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my cousin works at esd (not sharing any names) but he says theres a HUGE backlog still from all the fraud cases they had during covid. like theyre still dealing with that fallout. not saying its right but thats why everyones waiting forever. good luck tho
Since you've been waiting so long, this is a situation where you should request a formal determination through the adjudication department directly. Call 833-572-8400 and use the exact phrase "I need to request a formal determination on my pending claim under WAC 192-04-060." This regulatory reference often gets attention. Also, if your claim involves separation from your employer, check if they've submitted their response. Sometimes claims stall because employers don't respond, and ESD doesn't automatically follow up after the initial request. Keep detailed records of all contact attempts with dates and times for your records.
u should call them!! sometimes they need a push to actually do the work. squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that
Update for anyone who finds this post later: It took 8 business days, but my portal finally updated today! All the previously disqualified weeks now show as 'paid' status. No deposit yet, but the representative I spoke with said it should show up in my account within 48 hours. So relieved to finally see movement on this!
MAKE SURE u answer every phone call even from unknown numbers!!!! ESD might call u for fact finding interview and if u miss it they can deny ur claim. And check ur online portal messages DAILY - sometimes they send questions there with deadlines.
Just wondering did u ever get a new termination letter with these so called performance reasons or is it just stuff they told u verbally? cuz if its just verbal thats sooooo sketchy
No, they never gave me an updated termination letter! It was all verbal after I showed them the prescription. The original termination letter specifically mentions the positive drug test as the sole reason. They just verbally started bringing up other issues when I tried to get my job back after the test was revised to negative.
This detail is extremely important. The fact that your only written termination documentation cites the drug test as the reason will be very compelling to ESD. Employers who change their story during the unemployment process (especially without documentation) typically don't fare well in these cases. Keep that original termination letter safe - it's your strongest piece of evidence.
Giovanni Marino
One more important tip: While waiting for your appeal hearing, make sure you're actively seeking work and documenting your job search activities (minimum 3 per week). Even though your claim is denied and under appeal, you'll need to show you've been meeting all requirements during this time if you want to receive backpay for these weeks once you win your appeal.
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Amara Okonkwo
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much better knowing what to expect now. I'll keep an eye on my mail, continue filing my weekly claims, and start gathering all my evidence to be prepared for the hearing. Really appreciate all of you taking the time to share your experiences!
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