ya this happened 2 me 2 months ago & i reopened my claim just fine. got paid the next week no problems. just make sure he does his weekly claim this sunday

Update: We got through to ESD (after many busy signals) and they confirmed he did the right thing by reopening! They said his first payment should come about 7-10 days after filing his first weekly claim if there are no issues. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll update again if we run into problems.

For what it's worth, I work in career services and have helped many clients navigate UI while taking classes. The one-hour class shouldn't be a problem, but I strongly recommend reporting it accurately. If your class is job-related training, you might also want to record it as one of your job search activities in your job search log. This creates a record showing that the class is actually helping, not hindering, your employment prospects. Remember that the underlying principle is always whether you remain able and available for full-time suitable work. As long as that's true, and you're honest about your activities, you should be fine.

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to make sure I report the class on my weekly claim and explain that it's just one hour per week and doesn't affect my availability for work. I'll also add it to my job search log since it's directly related to skills in my field. Really appreciate all the advice and experiences shared here!

If your claim is in adjudication specifically, calling at optimal times helps, but there's also another approach. You can request an expedited adjudication review if you're experiencing financial hardship (like potential eviction or utility shutoff). To do this: 1. Call during mid-afternoon hours as suggested 2. Specifically ask for an "expedited hardship review" of your adjudication 3. Be prepared to provide documentation of the hardship This won't guarantee immediate resolution, but it can move your claim up in priority. Also, continue filing your weekly claims during this time, even while in adjudication.

I work nights so I always call around 3:30pm right before they close at 4pm. Sometimes catch them when call volume is lower. Not foolproof but worked twice for me in March.

just wondering did anyone elses back unemployment payments get taxed at a weird rate? when i got mine last year it seemed like they withheld way more than 10% for taxes, more like 25% or something?? confused about that too

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! Based on what I'm hearing, it sounds like I need to include this on my 2026 taxes rather than trying to amend 2025. I think I'll consult with a tax professional just to be safe, especially regarding potential impacts on credits and deductions. This unemployment appeal process has been so much more complicated than I expected!

One important thing to note - when dealing with overpayment increases, you need to determine if they're adding what's called a "fraud penalty" (50% additional) or if they're recalculating the entire overpayment amount. In my experience, the key is getting written documentation. Every time you speak with ESD: 1. Get the agent's ID number 2. Take detailed notes with dates/times 3. Immediately follow up with an eServices message summarizing the call 4. Request all determinations in writing ESD is required to provide written explanation for all overpayment calculations. If they haven't, that's a procedural error you can use in your appeal. Also, there's a specific overpayment waiver form on the ESD website if financial hardship applies to your situation.

Update on your options: If you truly never received notification of an appeal hearing or decision, you can file what's called a "Petition for Review" with the Commissioner's Review Office. This is different from a regular appeal. You'll need to explain that: 1. You filed an initial appeal 2. You never received notice of hearing 3. You never received a decision This can be done even after the normal appeal deadline has passed. The Commissioner has authority to determine if your procedural rights were violated. Regarding the increased amount - request an itemized statement showing exactly how the new amount was calculated. This is your right under Washington Administrative Code (WAC).