Everyone keeps saying call ESD but nobody mentions HOW impossibel that is!!! I filed 3 weeks ago and still haven't been able to speak to anyone. I need to talk to them about my standby status and it's been auto-denied while I wait. This whole system is rigged against workers!

UPDATE: I used Claimyr to get through to ESD this morning, and they fixed my account! The agent said my old account was in a 'dormant' status that was causing the login loop. They had to manually reactivate it on their end. For anyone else facing this issue - definitely try to speak with someone directly rather than just keep resetting your password. Thanks everyone for your help!

THE ESD SYSTEM IS RIDICULOUS!!! i had something similar happen and even though i notified them IMMEDIATELY about starting a new job, they still paid me unemployment for 2 weeks and then sent me a overpayment notice 3 MONTHS LATER claiming i committed fraud!!! i've been fighting it for 4 months now. document EVERYTHING and send it through multiple channels - secure message, regular mail, AND try to call. don't trust their system to work correctly!!!

I see a lot of panic in this thread, but I want to reassure you that your situation is actually pretty straightforward. Since you haven't been paid any UI benefits yet (they're still in adjudication), you're in a good position. The main risk comes when you've actually received payments from both programs. To summarize what you should do: 1. Stop filing weekly UI claims immediately 2. Send a secure message requesting withdrawal (use exact language: "I request to withdraw my unemployment claim effective [date] due to approval of my PFMLA claim") 3. Print or screenshot the message for your records 4. Try calling, but don't stress if you can't get through 5. Proceed with your PFMLA claim as directed Keep in mind that PFMLA has different weekly certification requirements than UI, so be sure to follow those carefully.

Has anyone else noticed the payments come faster if you do direct deposit vs the ReliaCard? I swear when I switched to direct deposit my payments started coming a whole day earlier!

UPDATE: The money just hit my account this morning (Monday)! So it took about 3 business days from when the claim showed 'paid' on the ESD website to when it actually appeared in my bank account. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance!

Just to add some clarity about students and unemployment requirements: 1. Being a full-time student doesn't automatically exempt you from job search requirements 2. However, your student schedule can affect your "available for work" status 3. Make sure you've accurately reported your school schedule when filing your claim 4. ESD might conduct a special review for students to determine if your studies restrict your availability If ESD determines your school schedule significantly limits when you can work, they might adjust your job search requirements or determine you're not eligible. This review process could be why your job search reporting section disappeared temporarily.

Update: I finally got through to ESD! It turns out there was a flag on my account for a student review, which temporarily removed the job search reporting option. The agent confirmed I still need to do my 3 job searches weekly and reactivated the reporting section. She also added a note to my account showing I've been compliant. For anyone else having this issue: keep detailed records of ALL your job searches even if you can't report them online. I've been taking screenshots of all my applications and saving them with dates. The agent said this was smart and would protect me in case of an audit. Thanks everyone for your help! What a stressful experience.

wait isn't the governer Inslee? I thought he set up a special unemployment help email during covid? does that still work maybe?

Quick update: I tried all the suggestions here. Left detailed message for governor's office (no response yet), filled out the form for my state rep (got an auto-reply saying they'll contact me within 3 business days), AND used Claimyr this morning to get through to ESD directly. The Claimyr thing actually worked - I got a call back when they reached an agent and spoke to someone who could see my claim. Here's what they told me: my adjudication is for "able and available" verification because I had a 2-week trip during my claim period. The agent said it could take another 2-3 weeks to resolve but they added notes about my hardship situation. So at least I know what's happening now. I'll update again if the governor's office or my rep gets back to me!

In-person is definitely best for WorkSource advocacy help! Bring ALL documentation - job search logs, denial letters, appeal decisions, etc. Ask specifically for an Unemployment Insurance Liaison or someone who specializes in UI issues. Each office has at least one person who works closely with ESD regularly. They can often see notes in your file that you can't access and may be able to contact ESD managers directly.

Regarding your question about consolidation timing - you don't need to wait for all denials. File the consolidation request for the appeals you've already submitted, and then file additional requests as new denials come in. Make sure to reference the previous consolidation request in each new one. For the misconduct issue, this is a separate matter that likely won't be consolidated with the job search denials since it's a different legal issue. Be prepared to address this separately. Request a copy of your entire claim file through a formal public records request - don't rely on just what shows up in eServices.

When I reopened my claim after a short job, I didn't have to redo the waiting week. But just make sure you report ALL earnings from your temp job correctly on your application when reopening. I messed this up and it caused a huge headache with an overpayment notice later! They're really strict about reporting accurate employment history when reopening claims.

I work with unemployment claims regularly, and I can confirm you do NOT serve another waiting week when reopening an existing claim during the same benefit year. The one-waiting-week-per-benefit-year rule is clearly stated in RCW 50.20.010(1)(c). However, be aware that if you earned enough during your temporary job to establish a new claim with a higher weekly benefit amount, ESD might suggest you file a new claim instead of reopening the old one. In that case, you would serve a new waiting week, but it might be worth it for the higher benefit amount. This is uncommon though, and would require significant earnings during your temporary work period.

Wait did you move recently? My cousin had the same problem and it turned out his address didn't match on all his documents cuz he moved. ESD is super picky about that stuff. Might be worth checking.

I want to follow up on my earlier comment. If you've been waiting 7+ weeks for ID verification, you should absolutely request an escalation. Contact your state legislative district's representatives - both your House reps and Senator. You can find them here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ Send them all an email explaining your situation, including: - Your full name - Your claim ID number - Date you applied - Date you submitted ID documents - Brief description of your financial situation Legislative inquiries typically get fast-tracked at ESD. I've seen cases resolved within 1-2 business days after a legislator's office gets involved. Also, make sure to include in your weekly claims that you're actively looking for work and completing at least 3 job search activities each week. That will prevent any additional issues once your ID verification is resolved.

Literally dealing with this exact thing right now. Been on the phone with ESD for THREE WEEKS trying to resolve. Their computer system automatically generated a bunch of overpayment notices for pandemic claims as part of some federal audit thing, but most are errors. The problem is they're so backlogged it takes forever to get someone to actually look at your file. The whole thing is a mess.

UPDATE: You guys won't believe this! I finally got through to ESD this morning and the agent (who was actually super helpful) looked into my account. Turns out they actually OWE ME money! There was some recalculation of pandemic-era benefits and I was underpaid by about $1,200! The weird thing is their system still makes you answer all the overpayment waiver questions even when they're the ones who made a mistake in your favor. The letter was poorly worded and confusing. So for anyone else getting these random letters years later - definitely call and check! Could be good news!

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to ESD today! After trying for 3 hours with no luck on the regular line, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and was connected to a real person in about 20 minutes. The agent couldn't immediately clear the adjudication but they added notes to my file about my rent situation and flagged it for expedited review. She said I should hear something within 3-5 business days instead of potentially waiting weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed, but feeling much better now that someone actually looked at my claim. Will update when I hear something!

Thanks for the update! Hope it gets resolved quickly for you. Let us know what happens - it helps others understand the realistic timeframes.