yeah i had to call like 50 times before getting through. took another week to fix after that. but dont panic yet, sounds like lots of people are delayed this week so probably just the system being slow

UPDATE: Payment finally hit my account this morning! Looks like it was just delayed by a day. Relief! Thanks everyone for the reassurance.

Just a quick update - I saw your question about whether they asked for proof of income for the payment plan. In my case, they didn't require documentation upfront, but they did ask about my current income and expenses during the phone call to determine what monthly payment would be reasonable. If you're struggling to get through on the phone, I really do recommend trying Claimyr. It saved me literally days of frustration trying to reach someone at ESD.

One more thing to consider: if you believe the overpayment was due to an ESD error rather than anything you did wrong, you can request a waiver. According to WAC 192-220-030, ESD may waive an overpayment if it would be against "equity and good conscience" to require repayment. This is separate from an appeal (which challenges whether the overpayment exists at all) and is worth looking into if you truly couldn't have prevented the overpayment situation.

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Got laid off from my marketing job and started some online digital marketing courses. I reported it on my weekly claim and got a letter saying they needed more info. I had to upload my course schedule and write a statement explaining how I could still work full time. My claim was in adjudication for like 10 days but then got approved and I've been getting benefits with no problem since then. Just be honest about everything!

One more important point - if you're thinking of applying for Training Benefits (TB) program with ESD, that's a completely different process from just taking some classes while on regular unemployment. The TB program actually allows you to attend school full-time without job searching, but you need formal approval first. Since you mentioned these are just self-paced classes you're taking while continuing to look for work, you're on the right track with regular UI benefits - just report the training accurately on your weekly claims.

If you're having trouble reaching ESD to get clarification on anything, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was stuck in endless phone queues until I found their service - they got me through to an actual ESD agent within about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 or visit claimyr.com. Saved me hours of redial frustration when I had questions about my job search requirements.

To answer your follow-up question - no, it won't ask for both weeks' job searches at once. Each weekly claim only covers the specific week you're filing for. So when you file this Sunday, you'll be reporting for the current week only. By the way, when the system asks if you completed your job search activities, it just asks yes/no. You don't actually enter the details into the ESD system unless you're selected for a job search review. But you absolutely must keep detailed records of all your job search activities (I use a spreadsheet).

Quick update - I talked to the ESD agent who helped me with this same issue and she explained that the phone system sometimes fails to record your job search activities properly. When that happens, your claim gets stuck in a weird limbo where it's partially processed but not fully submitted. The only solution is having an agent manually fix it. And yes, definitely use the eServices website from now on!

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD after a 2-hour wait! The agent confirmed my weekly claim WAS received through the phone system but got stuck in processing because of a "system flag" related to my job search activities. She manually reviewed and processed my claim while I was on the phone. She said my payment should arrive in 2-3 business days. Also confirmed I should definitely use the website for future claims to avoid this issue. Thanks everyone for your help!

bro they just want their money back no matter what. system is broken af

Update on what I shared earlier - if you can provide financial hardship documentation, you might qualify for a waiver of the overpayment entirely, even if they don't remove the "at fault" finding. Form ESD 640-001 is what you need - "Application for Overpayment Waiver." Most important though: whatever you do, keep filing your weekly claims while this gets sorted out if you're still on unemployment. An appeal doesn't stop your current claim requirements.

To answer your question about moving expenses: Moving expenses are not deductible from reportable income for unemployment purposes. You still need to report any work/earnings as usual, but moving costs don't factor into this calculation. ESD only cares about actual income you receive, not your expenses.

just fyi my sister moved to texas and said she had to do like a phone interview with esd about why she moved and stuff. they wanted to make sure she wasnt just going on vacation or something i guess

Yes! It finally came through this morning! All 7 weeks at once, just like you all said. Such a massive relief. Thanks everyone for your help and support through this stressful time!

awesome! now make sure u keep doing ur weekly claims on time so u dont have more delays!

actually my brother works at esd and he told me they sometimes pay the waiting week if your claim has special circumstances but you have to specifically request it by calling and mentioning the "waiting week hardship provision" not many people know about this...

OK so waiting weeks aren't paid, but what about the last week when your benefits end? Do they pay that one in full? I'm about to exhaust my benefits next month and trying to budget.

my cosin said that your severanse payment will delay ur benefits? is that true???

Thanks everyone for your advice! I'm going to apply a week before my last day and make sure I have all my documentation ready. I'll also prepare financially for the waiting week plus potential delays. Really appreciate all the tips - this has been super helpful!