While you're working on your appeal, don't forget to keep applying for jobs and doing your job search activities. If you win the appeal, you'll need to show you were meeting the job search requirements for all those weeks to get paid for them. The system is definitely frustrating, but staying on top of all the requirements will help if you eventually win.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this financial stress on top of an unfair decision. One thing I wanted to add - when you're writing your Petition for Review, make sure to cite specific WAC sections that support your case. For example, if this was a misconduct case, WAC 192-150-200 outlines what constitutes misconduct and the burden of proof requirements. Also, if your employer gave contradictory statements between what they told ESD initially versus their hearing testimony, that's a huge point in your favor. The Commissioner's office takes inconsistent employer testimony very seriously. Keep your chin up - the fact that you have documented evidence and clear employer contradictions gives you a much stronger case than many people who appeal. Focus on the legal errors and factual inconsistencies rather than the emotional impact (as hard as that is), and you'll have the best shot at success.

Update: After reading all your advice, I tried calling the Collections number, but after 45 minutes on hold, I got disconnected. So I decided to try the WorkSource office route this morning. I arrived right when they opened, and though they initially said they couldn't help with ESD collection issues, when I showed them the OAH decision, one of the staff members was kind enough to make an internal call. She spoke to someone for about 10 minutes, and then told me they've put a 60-day hold on any collection activity while they process the OAH decision! She also gave me a direct email address for the collections department where I could send my OAH paperwork. I'm feeling much more hopeful now! I'll still include Form 8379 with my taxes just to be safe, but at least there's some movement. Thank you all for your help!

So glad you got some movement on this! The 60-day hold is a huge relief - that should definitely protect your tax refund while they sort everything out. I went through something similar last year and the WorkSource route was the only thing that actually worked for me too. Those front-line staff members often have better internal contacts than the general ESD phone lines. One thing I'd add - when you email that collections address with your OAH paperwork, make sure to also include your claim ID number and explicitly request written confirmation that the overpayment has been reversed and removed from your account. Sometimes they'll process the hold but forget to actually update the underlying debt record. Getting that confirmation in writing will save you headaches down the road if any other collection notices slip through. You're doing everything right by still including Form 8379 with your taxes as a backup. Better safe than sorry, especially with kids depending on that refund! Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience might help other parents dealing with the same bureaucratic nightmare.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. I was really worried when I got that exhausted benefits notice but now I understand there might still be options. Going to gather my wage info and file a new claim tomorrow!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation where my benefits just got exhausted and I was panicking. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key things to check are: 1) your benefit year end date, 2) any wages you earned during your claim period, and 3) whether those wages meet the 680 hours and two-quarter requirements for a new claim. Going to pull together all my employment records from the past year and see if I qualify. Really appreciate how supportive this community is - makes dealing with Washington ESD's confusing system much less overwhelming.

The phone situation is definitely frustrating but don't give up. Your unemployment benefits are important and you deserve to get the help you need. Keep trying different approaches until something works.

I feel your pain - I went through the exact same thing last month! The phone system is absolutely broken. What worked for me was calling the 833-572-8400 number right at 8am and using the rapid redial method someone mentioned. Also keep your claim number and all documents ready because when you finally get through, they'll want everything immediately. Don't give up - your benefits are worth fighting for!

Just to clarify something important about standby status that hasn't been mentioned yet: For temporary hour reductions, you can be approved for standby status for up to 8 weeks (sometimes 12 with an extension). Your employer should indicate on their response to ESD that your reduction is temporary with a specific return date. If you're denied standby, remember that job search activities can include: - Applying for positions - Creating/updating your resume - Attending job fairs (virtual counts) - Taking work-related training courses - Networking events Just make sure to document each activity fully. And don't forget that partial benefits are still subject to the weekly minimum threshold - if you earn too much in a given week, you won't receive benefits for that specific week.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago when my manufacturing job cut everyone from 40 to 32 hours. Here's what I learned that might help: First, definitely apply right away even without the official letter - you can always upload that documentation later in eServices. The waiting week means you won't get paid for your first week regardless, so don't delay. For the partial benefits calculation, it's actually not as bad as some people make it sound IF you understand the math upfront. In my case, going from 40 to 32 hours meant losing about $320/week in gross pay. My partial unemployment ended up being around $180/week, which covered more than half of what I lost. Not perfect, but it made the difference between struggling and managing. One heads up though - keep detailed records of everything. Save screenshots of your weekly claims, keep copies of any correspondence with your employer about the hours reduction, and document your job search activities thoroughly if you don't get standby status. I had to appeal something minor later and having all that paperwork saved me weeks of hassle. The process isn't fun, but for a 20% pay cut over 2-3 months, the partial benefits could genuinely help bridge that gap. Good luck!