For future reference, I always plan for a 1-2 day delay on any holiday week. ESD doesn't do a great job communicating this, but after being on unemployment for a few months I've learned to budget accordingly. The worst delays tend to be around major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas - those can sometimes push payments out by 3-4 days. I recommend keeping a small emergency buffer if possible for these situations. And definitely file your weekly claim as early as possible on Sunday to get the process started sooner.

Is your claim in adjudication or regular UI status? That can affect timing too. My sister's payments are always delayed by at least an extra day when there's some adjudication item pending, even a minor one. Might be worth checking if there's anything else going on with your claim besides just the holiday timing.

For anyone dealing with "Able and Available" adjudication specifically: make sure to upload any documentation you have to your eServices account under "Upload a Document." If your issue was related to illness, upload a doctor's note. If it was about travel, upload itinerary showing you've returned. This won't replace talking to a rep, but it can speed things up once you do connect with someone. I was in adjudication for "Able and Available" for 4 weeks in February. When I finally got through, the agent told me she could see my uploaded documents and that helped expedite my claim resolution. My payments started coming through about 3 days after that call.

Update on my experience: After using Claimyr to get through to ESD, they resolved my adjudication issue in one call. The agent told me they're currently experiencing a 25-day backlog for adjudication cases that don't get escalated by phone. So definitely worth trying to reach them directly rather than waiting for them to process your case in order.

If you ever need to speak directly with ESD about payment timing or other issues, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was stuck in payment pending for weeks and couldn't get through on the regular ESD phone line. Claimyr got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Much better than spending days hitting redial!

Adding one more important detail: If you have urgent financial needs and your payment will be delayed due to a holiday, you might qualify for a hardship payment. You would need to call ESD and explain your situation (rent due, etc.). This isn't guaranteed, but in some cases, they can expedite payment processing. Keep in mind that hardship considerations are case-by-case, and you'll need to provide specific details about your financial emergency.

I've helped several clients through the ESD appeals process, and while it's frustrating, there are some steps you can take: 1. File a hardship request with OAH specifically mentioning the eviction risk and having a minor child. Call 1-800-583-8271 and follow up with an email to oah@oah.wa.gov including your appeal number. 2. For immediate housing assistance, contact the Washington Homeowner Assistance Fund if you own your home, or the Department of Commerce's Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) if you rent. They have emergency funding specifically for people awaiting unemployment benefits. 3. Prepare for your appeal by organizing documentation that shows: - Your previous wage rate ($32/hr you mentioned) - The offered job's wage ($23/hr) - The distance to the new job (map printout showing 50 miles) - Calculation of gas/transportation costs - Any childcare complications the new schedule would create 4. Consider asking for a continuance if you get a hearing date but don't feel prepared. The good news is that refusing work due to substantial pay reduction AND excessive commute distance is commonly successful on appeal. The bad news is that the timeline is indeed 6-8 weeks currently before hearings are scheduled.

i know this isnt a solution but if u have family anywhere else maybe send ur daughter to stay with them until this is over? that way even if worst happens and u need to go to shelter she doesnt have to. just thinking what id do in ur shoes

this happened to me to. the letter was about some job search audit from 2020!! they claiming I didnt do enough job searches even tho the requirement was waived during covid??? make it make sense lol. such a joke.

UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD this morning after trying when they first opened! The letter was actually about potential identity theft - someone tried to file a new claim using my information, which triggered their security system. The rep helped me secure my account and file a fraud report. So glad I didn't ignore this! They said there's been a wave of fraud attempts targeting old Covid-era accounts. Everyone should check their accounts and make sure their contact info is up to date.