The whole process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Just file online, do your weekly claims, and keep looking for work. The hardest part is usually just getting through to them if you have questions!

Based on your $4,200 monthly income, you should qualify for close to the maximum weekly benefit in Washington. The calculation uses your highest quarter earnings from your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). With that income level, you're probably looking at around $800-950 per week, depending on how your wages were distributed across quarters. The 2025 maximum is $999/week. Just be prepared for the process to take some time - my claim took about 3 weeks to get fully processed and approved.

another option is just find another job asap. took me like 2 weeks to find something when this happened to me. faster than dealing with all the unemployment stuff tbh

I went through a very similar situation two years ago when my mother had a heart attack in the Philippines. Initially got denied, but won my appeal after 3 months. Here's what worked for me: The judge really focused on whether I made a "reasonable effort" to keep my job before quitting. Your text to your boss asking for emergency leave is actually really valuable evidence - print screenshots with timestamps! What helped my case: - Showed the emergency was truly unforeseeable (stroke definitely qualifies) - Proved I tried to work with my employer first (your text messages) - Documented that I had no choice but to leave immediately - Kept detailed records of trying to return to work One thing to add to your appeal packet: if your father's condition required specific family coordination that only you could handle (like being the only English speaker, having medical power of attorney, etc.), document that too. It shows why remote work or delayed travel weren't realistic options. Also, restaurant management experience should make you pretty marketable for quick employment while you wait for the appeal decision. Don't let this stress consume you - you have a legitimate case and good documentation to support it!

Bottom line: yes, they contact employers, but it's a normal part of the process. Don't let worry about that stop you from filing if you're eligible. Unemployment benefits exist for exactly this situation.

I just wanted to add that if you're really concerned about the timing, you might want to consider giving your former employer a brief heads up that you're filing. Something simple like "I wanted to let you know I'll be filing for unemployment benefits, so you may receive paperwork from Washington ESD in the next few days." It's not required, but it can help avoid any confusion on their end and shows professionalism. Most employers appreciate the courtesy, and it might actually make the whole process feel less awkward for you.

I waited 5 months for my refund and then they only sent half of what they owed me! Had to go through the whole process again for the rest. The trick is to be super persistent. Call every week and keep detailed notes of who you talked to and what they said. Eventually you'll get someone who knows what they're doing.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Got my waiver approval letter two weeks ago after already paying back $1,850 over 6 months. Like others have mentioned, the letter doesn't say anything about refunds which is really frustrating. Based on all the helpful advice in this thread, I'm planning to: 1. Call first thing Monday morning to request the "Refund Request Ticket" that @Sophie Footman mentioned 2. Ask about the RRF-2025 form that @Brooklyn Knight found out about 3. Have all my payment receipts and bank statements ready It's really disappointing that we have to jump through so many hoops to get our own money back, especially when we were being responsible by making payments in the first place. I'll definitely update here with my progress - this thread has been super valuable for understanding what to expect. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my local legislator's office. If you've been waiting over 6 weeks for document verification, you can contact your state representative or senator's office for help. They have caseworkers who can directly contact ESD on your behalf and sometimes get faster results. I reached out to my rep's office last week after 7 weeks of waiting, and they said they've been getting tons of calls about ESD delays. They submitted an inquiry for me and said they usually hear back within 1-2 weeks. It's worth a shot since the normal channels clearly aren't working. You can find your legislator's contact info on the Washington State Legislature website. Also, document everything - dates you uploaded docs, confirmation numbers, all your attempts to contact ESD. The caseworker asked for a timeline of everything I'd tried so far.

I've been waiting 6 weeks for document verification myself, so I completely understand your frustration! What worked for me was a combination approach - I contacted my state rep's office (like Keisha mentioned) AND used the Claimyr service to actually get through to ESD by phone. The legislator's office inquiry seemed to put some pressure on ESD, and when I finally got through to a claims specialist via Claimyr, they were able to see that my case had been flagged for review. My documents were approved 3 days later. One thing I learned - the regular customer service reps literally cannot access the document verification queue, so calling the main line is pretty much useless. You need to get transferred to someone in the claims department who can actually see what's happening with your docs. Also, definitely try the hardship expedite request that Diego mentioned if you have shutoff notices or eviction threats. Having that documentation on file can sometimes bump you up in the queue. Hang in there - it will eventually get resolved, but I know how stressful the waiting is when bills are piling up!