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I'm glad to see so many helpful responses here! As someone who's been navigating unemployment benefits for a few months now, I just wanted to add that the ESD website actually has a pretty detailed FAQ section about reporting different types of income that might be worth checking out for future reference. For anyone else reading this thread, the general rule I've learned is: when in doubt, report it. ESD would much rather you over-report than under-report, and they're generally pretty reasonable about one-time income like gambling winnings or odd jobs. The penalties for not reporting required income are way worse than having a slightly reduced payment for one week. Isabella, you're definitely handling this the right way. And hey, at least you had some fun at the casino and came out ahead! That's more than most people can say. Good luck with your job search!
Thanks Mateo! That's great advice about checking the ESD website's FAQ section - I wish I had known about that before posting here. I'll definitely bookmark that for future questions. You're absolutely right about the "when in doubt, report it" approach. After reading everyone's responses, it's clear that being overly cautious is the way to go with ESD. And yes, I did have fun at the casino! My cousin had a great birthday party and I got lucky on the slots, so even with the reporting hassle, it was still a net positive experience. Thanks for the encouragement on the job search too. It's nice to have a supportive community to turn to when navigating all this unemployment stuff. This thread has been incredibly helpful!
Hey Isabella! I'm new to this community but have been dealing with ESD claims for a while now. Just wanted to say you're absolutely making the right call by reporting everything honestly. I had a similar situation a couple months ago when I sold some old electronics on Facebook Marketplace while unemployed - wasn't sure if I needed to report that small income, but I did anyway. ESD was actually really helpful when I called to clarify, and it barely affected my weekly payment. The gambling winnings thing is tricky because it feels so different from regular work income, but like others have said, ESD considers any income as reportable. I've learned it's always better to be overly transparent with them. The one week of reduced benefits is way better than the stress of wondering if you'll get hit with an overpayment notice months later. Hope your job search goes well! This community has been super helpful for navigating all the ESD confusion.
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Just wanted to update that I finally got a letter explaining why my claim was in adjudication. Apparently my former employer initially contested the claim saying I quit instead of being laid off. Even though I submitted documentation proving it was a layoff right away, it still took them 9 weeks to verify. So frustrating that ESD just takes employers at their word and makes us wait months to prove otherwise.
This happens SO OFTEN. Employers routinely contest legitimate claims to keep their UI tax rates down, and ESD gives them the benefit of the doubt while making claimants jump through hoops. It's a system designed to protect businesses, not workers. At least you finally got your benefits though.
Wow, 9 weeks is absolutely ridiculous! I'm currently on week 3 of adjudication and this thread is both terrifying and helpful. It's crazy that employers can just contest claims with no real proof and we have to wait months while they "investigate." Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on finally getting approved - gives me hope that mine will eventually go through too. Did you get the full backpay for all 9 weeks or did they deny any of them?
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The fact that you kept filing weekly claims during the appeal was smart. I made that mistake on my first appeal years ago and it created a huge mess with the back pay calculation.
Yeah I almost didn't because it felt pointless, but my case worker insisted I keep doing it. Glad I listened!
It's one of those non-obvious things that can really bite you later if you don't know about it.
Congrats on winning your appeal! I went through something similar last year and the wait for payment after winning was nerve-wracking. In my experience, it took about 10 business days for the back payments to show up. One tip - if you don't see movement in your account by day 14, definitely call to check status. Sometimes there are small administrative hiccups that need a gentle nudge to get resolved. The good news is once it processes, you should get everything you're owed in one lump sum. Fingers crossed it comes through quickly for you!
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The Washington ESD website has all this information too, but honestly their site can be confusing to navigate. If you're comfortable with the basics from this thread, just go ahead and start the filing process online.
Agreed, their website isn't the most user-friendly but the actual filing process is pretty straightforward once you start.
Just wanted to add my experience - I was in a similar situation with a manufacturing layoff last year. Filed my claim the day after my last day of work and it was definitely the right call. One thing I wish someone had told me is to save screenshots of your application confirmation and any reference numbers they give you. The system can be glitchy sometimes and having that info saved me when I had to call later. Also, don't stress too much about having every single detail perfect when you file - you can always update information if needed, but you can't get back those lost weeks if you wait too long. Good luck with everything!
Mateo Lopez
I went through something similar last year and know how overwhelming it can feel. The first thing to understand is that overpayments can happen even when you've done everything right - sometimes it's due to employer disputes filed months later, or even processing errors on Washington ESD's end. The key is to not panic and take action quickly. You mentioned you followed all the rules and were honest, which puts you in a good position if you need to appeal. Make sure you understand exactly why they're claiming an overpayment occurred - you have the right to a detailed explanation. If the amount seems wrong or the reasoning doesn't make sense, definitely consider filing an appeal within the 30-day window. Many people have successfully gotten overpayments reduced or eliminated entirely when they can show the determination was incorrect.
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Layla Sanders
•This is really helpful advice, thank you. I think part of my stress is not understanding exactly what they think I did wrong. The letter has a bunch of dates and dollar amounts but doesn't clearly explain their reasoning. How do you request that detailed explanation you mentioned? Is that something you have to do formally or can you just ask when you call?
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Gabriel Graham
•You can request a detailed explanation both formally and informally. When you call (if you can get through), just ask the agent to explain the specific reasons for the overpayment determination. You can also submit a written request through their online portal or by mail asking for a breakdown of how they calculated the overpayment and what specific weeks or issues triggered it. Sometimes the explanation is in the fine print of the documents they sent, but it's often buried in legal language that's hard to understand. Don't be afraid to ask them to explain it in plain English - you have every right to understand exactly what they're claiming before you decide whether to appeal or accept the determination.
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Ellie Perry
I'm going through this exact situation right now and it's absolutely terrifying. Got a letter last week saying I owe back $3,400 from unemployment I received 7 months ago. Like you, I thought I did everything correctly - reported all my job searches, didn't work while claiming, answered all their questions honestly. The worst part is the letter doesn't even explain what I supposedly did wrong, just lists dates and dollar amounts. I've been calling Washington ESD every day trying to get answers but can never get through to a human being. The automated system just keeps telling me to call back later or visit their website, which doesn't have any useful information about my specific case. I'm a single mom working part-time and there's no way I can come up with almost $3,500. This whole thing is making me sick to my stomach.
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Olivia Evans
•I completely understand that sick feeling - I was in the same place when I got my overpayment notice. The uncertainty and financial stress is overwhelming, especially as a single parent. From reading through this thread, it sounds like many people have been able to get answers and resolve these situations, even when the initial letters are confusing. Since you can't get through by phone, you might want to consider that Claimyr service that several people mentioned - it seems to help bypass the phone system issues. Also, don't assume you actually owe the full amount until you can get someone to explain exactly what happened. Many overpayments get reduced or overturned entirely once people can actually talk to someone who understands their case. The 30-day appeal deadline is important to keep in mind too.
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Jacob Lee
•I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress as a single mom - that financial pressure must be incredibly overwhelming. One thing that might help while you're trying to get through to someone is to start gathering all your documentation from when you were claiming benefits. Even if the letter doesn't explain what went wrong, having your records organized will help when you do finally talk to someone. Look for your weekly claim confirmations, any correspondence from Washington ESD, job search logs, and documentation of your work separation. Sometimes what looks like a legitimate overpayment is actually an error or miscommunication that can be cleared up once the right person reviews your file. The fact that you were honest and followed the rules works in your favor. Try not to panic about the dollar amount until you understand what they think happened - many people in this thread have gotten their situations resolved or significantly reduced.
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