Also, in case it helps ease your stress a little - if you win your appeal, you will receive all back payments for the weeks you've been claiming. While it doesn't help with immediate bills, you will eventually get the full amount you're entitled to if the judge rules in your favor. I'd recommend checking your appeal status on the OAH portal as well: https://www.oah.wa.gov/ They have a separate system from ESD where you can sometimes see updates on your case status.

One important thing to remember is that if your employer doesn't show up for the hearing (which happens fairly often), that significantly increases your chances of winning. But don't count on that - still be fully prepared. Also, make sure you understand exactly why ESD denied your claim. In your case, it sounds like they believe you voluntarily quit rather than being laid off. You'll need to focus specifically on proving that aspect of your case with documentation or witness statements if possible.

I just want to say the entire ESD system is GARBAGE! Every single time they do an "upgrade" something breaks. This happened to me twice last year - once I missed my filing deadline because of THEIR technical issues and then they had the nerve to delay my payment and make me fill out extra paperwork explaining why I filed late! This state agency needs a complete overhaul, it's absolutely ridiculous how poorly it functions in 2025. We deserve better!

UPDATE: I finally got in! For anyone else having this issue, what worked for me was clearing ALL browsing data (like everything - history, cookies, cached images, etc.), restarting my computer, and then waiting about 45 minutes before trying again. Also used a direct link from the ESD website rather than a bookmark. Thanks everyone for your help!

Did you ever apply for unemployment before 2025? I'm on my third claim (seasonal worker) and I've noticed the spring/summer claims always take FOREVER to process compared to winter ones. Something about their workload being higher certain times of year. Just another possibility why yours is taking so long.

Just to give you an update on the process - if you do contact the Governor's office, they'll likely ask you to complete a privacy release form so they can legally inquire about your specific claim. Have your claim ID, contact information, and a brief timeline of your efforts ready. They typically respond within 3-5 business days with either a direct response or confirmation they've forwarded it to ESD with priority status.

I HATE how ESD makes this so confusing! My sister got hit with a $2,100 overpayment because she reported when she got PAID instead of when she WORKED. The system should be more clear about this! Make sure you're super accurate with your hours. I even took screenshots of my timesheets and saved them in case ESD questioned me later. For your final claim, there's a question that asks if you've returned to work full-time - make sure to say YES to that one.

Congrats on the new job! One thing to add - when you say you "started a job on 2/3" - if that was Feb 3, 2025, that was a Monday, not a Saturday. ESD weeks run Sunday-Saturday, so keep that in mind when dividing up your hours worked if you're submitting claims for multiple weeks.

My cousin works for ESD (not supposed to say that probably lol) and she says the restart process is taking longer than usual right now because they upgraded their computer system last month. Some claims are taking up to a week to restart. Just FYI!

One more important thing to note: when you backfill those weekly certifications, make sure you answer everything accurately, especially regarding your freelance work. If you report income inconsistently compared to previous patterns, it might trigger an adjudication review, which could further delay your benefits. Be precise about dates worked and amounts earned for each specific week you're certifying retroactively.