Thank you for sharing this success story. I've been guiding people through the ESD system for years, and the Governor's office route is certainly effective, though it should be viewed as a last resort after you've tried the standard channels multiple times. One thing I'd suggest adding to your escalation request (whether to the Governor's office or through other channels) is documentation of financial hardship. If you're facing eviction, utility disconnection, or unable to afford medicine, include those details with documentation. This can trigger a special hardship review process that moves even faster than standard escalations. Also, while waiting for resolution, continue filing your weekly claims without fail. Many people stop filing when stuck in adjudication, which can create even more problems down the road.

Has anyone had success going through their state representative instead? My neighbor said her rep's office helped with her claim but I'm not sure if that's better than the governor route or not?

anybody know if they tax the refund? i paid $4k on my overpayment then got a waiver but when they sent me back the money it was only like $3400ish... wondering if they took taxes out or what?

UPDATE: Just wanted to share that I received my refund check today - exactly 7 weeks after the waiver approval letter! It came as a paper check with a detailed statement showing the original overpayment amount, what I had paid, and the refund amount. They did take out a small processing fee (about 1%) but otherwise returned the full amount I had paid. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - it really helped me understand what to expect during this confusing process!

I've been on unemployment since November and noticed the direct deposits are getting less predictable lately. Sometimes it's there at 9am, sometimes not until late afternoon. I think they're processing more claims since those January layoffs in tech hit. One thing to check - make sure your payment method didn't accidentally switch to the debit card. That happened to my sister and she was checking her bank account while the money was sitting on the ESD card she never activated!

mine just came in guys! check ur accounts

My claim says "adjudication" too what does that even mean?? been 3 weeks now...

UPDATE: I took several of the suggestions here and finally got movement on my claim! I contacted my state representative yesterday morning with all my claim details and the history of my contact attempts. Their office responded within hours saying they'd contact their ESD liaison. This morning, I checked my account and the adjudication is COMPLETE! Benefits are being processed for all 11 weeks! Also, I did try the Claimyr service that someone recommended here - it actually worked to get me through to an ESD agent yesterday afternoon. The agent confirmed they could see the legislative inquiry had been received and that my claim was being actively reviewed. Not sure if it was the state rep contact, the Claimyr-facilitated call, or both that did the trick, but SOMETHING finally worked! Thank you all for the suggestions and support. To anyone else stuck in adjudication hell, don't give up - keep pushing through all available channels.

im on my 3rd unemployment claim in 5 years (construction work lol) and every single time has been different! first one: 3 weeks. second one: 8 days! current one: 4 weeks and counting... literally seems to depend on who processes your claim and how busy they are that day

One final piece of advice: If your claim isn't processed within 3 weeks, don't just wait. Be proactive by: 1. Using the eServices message center to inquire about your claim status 2. Calling the claims center early in the morning (right when they open) 3. Checking your spam/junk folders daily for ESD communications 4. Continuing to file weekly claims correctly The difference between a 3-week wait and an 8-week wait is often just how quickly you identify and resolve any minor issues that arise. Most delays happen because claimants don't realize action is needed on their part.

I work in HR and deal with unemployment stuff all the time. Here's what's happening: 'Appealed' just means you had an appeal hearing. The 'CRO Petition' means the case has been sent to the Commissioner's Review Office for additional review. Most likely scenario is that the Administrative Law Judge ruled in your favor, and ESD is now appealing that decision to the Commissioner. You should have received a decision letter from OAH explaining the judge's ruling. If you haven't received it yet, call OAH (not ESD) at 360-407-2700 and ask for a copy of your decision.

