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I'm at my wits end with ESD right now. They rejected my claim saying I wasn't in Washington state and 'not able to work' - which is completely FALSE. I've been here the entire time! This mistake has left me without benefits for over 3 months while my savings have disappeared trying to keep up with my mortgage payments. I finally discovered this ridiculous error was the holdup and filed an appeal with ESD on Monday. The rep said they try to resolve these internally before sending to OAH, but I'm desperate for answers. They mentioned a caseworker was 'already on it' but I haven't heard anything since. To make matters worse, my original claim has now expired, and my new claim just says "waiting for information" - whatever that means. Has anyone successfully appealed an incorrect 'not in state' determination? How long does this typically take? Is there ANY way to speed this up? My financial situation is becoming critical and I need these benefits that I'm rightfully owed.
I'm in total shock right now. Just checked my eServices account and saw my unemployment claim was DENIED because ESD somehow thinks I QUIT my job?? I was clearly fired - my manager even handed me a termination letter during our final meeting! I immediately filed an appeal and uploaded a photo of the termination letter as evidence. The letter clearly states I was being terminated due to "performance concerns" (which I totally disagree with, but that's another story). Has anyone dealt with this kind of mistake before? I'm seriously worried about bills piling up. Do I need to do anything else besides submitting the appeal with the termination letter? How long does the appeal process usually take? I'm worried they'll just glance at my appeal and dismiss it. Should I also try calling ESD to explain the situation or just wait for the appeal to be processed?
To answer your earlier question about requesting your employer's response - log into eServices, go to your claim details, and look for "Request for Information" or sometimes "View Documents." If you don't see it there, you can also call the claims center and specifically request your employer's response to your initial claim. Also, make sure you're checking your eServices account and physical mail frequently. ESD will send hearing notices with important dates and times, and if you miss the hearing, your appeal will likely be dismissed. Sometimes these notices come with very little advance warning, so stay vigilant.
Thank you so much! I just checked eServices and found the employer response section. You're right - they literally told ESD I "abandoned my position" which is completely false! I have the termination letter and our final meeting was in person with HR present. This makes me even more confident about winning the appeal. I'll definitely keep an eye out for hearing notices.
One more important thing - when you have your hearing (which will probably be by phone), make sure you're in a quiet place with good reception and have ALL your documents ready to reference. The judge asked me very specific questions about dates and events, and having everything organized helped tremendously. Also, they record the entire hearing, so speak clearly and avoid talking over others. Be respectful to the judge even if your employer says things that make your blood boil (mine sure did!). If you win your appeal, you'll get all the back payments for the weeks you were filing claims, so even though it's stressful waiting, you'll eventually get the full amount you're entitled to.
Had my Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) telephone hearing last Friday for my disqualification issue. The judge seemed pretty fair and let me explain my situation fully. They told me I'd get a decision "soon" but didn't specify a timeframe. Anyone know approximately how long it takes to get the decision after a hearing? Also wondering if they notify you by mail, email, or if I need to keep checking my eServices account? This waiting is making me super anxious because I really need this resolved - I'm already 8 weeks without benefits and my savings are basically gone.
So I'm super confused and getting worried. My ESD claim finally shows 'paid' status for this week (after my waiting week just ended), but there's absolutely nothing showing up in my bank account! I have direct deposit set up correctly - double checked all my info and it's right. I know it's Presidents' Day week, so maybe that's causing a delay? But shouldn't there at least be a pending deposit showing up somewhere? Has anyone else dealt with this? How long should I expect to wait before I start panicking about the money not showing up? Really need this payment to cover rent next week!
my friend had this happen and it turned out his direct deposit info was wrong even tho he thought he entered it right. double check all your bank info in your esd account. also some banks take foreeeever to process esd payments for some reason
Quick update question - has your payment arrived yet? Most holiday-delayed direct deposits should have processed by now. If you're still waiting, it might be worth contacting ESD before the weekend.
So I made a decision to leave college mid-semester because I couldn't afford it anymore and needed to work full-time. I filed for unemployment thinking I'd qualify since I was available for full-time work now, but just found out I got disqualified for the past two weeks! The ESD notice mentioned something about 'not being available for work due to school attendance' even though I'm not in school anymore. I already submitted an appeal online but have no idea how long that will take or if I even have a chance. Has anyone dealt with this kind of situation before? The ESD website is so confusing and the phone lines are always busy. I really need this money for rent next month.
YES get documentation from your school showing exactly when you withdrew!!! Trust me, ESD will want to see official proof, not just your word for it. And definitely explain your full availability now compared to before. Be super specific in your appeal - dates, times, everything. The more detail the better!
One final piece of advice: In your appeal, focus on these key points: 1. You're seeking partial unemployment due to a reduction in available work hours 2. You're no longer a student (provide documentation) 3. You're fully available for work with no restrictions 4. You're actively seeking additional employment to replace the lost hours 5. The reduction in hours was not your fault (employer couldn't provide more hours) Continue filing your weekly claims during this process, and be completely truthful about any hours worked and earnings received. If your appeal is successful, you'll receive back payments for any eligible weeks where you qualified for partial benefits. Depending on when your disqualification began, you may need to request backdating of your claim to ensure you don't lose potential benefits.
Liam Duke
Quick update on the timeline expectations: If your appeal was filed Monday and they said it's with a caseworker, they're likely in the "reconsideration" phase. This is actually good news because if the caseworker agrees with you, they can reverse the decision without going to OAH. The bad news is there's no guaranteed timeline for this phase. Have you checked your online correspondence in eServices? Sometimes they upload decisions there without notifying you. Also, check if your status has changed from "disqualified" to something else - that could indicate progress.
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Dana Doyle
AuthorI just checked eServices again and nothing new has appeared in my correspondence. Status still shows as disqualified. I guess I just keep waiting and hoping someone actually reviews my case. It's so frustrating being in financial limbo with no timeline or expectations.
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Ben Cooper
Same thing happened to me! I found out its because I answered YES to the 'physically able to work' question but then accidentally answered NO to 'available for work' on a weekly claim! Just ONE mistake and they assume your out of state! It took foreverrr to fix.
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Dana Doyle
AuthorThat's interesting - I should double check my weekly claims to see if I made a similar mistake. Though at this point I've filed so many claims I can't imagine I'd make the same error repeatedly. The frustrating part is that even if I did make a mistake on a form, they should have a way to correct it that doesn't take MONTHS.
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