one more thing make sure u keep doing ur job search activities!!! now that ur fully unemployed u need to do all 3 job contacts every week. ESD is super strict about that

Final tip: After you submit your weekly claim with the job separation, call ESD within 2-3 business days to confirm everything looks good on their end. This proactive approach can save you weeks of waiting if there is an issue. The earlier you catch any potential problems, the faster they can be resolved. You'll want to have your separation details and last day of work ready when you call.

I called at exactly 8:00am and used the option for "questions about an existing claim" instead of the general questions line. Still took forever but at least I got through eventually!

my buddy said they only took like $40 from his check each week and he had a pretty big 401k so maybe it won't be so bad for u!!!

FYI - the adjudication doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your work search. It just means they're reviewing it. If your contacts were legitimate and you can document them, you should be fine. And like others said, keep filing weekly claims no matter what.

UPDATE: I just got an email from ESD saying I need to provide additional documentation for the job contacts from that week. They want company addresses and contact names, which I didn't include originally. I'm gathering that info now. Still no answer about whether my current payments will be affected, but at least I know what they need now. Thanks everyone for your help!

One more thing to consider - if you're dealing with both L&I and a third-party claim (against the other driver), make sure you understand how these interact. If you receive a settlement from the third-party claim, L&I may place a lien on part of that settlement to recover what they paid for your medical treatment. This is standard practice, but many people are surprised by it. Your attorney should be explaining this to you. As for finding a surgeon who takes L&I, ask your claim manager for a list of approved specialists. They should be able to provide you with options within your area that are approved providers.

Based on everything you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. Contact your L&I claim manager tomorrow and request a list of approved spine surgeons in your area 2. Have your primary doctor submit detailed documentation about why you need a specific surgical approach 3. If your claim manager isn't responsive, contact the L&I Ombuds office 4. Withdraw your ESD application for now to avoid potential overpayment issues 5. Ask your L&I claim manager about getting your time-loss rate reassessed if it's not sufficient Don't agree to pay for the surgery out-of-pocket with the promise of reimbursement later - that's risky and not how the system is supposed to work. L&I should cover approved medical treatment directly.

Have you tried contacting the Office of Administrative Hearings directly? Sometimes they can give you updates on your appeal status when ESD won't. Their number should be on your appeal paperwork. Also, while waiting, make sure you're keeping detailed records of ALL your job search activities - more than the minimum 3 per week if possible. This helps if they question your job search later.

Just to add one more thing to think about - do you have your hearing scheduled yet with OAH? If not, you might want to check if your appeal was actually received and processed. Sometimes paperwork gets lost in the system. Call the OAH directly (not ESD) to confirm they have your appeal in their system.