Washington Unemployment
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ESD WorkSource orientation and career counselor assignment - how long does it take?
Filed my unemployment claim 2 weeks ago and got approved, but now I'm confused about the next steps. ESD sent me a notice saying I need to attend a WorkSource orientation and get assigned a career counselor within 30 days. I've already registered on WorkSourceWA.com but don't see any appointments or orientation options. Called the WorkSource office in Tacoma twice and just got voicemail. How do I actually schedule this orientation? Will they contact me or am I supposed to do something specific? Really don't want to lose my benefits because I missed some requirement. Has anyone gone through this process recently?
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ESD approved my overpayment waiver - how long until I get my refund?
Finally got some good news! After fighting with ESD since January, they approved my overpayment waiver on 4/22. I had already paid back about $2,200 of the original $5,700 they claimed I owed (which was completely their mistake - they misclassified my standby status). Now I'm wondering how long before I get that $2,200 refunded to me? Has anyone been through this process and actually gotten their money back after an overpayment was reversed? The approval letter doesn't mention anything about the refund timeline. Starting to worry I'll have to chase them down for it...
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Quick update on refund timelines - I was just helping another claimant with this last week. ESD is currently running about 6-8 weeks for processing overpayment refunds. If you had direct deposit set up, make sure it's still the same account, as they'll use whatever bank info they have on file. If you've closed that account, you should update your banking info in eServices immediately or call to notify them. Also, if your original overpayment was deducted from benefits rather than paid directly by you (meaning they withheld money from your weekly claims), the refund process can take a bit longer as it requires additional verification steps.
does this apply to debit card users too? my benefits went to the ESD debit card and they took the overpayment from there. do they just redeposit to the same card?
Yes, if you used the ReliaCard debit card for your benefits, the refund will typically go back to that same card. However, if your card has expired or been closed, they'll issue a paper check instead. It's a good idea to verify your card is still active if it's been a while since you last used it.
Just got my refund last week after my overpayment was waived in early March, so about 7 weeks total. No notice or anything, just showed up in my bank account with a weird reference number. Almost missed it! Make sure you're checking your account regularly.
That's great to hear! Seems like 6-8 weeks is the consensus timeframe. Did you have to call them at all or did it just happen automatically?
I called twice - first time they had no info, second time they confirmed it was being processed. Don't think calling sped anything up tho, system just does its thing at its own pace.
ESD suddenly disqualified me for IC/gig work - hit with $5k overpayment after telling me it was allowed
I'm completely devastated right now. Lost my regular job in February 2025 and applied for unemployment right away. ESD initially flagged my application saying I had benefits from Oregon I needed to exhaust first. After clearing that up and reapplying in May, I waited almost 2 months with zero income before finally contacting my state representative's office to get things moving.\n\nDuring this waiting period, I picked up some food delivery gigs just to keep a roof over my head. When I finally got through to an ESD agent, they specifically told me gig work was fine as long as I reported it and stayed under my weekly benefit amount ($752). I was extremely careful about this - reported everything honestly.\n\nFast forward to today - opened my mail to find a determination letter saying I'm COMPLETELY DISQUALIFIED going back to mid-June because they're now claiming I "voluntarily quit employment" when I reduced my gig work hours to focus on my job search! They want $6,800 back in overpayments!\n\nI've repeatedly explained to ESD that I was an independent contractor, not an employee of these delivery apps. I specifically cut back on gig work because rates dropped to $3-4 per delivery and it wasn't economically viable anymore. Plus, I needed more time for real job applications.\n\nI'm absolutely terrified. My savings are gone, rent is due next week, and now they want nearly $7k I don't have. Has anyone fought an overpayment like this and won? What documentation do I need for the appeal? Should I restart gig work while fighting this or will that somehow make things worse?
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don't forget to file for continued benefits while appealing!!! i made that mistake and lost 2 months of potential benefits even tho i won my appeal!!! even if they say ur disqualified, file weekly claims anyway and note that ur appealing.
ESD confused my years-of-service payout with severance - will this affect my benefits?
