I just remembered something important - if you win your appeal, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were eligible but denied! Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for your appeal hearing. If you stop filing weekly claims, you won't get paid for those weeks even if you win the appeal. I made this mistake and lost out on like $2,600 in benefits.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - was denied for "policy violation" at my workplace where the same policy was completely ignored by everyone including supervisors. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! A few things I learned from my research that might help you: 1. Document EVERYTHING - I wish I had started keeping a log of policy violations I witnessed much earlier 2. The timing of your union grievance vs termination is huge - that's going to be very compelling evidence of retaliation 3. Get your witnesses to write down specific incidents with dates if possible, even if they can't testify live I'm still early in my appeal process but seeing so many people win these cases gives me hope. The selective enforcement angle seems to be the key factor that wins these hearings. Keep us posted on how your hearing goes - there are clearly a lot of people dealing with similar issues who could benefit from hearing about your experience!

I feel your pain completely! I just went through this exact same nightmare two weeks ago. What finally worked for me was a combination of the early morning calling (7:58am sharp) and also trying the Spanish language option first, then asking to be transferred to English-speaking support. Sounds weird but the Spanish queue was way shorter. Also, if you have a smartphone, try calling from a landline instead - I read somewhere that their system prioritizes certain phone types differently. Don't give up! I know it's incredibly frustrating when you're dealing with bills and need answers, but based on what everyone here is sharing, persistence really does pay off eventually.

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Been trying for over a week and getting nowhere. Reading through all these responses is actually giving me hope though. I'm definitely going to try the 7:58am calling strategy tomorrow morning with the option 2-1-3 sequence that @Natasha Romanova mentioned. Also really intrigued by the Spanish language queue trick - that's brilliant problem solving! Has anyone tried reaching out through social media? Sometimes companies respond faster on Twitter when you publicly mention the issue. Either way, it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this struggle and that people are actually getting through eventually. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

Based on everything in this thread, here's what I think you should consider: 1. If you need the money from those weeks you were unemployed before your new job, keep the appeal going. It's already been 6 weeks, so you're probably getting close to a hearing date. 2. If you don't urgently need that backpay and your new job seems stable, you could withdraw the appeal and save yourself the stress. The requalification option will protect you for future claims. 3. If you do withdraw, make sure you get it in writing that you've met the requalification requirements once you've worked 7+ weeks and earned 7x your WBA. Also, for future reference, quitting for mandatory educational requirements CAN be considered good cause in some cases, but ESD is very strict about it. You typically need to prove you tried to arrange alternative work schedules before quitting.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I went through a similar healthcare program situation in 2024. My clinical rotations were also mandatory and conflicted with my work schedule. When I appealed, I made sure to bring documentation from my school showing the rotation was required for graduation AND that the hours/schedule were non-negotiable. I also included evidence that I had asked my employer about flexible scheduling options before making the decision to quit. The hearing officer seemed more receptive when I framed it as "completing required education to enter an essential healthcare field" rather than just "going to school." I ended up winning my appeal and got about 8 weeks of backpay. Since you're already 6+ weeks in and your hearing is probably coming up soon, I'd definitely stick with it. Good luck with your new job AND your appeal!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking it in case I need to reference it later. The Washington ESD system makes so much more sense now.

One last tip for anyone filing multiple claims - keep good records of your work history between claims. It makes filling out the application much easier and helps avoid any delays in processing.

Bottom line: 26 weeks maximum, file immediately, keep up with job search requirements, file weekly claims on time, and don't count on extensions. Plan accordingly!

I've been collecting unemployment for about 12 weeks now and this thread has been incredibly helpful in clarifying the 26-week limit. One thing I'm wondering about - if I do temporary or contract work for a few weeks, will that reset my benefit year or just pause my weekly claims? I want to take on some short-term projects but don't want to mess up my remaining benefits if those projects end.