One more tip - if they do put your claim in adjudication and you need to talk to someone about the status, that Claimyr thing people mentioned actually works. I was skeptical at first but when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks, it was worth trying. Got answers about my case that I never would have gotten otherwise.

Just want to add that you should also keep records of any communications you had with your manager about the hour reduction - texts, emails, schedule changes, etc. Washington ESD will want to see a clear timeline of what happened. Also, when you file, be prepared for them to contact your former employer to verify your story, so make sure everything you report is accurate. The fact that you stuck it out for 2 months trying to make it work actually helps show you didn't just quit impulsively. Good luck with your application!

Good luck with everything! The system can be confusing but once you get started it's not too bad.

One thing I learned when I was laid off last year - make sure you file online rather than trying to call. Washington ESD's website can be slow during peak hours, but it's still way more reliable than their phone system. I spent days trying to get through by phone before someone told me I could do everything online. Also, don't stress too much about the application itself - they walk you through it step by step and you can always correct information later if needed.

hey did u do ur weekly claims even tho ur appealing? my friend didnt and lost all his backpay when he won his appeal

I'm going through something similar right now - my employer is claiming I abandoned my job when they actually terminated me for "restructuring." It's so frustrating when they can just lie like that! One thing that helped me was thinking about WHY my employer might be lying. In my case, I think they don't want their unemployment insurance rates to go up from having to pay out benefits. That could be worth mentioning at your hearing - give the judge a reason to understand your employer's motivation to misrepresent what happened. Also, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims! I almost made that mistake early on. Even though you're disqualified right now, you need to keep certifying so you can get backpay if you win your appeal. The fact that you applied immediately after being let go is definitely in your favor. I did the same thing and my lawyer said that's one of the strongest pieces of evidence that I didn't voluntarily quit. People who quit usually take time before filing because they know they might not qualify. Stay strong and stick to the truth! The system isn't perfect but it's not completely rigged either.

Bottom line - if you think the overpayment is wrong, appeal within 30 days. If you know you owe it, set up a payment plan immediately. Don't let it go to garnishment if you can avoid it because then you lose control over the payment amount and timing.

If you decide to appeal, make sure you request all the documentation they used to calculate your overpayment. You have the right to see exactly how they determined you owe that money - sometimes there are calculation errors or they applied earnings to the wrong weeks. I had a similar situation where they miscategorized some of my part-time income and I was able to get about $800 of my overpayment reversed just by showing them their mistake. The appeal process can be slow but it's worth it if you genuinely think there's an error.

Good luck! From what I've seen, Washington ESD is usually reasonable about backdate requests when there's a legitimate reason like not understanding the weekly filing requirement. Just be honest and thorough in your explanation.

I went through this exact same situation last year and can offer some hope! I missed 4 weeks because the website made it seem like weekly filing was optional after approval. Here's what worked for me: I submitted a backdate request through the secure messaging system explaining that the instructions weren't clear to me as a first-time claimant. I included a timeline of when I filed my initial claim, when I realized my mistake, and when I started filing weekly. They approved it in about 3 weeks and I got all my back pay. The key is being honest about the confusion and showing you're now complying with weekly filing. Don't give up - they deal with this situation more often than you'd think!