I was laid off last month after 8 years with my company and received a one-time payout based on years of service ($12,500). When filing my initial ESD claim, I mistakenly reported this as 'severance pay' because I wasn't sure what category it fell under. After talking with HR, I learned it's technically a 'service recognition benefit' and NOT severance according to my company's policies. Now I'm worried I might have messed up my claim! My benefit amount seems lower than I expected, and I'm wondering if ESD is deducting this payout incorrectly. Has anyone dealt with this situation? Should I contact ESD to correct this, or am I overthinking it? Really stressed about getting this fixed before bills are due next month.
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Why is it so IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone on the phone at ESD?!? I've been trying for 3 weeks to fix an error they made on my claim. This system is completely broken. Meanwhile they expect us to respond to their requests within 48 hours or risk disqualification!
I feel your frustration. After battling the phone system for days, I finally had success with Claimyr. It's ridiculous that we need a third-party service to reach a government agency, but it worked when nothing else did.
One more point to consider: You're allowed to submit a statement correcting information on your initial claim. Go to your eServices account, find the "Upload Documents" section, and upload a signed statement explaining the error and including any supporting documentation from your employer. Title it "Request for Redetermination - Separation Pay Classification". This creates a paper trail while you're trying to reach someone by phone.
Just did this! I uploaded both my statement and the letter from HR clearly stating this was a one-time service recognition payment based solely on past service. Now I just need to reach someone to make sure it gets processed correctly. Thanks for all the help everyone!
ESD added a second adjudication case - will this delay my unemployment even longer?
I'm seriously starting to panic about my finances. I've been waiting on an adjudication since March 4th (almost 7 weeks now!), and when I logged into my ESD account today, I noticed there's now a SECOND adjudication case with a completely different case number. Does this mean I now have two separate investigations running at the same time? Will this reset my wait time all over again? I was hoping to get a determination any day now on the first one, but this new case has me worried I'll be waiting another 2 months. Has anyone dealt with multiple adjudications at once? I'm getting desperate and don't know what to do at this point.
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I just wanted to follow up on the contact options. If you do decide to try reaching ESD directly, call right when they open (usually 8am). The queue fills up fast and they often stop accepting new callers by 8:30-9am. Make sure you have your claim ID, the last 4 of your SSN, and be ready to verify your identity. Also, check your spam/junk folder regularly. ESD sometimes sends important communications that get filtered out, including requests for additional information that could be holding up your adjudication.
Thank you! I'll try calling right at 8am tomorrow. And good tip about the spam folder - I just checked and fortunately don't see anything from ESD there, but I'll keep an eye on it going forward.
After I finally got through to ESD about my multiple adjudications, they told me they can actually mark your case as hardship if you're facing eviction or utility shutoffs. This can sometimes prioritize your claim. You might need documentation like an eviction notice or past due bill, but it's worth asking about if you're in that situation.
That's really good to know! I do have past due notices I could provide. I'll definitely ask about the hardship option when I speak to them. Thank you!
Danielle Mays
did anyone complete thier orientation online? i hate going to in-person stuff and the esd website say you can do virtual orentation but doesnt say how????
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Derek Olson
Yes, virtual orientations are available in many areas now. Log into your WorkSourceWA account, go to the calendar section, and filter for "Virtual Services" or "Online Workshops." Look specifically for "UI Virtual Orientation" or similarly named events. Not all areas offer this option though - it depends on your local WorkSource office.
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Sayid Hassan
Here's the exact process for 2025: 1. Register on WorkSourceWA.com (which you've done) 2. Call your local WorkSource office (keep trying - mornings are best) 3. Ask specifically for "UI Orientation scheduling" 4. Attend orientation (virtual or in-person) 5. After orientation, you'll be given instructions on how to request a career counselor if needed Important: The orientation MUST be completed within 30 days, but career counselor assignment can happen later. If you're struggling to get through on the phone, try emailing your local office with your name, last 4 of SSN, and a request for orientation scheduling. They typically respond within 48 hours. Also, while waiting for orientation, continue doing and documenting your 3 job search activities each week. The orientation itself will count as one activity for the week you complete it.
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James Maki
AuthorThank you for such clear instructions! I'll try calling first thing tomorrow morning and if that doesn't work, I'll send an email as you suggested. Really appreciate the help!
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