I'm a former case manager who worked with DV survivors on benefits issues. Here's what I recommend: 1. Contact the OAH clerk ASAP and ask about submitting additional evidence for your good cause determination - specifically your protection order and any DV services documentation. 2. For the actual appeal, Washington state law (RCW 50.20.050(2)(b)(iv)) specifically protects people who leave work due to domestic violence situations. Make sure your appeal cites this specific law. 3. As for the hostile work environment claim, that's covered under RCW 50.20.050(2)(b)(iii), but you'll need to demonstrate that the conditions were so intolerable that a reasonable person would leave. Your documentation of unpaid overtime and verbal abuse will be crucial. Hang in there - this process is frustrating but there are protections built into the law for situations exactly like yours.

One thing I learned from my experience - judges want to see that you made EVERY possible effort to resolve issues before quitting. For your hostile work environment claim, be prepared to answer these specific questions: 1. What specific actions did you take to report/resolve the issues? (emails, meetings, etc.) 2. What specific response did you receive? 3. Why was continuing to work there impossible/unreasonable? The more specific examples you can provide, the better. They're looking for concrete reasons, not just general statements about a hostile environment.

Just wondering, did u work out of state at all in the last 18 months? My claim said invalid when i had wages in Oregon and Washington, had to file a combined wage claim or whatever its called

Just checking back - were you able to contact ESD and get this resolved? Sometimes the 'Invalid' status can also appear if there's an identity verification issue, so if providing wage documentation doesn't solve it, that might be the next thing to check.

By the way, one thing I learned during my process - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims if you're still eligible for benefits. Even while your overpayment review is pending, continuing to file keeps your claim active and can prevent other issues down the line. Plus, if your waiver gets approved, you'll actually receive those benefits instead of them going toward the overpayment balance.

Based on current ESD processing timelines, here's what you should expect with overpayment waivers: * Acknowledgment letter: 1-2 weeks after submission * Initial review: 10-12 weeks after submission * Final determination: 16-20 weeks after submission The best strategy while waiting is to: 1. Request a hold on collections actions while your waiver is pending 2. Check your online correspondence folder at least weekly 3. If you approach the 20-week mark, that's when you should escalate by contacting your state representative In most cases, reaching out earlier won't expedite the process as they review applications in the order received. However, if you're facing imminent wage garnishment or tax intercept, that's considered a hardship case that can be prioritized.

Sometimes this happens if your claim requires additional information. Check if you have any alerts or tasks on your account. Another possibility is that they're processing a change to your claim status that you're not aware of yet. When this happened to me, I received a letter in the mail two days AFTER the weekly filing option disappeared.

UPDATE: The weekly claim option is back now! Looks like it was just temporary maintenance as some of you suggested. I was able to file my claim without any issues. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

The exact same thing happened to my cousin a few weeks ago. She got paid without any letter, called ESD (took forever to get through), and they told her the payment was correct but the letter generation system was backlogged. Apparently they prioritize getting people paid over sending the paperwork, which makes sense if you think about it. But they also told her to keep checking her online correspondence inbox because sometimes they only send electronic notifications now instead of paper mail.

Quick update! After reading through everyone's experiences here, my suggestion would be to wait about 5 business days to see if the letter arrives. If it doesn't, definitely contact ESD for confirmation. What's important is that you have documentation of the decision in case there are any issues later. The fact you received payment is a very positive sign, though. In my 15+ years working with unemployment systems (as a claimant and later helping others), I've rarely seen cases where payment was issued incorrectly ahead of a decision.

After seeing your update about getting disconnected multiple times, I really do recommend trying Claimyr. I was in the same boat - disconnected constantly, couldn't get through for weeks. It's frustrating that we have to use a service just to reach a government agency, but it saved me so much stress. The peace of mind from actually talking to someone was worth it. Regarding collections - they typically don't start aggressive collections during an appeal, but they may send you notices. Make sure to respond to those notices by stating you have an appeal pending. Keep documentation of everything.

Since you mentioned childcare issues, I want to add some specific advice for your appeal: 1. Washington state actually has a "parental obligation" provision that can allow for reasonable childcare-related restrictions. Emphasize this in your hearing. 2. When explaining your situation to the judge, be very specific about your overall availability. For example: "I'm available to work 38 out of 40 standard hours in my industry. My only restriction is Sunday 9am-12pm due to temporary childcare issues." 3. Bring documentation of your efforts to secure alternative childcare for those hours. 4. Be prepared to explain why this restriction doesn't significantly impact your employability in your field. The key is showing that your restriction is both reasonable and doesn't substantially diminish your ability to accept suitable work. Given that yours is just Sunday morning and temporary, you have a good chance of winning your appeal if presented properly.

Anyone seen their payment status change from "processing" to "pending"? Mine just switched and I'm not sure if that's good or bad...

UPDATE: Got through to ESD this morning! The "Ability Issue" was because I answered a question wrong on my initial application about being able to work. The rep cleared it on the spot and said my payments should process in 24-48 hours. She also said they're seeing a lot of minor issues like this holding up claims. If you're stuck in processing, definitely try to get through to a rep!

have u applied for any other assitance while waiting? like food stamps or energy assistance? might help in the meantime

After reviewing what you've shared, I think you might have a difficult case for the Commissioner appeal, but it's not impossible. Focus on these potential arguments if applicable: 1) The judge didn't allow you sufficient time to present your case (procedural error), 2) Your on-call work is substantially different from what was promised (bait and switch situation), 3) You have documentation showing you left for better opportunities that fell through despite reasonable assurances. Emphasize any facts the judge may have overlooked during the brief hearing. Even with a strong appeal, prepare financially for the possibility it won't be successful.

I filed my claim last Sunday at 4am and still haven't received my payment. Status just says "processing" - is that normal? Should I be worried? This is only my second week on unemployment.

Just tried calling ESD to ask about my delayed payment and got the "high call volume" message for the 5th time today! How is ANYONE supposed to get through to them?? This is so frustrating!

Just checking back - were you able to find the online form? If the form is about services provided while on unemployment, it should definitely be in your eServices account somewhere. Sometimes they label these as \

Thanks for checking back! Good news - the form finally appeared in my account this morning under 'Additional Information Requested' like someone suggested. I've filled it out and submitted it online. The whole process took like 5 minutes once I actually found it. What a relief!