I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Got terminated yesterday for "unsatisfactory performance" but it came just two weeks after I raised concerns about our workplace not providing proper safety equipment. I've been there 16 months with consistently good reviews until suddenly last month they started nitpicking everything I did. The timing is way too suspicious. Reading all these responses has been so helpful - I honestly thought being fired meant I was automatically out of luck for unemployment benefits. It's really encouraging to see that Washington ESD actually investigates these cases properly and doesn't just rubber stamp whatever the employer claims. I'm definitely going to file my claim first thing Monday morning and make sure to document everything about the safety equipment issues I reported. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's giving me the courage to fight this instead of just accepting it!

Reading through all these stories really hits home for me. I just went through something similar last month - got fired for "attitude problems" right after I started asking questions about unpaid overtime and meal break violations. Been with the company for 2.5 years and suddenly I'm a "problem employee"? The whole thing felt like retaliation but I was scared to file for unemployment because I thought being fired automatically disqualified me. After seeing everyone's experiences here, I finally filed my claim and just heard back from Washington ESD - they approved it! My former employer tried to contest it claiming I was insubordinate, but ESD saw right through it when they looked at the timeline of my questions about wage violations versus when I suddenly became a "poor performer." For anyone hesitating about filing - just do it! The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised. Document everything and be honest about any workplace issues you reported. Washington ESD really does investigate fairly and they know how to spot employer retaliation patterns.

My sister had an overpayment of around $22k after the pandemic benefits ended. She won her appeal saying she wasn't at fault but still got stuck with the bill. She ended up having to set up a payment plan for like $50/month which basically means she'll be paying it forever. The whole system is ridiculous! By the way, has anybody tried contacting their state representatives about this stuff? I've heard sometimes they can help push things along with ESD?

I went through something very similar and it's absolutely maddening! What helped me was understanding that ESD has this bizarre two-track system - the appeal process determines fault/fraud, while the waiver process is purely about financial ability to repay. They're completely separate even though it makes no logical sense. A few things that made a difference in my case: - I got my state senator's office involved (seriously, call them!) - I resubmitted my waiver with way more documentation than I thought was necessary - Most importantly, I found out there's a difference between the standard waiver review and requesting a "conference" where you can actually speak to a decision-maker The conference option isn't well-publicized but you can request it in your appeal. Having someone actually listen to your situation rather than just reviewing paperwork on a checklist made all the difference for me. Also, make sure you're appealing the waiver denial and not just the overpayment itself - sounds like you might be mixing up the processes which is super easy to do since ESD doesn't explain any of this clearly. Don't give up! The system is designed to be confusing and exhausting, but persistence does pay off eventually.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to get through for 2 weeks about my claim being stuck in pending status. I've tried calling at 8 AM sharp, using the callback feature that Nina mentioned, and even the employer services transfer trick that Grace suggested. The callback option is actually under the main menu - you have to listen through all the prompts and it's option 6 or 7 I think. Got a callback after 3 days but then got disconnected when they tried to transfer me to the right department! So frustrating. I'm going to try Taylor's suggestion about the Contact Us form on the website today. Also planning to visit my local WorkSource office this week if that doesn't work. This whole system is such a mess - how are people supposed to pay rent when legitimate claims get stuck for weeks over "system anomalies"? Hang in there James, we'll get through this somehow!

I'm in a very similar situation and have been following this thread closely! After reading everyone's suggestions, I decided to try a combination approach yesterday. I called the Spanish line that Evelyn mentioned at exactly 8:00 AM, got through to someone in about 20 minutes, and they transferred me to an English-speaking agent who was incredibly helpful. Turns out my "able and available" flag was also triggered by what they called a "routine system review" - basically random quality control that had nothing to do with my actual answers. The agent cleared it while I was on the phone and said my payments should resume within 24-48 hours. For anyone still struggling, I really recommend the Spanish line transfer method - it seems to be the most reliable way to actually reach a human being. The key is being polite and explaining that you need English assistance when they answer. Don't give up everyone, there are real people there who want to help once you can actually reach them!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! Called right at 8:00 AM and only had to wait about 45 minutes. The agent confirmed exactly what everyone here said - when they closed my first claim and opened the new one, my wage data didn't transfer correctly. She said she can see all my Washington wages in the system, and she can also see that Louisiana had already reported my wages there (they were in the system but not attached to my new claim). She's escalated my case to a claims specialist who can manually reattach all my wage data to the current claim. Should be fixed within 5-7 business days. I'm still going to file that appeal just to be safe, but at least someone is working on fixing the issue now. Thanks everyone for your advice and support!

So glad you were able to get through and get someone to actually help you! This gives me hope for my own situation. I'm dealing with a similar wage transfer issue right now - they approved my initial claim but then reopened it for "additional review" and now I can't get any information about what's happening. Quick question - when you called at 8 AM, did you use the general customer service number or is there a specific number for combined wage claims? I've been calling the main line but wondering if there's a more direct route. Thanks for sharing your success story and keeping us updated!

I'm about 9 days into waiting after being laid off from my office job, and this entire discussion has been such a lifesaver! I was getting really worried seeing my claim stuck on "processing" status, but reading everyone's real experiences shows that's totally normal for the 2-3 week timeline. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims even though nothing's approved yet - seems like that's the most critical thing based on what everyone keeps emphasizing. Also got my direct deposit set up from day one and just completed my WorkSource registration after seeing all the advice about doing that early. The specific timelines people like Aisha shared (18 days for approval) are so much more helpful than the vague official information. It's really reassuring to see so many people in similar situations who made it through successfully. Thanks to everyone for sharing your actual experiences - makes this whole stressful process feel much more manageable!

I applied about 10 days ago, now my status just says active. Above that is a weekly benefit amount. Can anyone tell me what this means? I filed last week, my dead week. This is my first time, so I have no idea what this means.