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I want to clarify something important: When an employer doesn't respond, ESD is supposed to make a determination based on the claimant's statement and any other available information. However, they still need to complete their investigation process, which includes verifying your identity, wage information, and reason for separation. If you're approaching the 30-day mark in adjudication, you can request an escalation. Call and specifically ask for your claim to be escalated due to financial hardship. Use those exact words. Also, while you're waiting, make sure you're meeting all requirements for when your claim is (hopefully) approved: 1. File your weekly claims consistently 2. Complete and document 3 job search activities each week 3. Register with WorkSource if you haven't already 4. Check your ESD account and email daily for any communications If you do get denied and need to appeal, you have 30 days from the date of the determination to file your appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
Thank you for all this detailed information. I'll ask for an escalation due to financial hardship next time I call. I've been doing everything else on your list, so hopefully that will help when they finally review my claim. It's just the waiting that's killing me right now.
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Just want to add my experience - I've been on unemployment for about 7 months now, and I've noticed that deposit times tend to get delayed around holidays or at the beginning/end of quarters when ESD seems busier. Also, if you did anything different on your weekly claim (reported earnings, answered a question differently), it might trigger a review that delays processing. If eServices shows it as paid, I wouldn't worry too much. My credit union sometimes takes an extra day compared to when my husband's bank processes the same ESD deposits.
That's actually super helpful to know about the quarterly timing and holidays potentially causing delays. I did report some job search activities differently this week, so maybe that triggered something. Thanks for sharing your experience!
UPDATE: just got mine now at 2:30pm!!! Check ur accounts again everyone
OMG THANK YOU!! Just checked and mine came through too!!! What a relief!
Mine too! Finally showed up. Thanks for the heads up! Seems like today was just a weird delay for everyone. I swear this is more stressful than it needs to be.
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The whole system is RIDICULOUS! Why can't they program their computers to process payments regardless of holidays?? I've been on UI for 4 months and EVERY holiday causes delays. Meanwhile bills don't wait and my landlord doesn't care about federal holidays! This is how they keep people struggling!!
ikr? its 2025 and computers dont need days off lol
To answer your original question: No, ESD does not process unemployment payments on MLK Day or any federal holiday. The banking system that ESD uses operates on the federal reserve schedule, which observes all federal holidays. Even if ESD wanted to process payments, the ACH system they use for transfers would not be operational today. For future reference, you can find the federal holiday schedule on the ESD website under Payment Information FAQ. Always add one business day to your expected payment date when a holiday occurs.
Thanks for the detailed explanation! I'll check out that FAQ section for future reference. Really appreciate everyone's help - I can stop refreshing my bank account now and just plan for Wednesday.
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To add to my earlier comment - when you reapply, make sure to emphasize any of these factors that apply to your situation as they can help with approval: 1. Your progress in the program so far (GPA, completed credits) 2. The specific in-demand nature of your field of study (cybersecurity is definitely in-demand) 3. Your status as a veteran in transition (ESD does prioritize veteran applications) 4. Any job offers or career prospects you've already established 5. How close you are to program completion ESD has limited Training Benefits funding, so they prioritize applications that demonstrate clear workforce reentry potential. The stronger your case for completing the program and securing employment, the better your chances for continued approval.
this system is SO FRUSTRATING though because people get cut off mid-program! what's the point of approving someone for training if you're not going to let them FINISH?? ESD needs to guarantee the full program length upfront! 😡
Just thought of another thing - the timing matters a lot. Since your benefits expire January 11, 2025, and that's during winter break for most colleges, make sure your application clearly addresses how your academic schedule aligns with the benefits timeline. ESD sometimes gets confused about academic calendars vs. benefit periods. Also, reach out to your academic advisor at Pierce and ask if they can provide a letter stating your satisfactory progress and expected completion date. Having documentation from the school strengthens your case significantly.
That's a good point about the winter break timing. I hadn't considered how that might complicate things. I'll definitely talk to my advisor about getting that letter. Thanks for all your help!
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anybody know if there's a way to see WHY your payment is being held up? i've looked everywhere in my eServices account and can't find any indicator of what the problem is...
Unfortunately, eServices doesn't always show you why. The only reliable ways to find out are: 1) Wait for a letter/notice to appear in your account (can take 7-10 days), 2) Call and speak with an agent, or 3) If you have a WorkSource account, sometimes your case manager there can see notes on your file about what's causing the hold.
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know what happened. After 5 days, my payment status suddenly changed back to pending and then to paid the next day! Turns out they were doing a random quarterly review of my claim. The $120 odd job work triggered a review to make sure I wasn't regularly self-employed. I did end up using that Claimyr service to reach ESD yesterday and that's how I found out. The agent cleared the hold while I was on the phone. Thanks everyone for your help!
Glad to hear it worked out! Random quarterly reviews are actually pretty common but not well explained on the ESD website. Thanks for sharing the resolution - it helps others know what to expect when they see similar issues.
thx for the update! good 2 know it was just a random check
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UPDATE: I called OAH this morning and got some clarification. The representative told me that uploading to the portal IS sufficient for the judge, but I still needed to send everything to ESD separately. She gave me the specific email address for appeals submissions and confirmed I should include my case number in the subject line. Thanks everyone for your help! Feeling much better about this now.
