while in pending status. So keep filing those weekly claims! If the Claimyr service helps you reach an agent, ask them to specifically check if your claim needs to be manually moved to an adjudicator's queue, and whether your employer(s) have responded to their separation questionnaire.
Mateo Perez
i think they just get confused when ur last day is mid-week. same happened 2 me. the system doesnt know what to do with those few days b4 the official claim week starts. dont worry 2 much about it
0 coins
Nia Davis
•The system doesn't know what to do?? That's RIDICULOUS! They've been processing unemployment claims for DECADES and they still can't figure out how to handle someone who lost their job mid-week? This is exactly the kind of incompetence that drives me crazy about ESD!
0 coins
Aisha Rahman
Just an update on what I learned after going through something similar - the medical documentation request often happens if the system thinks there's ANY question about your availability for work. The reason you got both approval letters AND the medical request is that claims processing and eligibility reviews happen on parallel tracks at ESD. Your best bet is to call and speak directly with an agent who can look at your full file and clear this up. They can often override or cancel erroneous documentation requests. The key is explaining that you have no medical restrictions and have been able and available for work since becoming unemployed. Also, don't be surprised if your payments still start coming through while this medical documentation issue is pending. ESD's different departments don't always coordinate in real-time.
0 coins
Zara Malik
•Oh, parallel processing actually makes sense - that would explain the contradictory letters all arriving at once. I'll definitely try to get through to an agent to explain the situation. It's good to know payments might still come through in the meantime. Thanks for the insights!
0 coins