UPDATE: I called OAH this morning like @profile5 suggested. They confirmed the judge ruled in MY FAVOR and waived the entire overpayment! That's why I have the CRO Petition - ESD is appealing the judge's decision. The OAH rep said they resent the decision letter which I should receive in a few days. Thanks everyone for your help figuring this out. I'll keep you posted on what happens with the Commissioner review!

my claim was stuck for 2 months but turns out it was because my previous employer contested it saying i quit when i was actually laid off. once i provided the termination letter it got resolved in like 3 days. might wanna check if ur employer is saying something different than u did about why u left

Quick update question - have you been receiving any correspondence by mail? Some adjudication notices are still sent via postal mail rather than electronically, especially if they involve third-party information from your employer.

It sounds like you've identified the issue now - the identity verification requirement. This is very common and explains the seemingly contradictory information. Here's what will happen: 1. Once you upload your identity documents, they'll go into a verification queue 2. This can take 1-3 weeks to process (sometimes longer during busy periods) 3. If your identity is verified, that issue will be resolved 4. If all other issues are resolved (like your late filing already is), your status should change from disqualified to paid 5. You'll receive all back payments for weeks you've claimed once everything is resolved Keep an eye on your online account for status changes and any additional requests for information.

Driver's license and social security card should be sufficient for identity verification in most cases. Occasionally they request additional documentation if they can't verify with those documents alone. You may not receive a separate notification when your identity is verified - often, you'll simply see your claim status change and payments issued. I recommend checking your account every 2-3 days. If it's been more than 3 weeks since uploading your documents with no change in status, then it would be appropriate to contact ESD directly. The current average processing time for identity verification is about 10-14 days, but this varies based on current claim volume.

The appeals language "benefits are allowed beginning September 9, 2024" typically means: 1. The previous denial is reversed as of that date 2. Your husband is eligible for benefits from that date forward IF he meets all other eligibility requirements (which includes being unemployed or partially employed) 3. He's entitled to back benefits for weeks he claimed during the appeal process Since he's currently employed, he wouldn't qualify for full benefits, but might qualify for partial benefits if his current earnings are low enough compared to his previous wages. The formula is fairly complex, but essentially if he's earning significantly less than he would receive on unemployment, he could get a partial payment each week. Something else to consider: if his current job doesn't utilize his union skills, he might be able to continue looking for work in his field while maintaining this job. As long as he's available for full-time work and actively searching, he could potentially still file weekly claims reporting his part-time income.

The fact that ESD initially denied your husband's claim then approved it on appeal is actually fairly common. The first-level adjudicators often side with employers, which is why the appeal process exists. Regarding your specific situation: 1. Your husband should immediately file for the retroactive benefits covering the 8-week appeal period. There's typically a limited window to claim these weeks retrospectively. 2. For his current situation, Washington does have provisions for workers who take "suitable work" at significantly lower wages than their previous employment. However, voluntarily quitting to collect benefits is generally problematic unless specific conditions are met. 3. One potential option: If your husband finds a legitimate union job opportunity that pays significantly better, quitting his current job to accept that offer would not disqualify him from benefits if the new position fell through or wasn't as advertised. Most importantly, I'd recommend having your husband speak with someone from his union. They often have representatives who specialize in unemployment issues specific to union workers and might have more tailored advice for his situation.

Make sure you attend the hearing! I know someone who assumed they would lose and didn't call in for their telephone hearing. The judge automatically ruled against them for not showing up. Even if you think your chances aren't great, always participate in the hearing. Also, when you get the hearing notice, it will include instructions for submitting evidence beforehand. If you have any documentation that supports your case (performance reviews, emails, texts, etc.), make sure to submit it following those exact instructions before the deadline. During my appeal, I found that staying focused on answering exactly what the judge asked (not going off on tangents) made a big difference. The employer kept talking in circles and the judge seemed annoyed with them for not being direct.

One thing nobody told me during my appeal: THE HEARING IS RECORDED!!! Make sure you don't interrupt anyone, especially the judge. Let the employer finish talking even when they're lying. The judge kept telling me to wait my turn and I think it made me look bad. Also be ready for the employer to have their lawyer or HR person there who will sound all professional and prepared.