Washington Unemployment
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ESD message says I 'no longer need to do weekly claims' but job search still required - what's going on?
I'm totally confused by what just happened with my unemployment claim. Today I logged in to file my weekly claim like usual, answered all the normal questions, and then got this weird message saying I 'no longer need to do weekly claims' but I still need to 'continue to do job searches and keep a log of those searches.' The message confirmed my claim for this week was submitted, but what about future weeks?? I've been on UI for about 2 months after being laid off from my accounting job. My benefit amount is $950/week and I haven't had any issues until now. Nothing has changed with my situation - I'm still unemployed and actively looking. Has anyone seen this message before? Could this mean my benefits are ending, or is it some kind of system glitch? I'm freaking out a little because I need these benefits to pay my mortgage!
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Finally won ESD appeal after 4 months of adjudication nightmare - how I did it
I just need to share this with people who understand... after 4 long months in adjudication hell and a denial that crushed me, I FINALLY won my appeal yesterday! I was let go from my restaurant management position back in January - boss claimed 'misconduct' because I missed two shifts when my car broke down. ESD denied my claim in March citing 'misconduct' with zero investigation. I nearly gave up after waiting 7 weeks for an appeal hearing date. The hearing was nerve-wracking - my former employer showed up with documentation I'd never seen before! But I had my attendance record, text messages about my car troubles, and proof I'd tried to find a ride. The judge actually listened and REVERSED the denial! My back payments should be coming within 10-14 business days ($14,500 for 4+ months). For anyone still fighting their claim: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Save texts, emails, take screenshots. And get help from the Unemployment Law Project - they gave me free advice that probably saved my case. https://unemploymentlawproject.org/ Just want you all to know there IS hope even when you feel like giving up. This group kept me going when I was ready to throw in the towel.
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sooo after I win my appeal (staying positive lol) will they pay me for all the weeks I've been filing with no money?? Its been 3 months and I'm drowning in debt
Yes, if you win your appeal, ESD will pay you for all eligible weeks you've claimed during the appeal process - assuming you've been filing your weekly claims consistently. This is called "back benefits." Make sure you've been answering all the weekly certification questions truthfully and reporting any work/earnings. If you missed filing for any weeks, you'll need to request to backdate those claims, which is a separate process.
I had my appeal last month for a similar issue! My old job said I abandoned my position when actually they changed my schedule without telling me! The judge in my case was super fair too. Took about 2 weeks after the decision for money to hit my account. Congrats!!
so ur saying it takes 2 weeks after you win to get paid??!! i cant wait that long! this is so frustrating. why cant they just pay us right away after we win?
ESD WorkShare claim stuck - holiday pay being flagged as 'worked hours'
I'm on the WorkShare program and having trouble submitting my weekly claim for January 8-14, 2025. My employer is giving us holiday pay for the 13th (company holiday), even though our entire department was off that whole week due to slow business. I properly entered the 8 hours as holiday pay and answered all other questions correctly, but when I try to submit, I get an error message saying my information indicates I 'worked during the week' and it won't let me proceed unless I 'correct' this. It seems like the system is treating holiday pay as regular work hours? Should I just report the 8 hours as 'hours worked' instead of 'holiday pay' to get my claim through? I'd be reporting the correct amount of money either way, but I don't want to mess up my claim. Has anyone dealt with this WorkShare holiday pay reporting issue before?
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This whole system is DESIGNED TO BE CONFUSING!! They make these 'errors' on purpose so people give up claiming. I had THREE different ESD agents tell me THREE different ways to report holiday pay for WorkShare. One said report as worked hours, one said report as holiday pay, and one said don't report it at all!!! How are we supposed to know what's right when even THEY don't know?!?!
While I understand your frustration, the confusion is more likely due to WorkShare being a relatively specialized program that not all agents are equally trained on. The official ESD policy is clear: holiday pay should be reported as holiday pay, not hours worked. It affects your benefit calculation differently. If you encounter an agent who seems unsure, ask to speak with a WorkShare specialist specifically.
My company uses WorkShare too and I just went through this exact problem last month! What worked for me was leaving a detailed message in their eServices portal explaining the holiday pay situation. They responded within 3 days and manually processed my claim. Might be worth trying while you're also attempting to call.
ESD ID verification delays & quit jobs from last year affecting my new claim?
Just filed a new unemployment claim and I'm already stressing about two things: 1) I had to go through identity verification and uploaded pics of myself holding my license and passport. Anyone know how long ESD takes to process this? I'm worried I'll be stuck waiting forever. 2) During my base year, I quit two jobs back in March and April 2024. The first one I was only at for a week - I had been laid off from my previous position, but my dad passed away unexpectedly and I just wasn't emotionally ready to work. The second job I quit because I found better employment. Now I've been laid off from a completely different company. Will those voluntary quits from nearly a year ago mess up my current claim? According to the eligibility checker, I worked enough hours during my base year to qualify. I explained everything in the claim form about why I quit those positions, but I'm worried they'll deny me. Do I need to provide a death certificate for my dad? Mostly I'm concerned about how long all this will take to sort out. I need unemployment to pay bills while I job search. Anyone deal with a similar situation?
