Have you checked with your local WorkSource office? Sometimes they have free legal clinics or can refer you to pro bono attorneys who help with unemployment cases. Also, make sure to request all your claim records through a Privacy Act request before your hearing so you know exactly what your employer said about your separation.

One more thing - when you have your hearing, the judge will ask both you and your former employer questions. Let your employer speak first and take notes on what they say. Often they'll contradict themselves or admit to things that actually help your case. Stay calm and stick to facts even if they say things that aren't true. The judge cares about documentation more than emotional arguments.

For anyone dealing with overpayment issues, here are some important steps to follow: 1. Always appeal within the 30-day deadline if you disagree with an overpayment determination 2. Request a hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) if your reconsideration is denied 3. Document everything - save screenshots of all submissions and communications 4. Submit any evidence of your eligibility through eServices and by fax (yes, they still use fax) 5. If your appeal is denied, you can request a payment plan or hardship waiver I've helped dozens of people through this process, and persistence is key. Even after a denial, ESD periodically reviews cases, especially when policies change. In 2025, they've been more generous with forgiving older overpayments, particularly those related to work search requirements or employer-reported earnings discrepancies.

I recommend checking your mail carefully for the next few weeks. In my experience, ESD often sends the official forgiveness letter several days (or even weeks) after they've already zeroed out the balance in their system. The letter should explain their reasoning and confirm that the matter is closed. This is an important document to keep for your records.

my cusin works at the unemployment office and she says lots of people have truble with the website so dont feel bad!! but she says the fax number is (800) 301-1796 if u want to fax ur stuff instead of uploading it. the library can help with faxing if u dont have a fax machine

I understand your technology concerns! If you do end up trying to upload, here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Log into your eServices account 2. Click on "Upload a Document" under the Quick Links section 3. Select document type from the dropdown menu 4. Click "Browse" to find the file on your computer 5. Click "Upload" A helpful tip: The Tacoma Public Library offers free scanning services if you need to convert paper documents to digital files. They can help walk you through the process too. But the WorkSource center others mentioned is probably your best option for in-person assistance with the whole process.

There's actually a technical reason for this. The IVR system (Interactive Voice Response) sends your claim data to a different verification queue than the online system. When you file online, the system can automatically verify certain elements, but phone claims require additional processing time because the voice recognition system isn't as accurate. This is especially true if you hesitated on any questions or if background noise interfered with your responses. If you check your claim status online, does it show any issues or just the 'processing' status? If there are no identified issues, it's likely just the normal delay from using the phone system. As others have said, expect payment on Friday instead of Wednesday this week.

yo did u get paid today??? was curious if it came thru on friday like everyone said

To answer your other question - the waiting week doesn't count against your total benefit amount. If you're eligible for 26 weeks of benefits, you'll still get 26 weeks of payments after serving the waiting week. It's just that your first payment will come after week 2, assuming there are no other issues with your claim. Make sure you're completing your three job search activities each week (including for the waiting week) and documenting them properly. That's a common reason claims get held up.

has anyone had luck getting through on the phones? i've been trying at different times but always get the "high call volume, try again later" message then it hangs up!