Great to hear! Make sure you're well prepared for the actual hearing too. Have all your facts organized chronologically, be ready to explain why you believe ESD's determination was incorrect, and stay calm and professional during the hearing. The ALJ will appreciate a clear, factual presentation.
Will do. I've written out my main points and practiced explaining my situation clearly. Hopefully it goes well!
One thing nobody has mentioned yet - if the other party (usually ESD) submits new evidence at the last minute that you haven't seen before, you can ask the judge for a continuance to give you time to review the documents. Just say "Your honor, I haven't had an opportunity to review these documents and request time to do so before proceeding." Most judges will grant this reasonable request. Good luck with your hearing!
That's really good to know, thank you! I've been worried about being blindsided.
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im confused...what is a waiver? i got an overpayment notice for $1200 last month. can i just apply for a waiver instead of paying it?
Yes, you can apply for an overpayment waiver if you believe the overpayment wasn't your fault OR if paying it back would cause financial hardship. Go to your eServices account, look for the "Submit Overpayment Waiver Request" option. You'll need to explain why you're requesting the waiver and possibly provide financial information. But be prepared to wait - as you can see from this thread, ESD can take a very long time to process these requests.
wait guys i have a question - i got a waiver approved but never got any money back.... did i miss something???
If you never made any payments toward the overpayment before your waiver was approved, there wouldn't be anything to refund. But if you did make payments (either directly or through benefit reductions), you should have received a refund. Check your eServices account for any notices about the waiver decision, and look for information about refund eligibility. If you believe you should have received a refund but didn't, you'll need to contact ESD directly to inquire about it.
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have you tried going to the office in person? i waited 4 hours but actually got help and my adjudication was completed within a week after going in person. some issues they can't resolve on the spot but at least you get real answers
Which office did you go to? I thought they weren't taking in-person appointments anymore, but I'll absolutely drive wherever I need to if I can get this resolved!
tacoma worksource office on mildred st. they have esd staff there tues-thurs. bring ID and all your paperwork
Update? Did you get anywhere with this? Im in the same boat now :
Some progress! I followed the advice about sending a message specifically mentioning foreclosure risk, AND I used Claimyr to actually reach someone. The agent noted my account with an 'urgent housing' flag. Still waiting but they said it should be resolved within 10 business days. I'll update when I hear more.
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Has anyone noticed how these "calendar week" rules are NEVER clearly explained when you're filing?! The questions just ask if you were "available for work" without explaining what they mean by that! And then they hit you with these technical overpayments months later! It's like they WANT people to make mistakes so they can collect overpayments!
You make a good point. The UI handbook does explain the calendar week definition, but it's buried among hundreds of other rules and most people don't read the entire thing. This is definitely something that could be made clearer in the weekly claim questions themselves.
My cousin had this exact problem last year. He was on a hunting trip that went from Thursday-Monday (only 5 days) but got hit with a two-week overpayment. What worked for him was bringing printed calendar evidence to his appeal hearing showing the actual days he was gone. The judge ended up reducing it to just the actual days he was unavailable instead of full weeks. Bring as much documentation as you can to your hearing!
That's encouraging to hear! I have my travel itinerary that clearly shows the dates, so I'll definitely bring that to the hearing. Did your cousin represent himself or get a lawyer?
He represented himself. He said the judge was pretty understanding once he showed the actual timeline. Just be super organized with your paperwork and dates when you go in!
Maya Jackson
hey just wondering did u ever hear back about ur claim??? im in a kinda similar situation (fired for something not related to actual work) and want to know how it went for u
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Rebecca Johnston
•I just filed yesterday, so nothing yet. I'll update when I hear something! The initial confirmation said it could take 2-3 weeks for a decision, but I'm hoping it's faster since my case seems pretty straightforward based on what everyone here is saying.
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Amaya Watson
I went through something similar last year and was approved, but it took about 5 weeks total because my employer contested it. My advice: 1. File online immediately 2. When explaining separation reason, stick to facts without emotion 3. If your claim goes to adjudication, prepare a written statement of exactly what happened 4. Gather any evidence showing the firing was unrelated to job performance 5. Remember that being fired for something outside work hours that doesn't affect your job is NOT misconduct If ESD has questions, they'll contact you for a phone interview. Be prepared to clearly explain the situation and why your actions were reasonable. In my case, the adjudicator specifically noted that my off-duty conduct didn't constitute misconduct because it wasn't related to my work responsibilities.
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Rebecca Johnston
•This is really helpful, thank you! Did you have any documentation from your employer about the firing? My manager told me verbally, and my termination paperwork just says "no longer a good fit" which seems intentionally vague.
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Amaya Watson
•My paperwork was similarly vague ("business needs"). What helped me was that during my exit meeting, I sent myself an email right after documenting exactly what my manager said. I also had a text from my supervisor that hinted at the real reason. If you don't have anything in writing, create a detailed timeline with exact dates, who was present, and what was said as soon as possible. Contemporaneous notes like this carry significant weight with adjudicators.
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