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Just curious - did you select "laid off" as your reason for separation from your current job? Sometimes people accidentally select the wrong reason which creates unnecessary adjudication.
Yes, I definitely selected "laid off due to lack of work" for my current job. The two quits were from jobs earlier in my base year, and I definitely marked those as quits with explanations.
One more thing to note - if your claim goes to adjudication, you'll likely receive a fact-finding interview request. This could be a phone call or questionnaire. Be completely honest, but frame your reasons clearly. For the job after your father's passing, emphasize the emotional impact and inability to perform work duties effectively. For the job you left for better opportunities, detail the specific improvements in pay, benefits, and working conditions. Most importantly, respond to ALL ESD communications promptly. Missing a fact-finding deadline can result in automatic denial.
Thank you for this advice! I'll keep a close eye on my mail and ESD account for any communications. If they do schedule a fact-finding interview, is it usually by phone or in person?
Most fact-finding interviews are conducted by phone. They'll schedule a specific date and time window when an adjudicator will call you. Make sure your phone accepts calls from unknown/blocked numbers during that time. If you miss the call, they typically try one more time before making a decision based on available information.
ESD denied my claim TWICE after meeting 7x weekly benefit amount requirement - help!
I'm beyond frustrated with ESD right now. After getting disqualified initially (quit my previous position), I got a letter saying I could reapply after 7 weeks if I earned 7x my weekly benefit amount at a new job. Fine, I followed the rules! Got a temp position, earned well over the required amount, and immediately reapplied. Guess what? INSTANTLY disqualified AGAIN! Did they even look at my information?? I sent in my paystubs from the temp job hoping they'll actually review them this time. They also hit me with ANOTHER problem - when I started the temp position, I claimed for that first week but honestly answered that I didn't look for work (because, duh, I was EMPLOYED at that point and continuing the next week). Now they're questioning that too! Another appeal to file! I've been on unemployment twice before in my 15+ years of working and NEVER had these kinds of issues. The system seems completely broken in 2025. Has anyone successfully dealt with the 7x weekly benefit requalification process? What documentation finally worked? I've already sent messages through eServices with my income details but worried they'll just auto-deny again without looking.
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my cousin works at esd (not suppose to say this lol) but she says their computer system auto-denies TONS of valid claims and then the appeals backlog is crazy right now!!! like 12 weeks behind!!! might be faster to just try calling over and over until u get a actual person who can fix it without appeal. good luck!!!
12 WEEKS??? That's insane! I'll definitely try calling then. I've been trying without success but will keep at it. Thanks for the inside info!
Any update on your situation? Did sending the paystubs work? I'm still dealing with my mess and wondering if I should try something different.
Still denied! I've been calling every day but can't get through. I'm going to try getting a letter from my temp agency as several people suggested, and I'm considering using that Claimyr service someone mentioned just to talk to a human. The most frustrating part is that I KNOW I qualify based on the 7x rule - I just need someone to actually look at my documentation!
GalaxyGuardian
This happened to me last year!! It was actually a good thing - in my case I was being switched to a different tier of benefits that required less frequent filing. Still got paid every week but only had to report once a month. Saved me a lot of hassle honestly. But definitely check with ESD to make sure that's what's happening in your case.
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Ava Garcia
AuthorThat would actually be great if that's what's happening! Less paperwork but still getting benefits would be ideal. I'll definitely confirm with ESD. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Miguel Silva
After reading through everyone's responses, it sounds most likely that you've been placed in a Training Benefits program following your WorkSource meeting. This is generally positive as it allows you to focus on gaining new skills while still receiving benefits. Here's what you should do: 1. Check your correspondence tab for any notifications about Training Benefits approval 2. Contact your WorkSource counselor directly to confirm your enrollment status 3. Verify if your job search requirements have changed (typically reduced or eliminated during approved training) 4. Make note of any new reporting requirements that replace weekly claims Training Benefits can last up to 52 weeks in Washington state and often provide more stable support while you upskill. The Excel certification courses you mentioned would qualify as approved training for an accounting professional.
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Ava Garcia
AuthorUpdate: You were right! I finally got through to ESD this morning (using that Claimyr service someone recommended - worked great), and they confirmed I was approved for Training Benefits after my WorkSource meeting. I'll be receiving an official letter in a few days. Instead of weekly claims, I just need to verify my training attendance monthly. And my benefits will continue at the same amount! Such a relief. Thank you everyone for your help!
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