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Based on everything you've shared, it sounds like there's an identity verification or employer separation issue that's not being displayed properly in your account. This is unfortunately common with ESD's system. Since you mentioned severance pay, that could absolutely be triggering the disqualifications if the system thinks you're still receiving it. When you do get through to an agent, ask them specifically to check for: 1. Any identity verification holds 2. How your severance was processed in the system 3. Whether your employer contested the claim 4. If there are any adjudication issues not displaying in your account Request that they send you any pending questionnaires or forms immediately while you're on the phone. Also ask them to check if you have any "able and available" issues flagged on your weekly claims.
I'm going through something very similar right now! Got approved in September but every weekly claim shows "disqualified" with zero explanation. I've been calling ESD for weeks with no luck getting through. One thing I noticed - when I log into eServices and look at my weekly claims, there's sometimes a tiny "i" icon next to the disqualified status that you have to hover over to see additional info. It's super easy to miss, but it might give you a clue about what's causing the disqualification. Also, have you tried reaching out to your local WorkSource office? They sometimes have direct lines to ESD or can help escalate cases. I'm planning to visit mine in person this week since the phone system is basically useless. Keep us posted on what you find out - dealing with this while unemployed is so stressful!
OMG yes, I'm so glad I'm not alone in this! I just went back and checked for that "i" icon you mentioned - I totally missed it before but there it is! When I hover over it, it just says "eligibility issue under review" which is still super vague but at least it's SOMETHING. I hadn't thought about visiting WorkSource in person - that's a great idea! There's one about 20 minutes from me, so I might try that this week too. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some real answers. It really is incredibly stressful dealing with this while unemployed. The uncertainty is almost worse than just being denied outright. Please keep me posted on what you find out at WorkSource, and I'll do the same! Fingers crossed we both get some resolution soon.
I really appreciate all this information! I just filed my back weeks and set a calendar reminder to file every Sunday morning from now on. Such a relief to understand how this all works now. Thank you everyone for your help!
Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone going through this process - make sure to check your bank account or debit card balance regularly after filing your first weekly claim. Sometimes there can be small test deposits or the full payment might arrive earlier than expected. Also, if you're using direct deposit, double-check that your routing and account numbers are entered correctly in eServices. I've seen people wait weeks for payments only to discover they had one digit wrong in their bank info. The system won't always notify you immediately if there's a problem with your payment method, so it's worth verifying everything is set up properly before you expect that first payment to hit your account.
I'm dealing with something similar right now! My claim has been showing "disqualified" for 3 weeks but I got an approval letter for my separation issue. Turns out I also had an identity verification requirement that I completely missed because it was buried in the online messages. One thing that helped me was setting up text notifications through eServices - you can get alerts when new messages are posted to your account. It's under the "Contact Preferences" section. That way you won't miss any document requests or updates like I almost did. Also, when you upload your identity documents, make sure the images are super clear and all four corners of each document are visible. I had to resubmit mine because my first photos were too blurry. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what the status says online! The system really is that confusing but everyone here is right - you'll get back pay for all the weeks you filed once everything gets sorted out.
This is such great advice about the text notifications! I had no idea that feature existed. I just went and set it up - hopefully that will help me catch any future messages right away instead of potentially missing them like you did. Your point about making sure the document photos are crystal clear is really helpful too. I was just about to upload some quick phone photos but now I'll make sure to take my time and get really good quality images with all corners visible. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's amazing how many people have dealt with this exact same confusing situation with ESD's system!
I just went through this exact same thing 2 months ago! My online status showed "disqualified" for almost 6 weeks even though I had gotten approval letters for some issues. It turns out ESD's system is just really bad at showing partial approvals - it defaults to the most restrictive status until EVERYTHING is cleared. Here's what I learned: 1) Keep filing weekly no matter what the online status says, 2) Check your online messages religiously because they often put time-sensitive requests there, 3) Save/screenshot every single document and letter you get, and 4) Be patient because each issue gets resolved separately. The identity verification you found is probably the main thing holding up your payments now. Once that's processed (usually 1-2 weeks), your status should flip to approved and you'll get all your back pay. The system really is this confusing for everyone - you're not alone in feeling frustrated by the mixed messages!
Yes! I finally got through to ESD yesterday. Turns out they just needed to verify there was no overlap between my previous claim and some part-time work I did last fall. I uploaded my paystubs from that job showing the exact dates, and they told me my payments won't be interrupted while they review. What a relief!
Glad to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else dealing with this - the key is really just being proactive and responsive. I went through something similar a few months ago and the anxiety was terrible, but once I understood what they actually needed it was much simpler than I thought. The ESD staff are generally helpful once you can reach them, they just have to follow their verification procedures. Don't panic if you get one of these requests - just gather your documents and respond quickly!
This is such good advice! I'm new to this community and dealing with unemployment stuff for the first time. Reading through this whole thread has been so helpful - it's reassuring to see that these verification requests are pretty routine and that people do get through them successfully. I'm going to save some of the tips mentioned here (like labeling documents clearly) just in case I run into something similar. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
Genevieve Cavalier
Absolutely, knowing the timing helps with budgeting and planning
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NebulaNinja
I've been on unemployment for about 3 months now and can confirm the timing is very consistent. I have US Bank and my deposits always show up between 2-4 AM on Tuesday morning. The only time it was different was during Memorial Day weekend when it came a day later due to the holiday. Washington ESD is actually pretty reliable with their payment schedule once you get used to the routine.
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