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I went through something similar last year when I had to travel for a family emergency. Here's what worked for me: I called WorkSource about 3 weeks before my trip and explained the situation. They were actually pretty understanding and let me reschedule my RESEA appointment for after I returned. The key is calling them well in advance and having a legitimate reason. Don't just no-show! Also, when you reopen your claim after travel, make sure to document the exact dates you were unavailable for work. I kept receipts from my trip just in case they asked for proof later. The waiting week when you restart is annoying but it's standard procedure. Good luck!
This is really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it! Three weeks advance notice seems like a good timeline - I'm calling them tomorrow which gives me about 6 weeks notice, so hopefully that's even better. Did they ask you for any documentation when you called to reschedule, or was just explaining the situation enough? And good tip about keeping receipts from the trip - I hadn't thought about needing proof later but that makes total sense.
I've been through a similar situation and want to emphasize what others have said - definitely contact WorkSource ASAP! I had to travel unexpectedly last summer and called them about 4 weeks before my scheduled RESEA appointment. They were able to reschedule it without any issues. The agent I spoke with said they get requests like this fairly often and can accommodate them as long as you call in advance rather than just not showing up. When I called, I just explained that I had pre-planned travel and wouldn't be available, and they rescheduled me for about a week after I returned. No documentation was required over the phone, just a clear explanation of why I couldn't make the original date. For the weekly claims, you're absolutely right not to file while you're unavailable for work - that would be fraud. The inactive claim situation is manageable, just budget for that gap in payments when you return. The whole process of reopening took me about a week once I was back and ready to job search again.
This is exactly what I needed to hear - thank you for sharing your experience! It's so reassuring to know that they actually do accommodate these situations when you call ahead. I was really stressed about this but now I feel much more confident about calling them tomorrow. A week to reopen the claim doesn't sound too bad either. I really appreciate everyone's advice on this thread - this community has been so helpful!
I went through this exact same situation last year! ESD made a misconduct determination without ever contacting my employer too. It's incredibly frustrating but definitely fixable. Here's what saved me time: 1. File your appeal ONLINE immediately - don't mail it, the online system is faster 2. In the appeal, be very specific that your employer disputes the misconduct finding 3. Have your HR manager write a detailed letter explaining the actual reason for separation (layoff, position elimination, etc.) 4. Request your complete personnel file from HR - this shows your work history and any disciplinary actions (or lack thereof) The good news is that having your HR manager willing to represent you puts you in a much stronger position than most people. Most employers don't want to deal with unemployment hearings, so having someone from your company actively supporting your case is huge. One thing I learned: ESD sometimes defaults to "misconduct" when they don't receive employer information within their timeframe, even if that's not what actually happened. Your appeal hearing will be much more thorough than their initial determination process. Keep filing your weekly claims while you appeal - this is crucial for getting backpay if you win!
This is exactly what I needed to hear - thank you so much! I'm going to file the appeal online today and get that letter from HR. It's reassuring to know that having HR support makes such a big difference. I was really worried this would drag on forever, but it sounds like with the right documentation it should be resolvable. Definitely going to keep up with my weekly claims too!
I had this exact same issue happen to me in December! ESD denied me for "misconduct" when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. My employer never even got contacted by ESD either - it's like they just pick random reasons sometimes. Here's what worked for me: I filed my appeal online the same day I got the denial letter, and I had my former supervisor write a letter on company letterhead stating I was laid off, not fired for misconduct. The letter specifically said "This employee was not terminated for misconduct" and explained the actual reason (workforce reduction in my case). The appeal hearing was scheduled about a month later, and it was pretty straightforward. The judge asked my supervisor a few questions, looked at the documentation, and overturned ESD's decision immediately. I got all my backpay for the weeks I had filed claims during the appeal process. Having your HR manager willing to represent you is amazing - most people don't have that kind of support. Make sure she has all the details about your separation and can speak to your work performance. You're in a really good position to win this appeal! Also, definitely keep filing those weekly claims. I almost stopped filing because I thought there was no point, but thankfully someone on here told me to keep going. Would have lost thousands in backpay otherwise.
I've been dealing with similar issues all morning! What worked for me was switching to mobile data instead of WiFi - seems like the security system might be flagging certain IP ranges. Also, if you're still having trouble, try accessing the site through the mobile app if you have it downloaded. The app seems to handle their server load better than the web version. Hope this helps and glad to see others were able to get through!
That's a great tip about switching to mobile data! I never would have thought about IP ranges being flagged. I don't have the mobile app but I'll definitely download it for next time. It's so helpful when people share these workarounds - saves us all so much frustration when the system goes down again!
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm feeling much more confident about taking this part-time job and still collecting partial benefits. This thread has been super helpful.
I've been in a similar situation and can share what I learned from experience. In Washington state, there's no specific hour limit - it's all about your weekly earnings compared to your weekly benefit amount. You can work part-time and still receive partial unemployment benefits as long as your gross weekly earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount plus $5. So if your weekly benefit is $350, you could earn up to $355 before losing benefits completely. With your offer of 15 hours at $18/hour ($270 per week), you should still qualify for partial benefits. The key is to report ALL your work hours and gross earnings accurately on your weekly claim - even if it's just one hour. Washington ESD will automatically calculate your partial benefit amount. Also remember you still need to be available for full-time work and continue your job search activities. Don't let fear of losing benefits prevent you from taking work - the system is designed to encourage part-time employment while you search for full-time work.
Bruno Simmons
my cousin works for the militarey and he said they have a special number u can call for this stuff. did u try the military support line?
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Teresa Boyd
•I didn't know there was a special number for military-related ESD issues. Do you know what it is? That could be really helpful.
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Bruno Simmons
•i dont have it sry but maybe check the esd website under military section?
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
I just went through this exact same issue last month! As a veteran myself, I can confirm that using 12/31/2099 is absolutely the right approach. I was initially hesitant too because it felt weird entering a "fake" date, but when I finally got through to ESD (took forever), the representative assured me this is their standard procedure for military IDs. One tip - take a screenshot of your completed application showing that date, just in case you need to reference it later if they ask any questions during processing. My claim went through without any issues and I never heard anything more about the expiration date. Also, if you're a military spouse like me, make sure you have both your military ID and your spouse's military documentation handy in case they need additional verification. Sometimes they ask for proof of your spouse's service status to confirm your dependent ID is valid. Good luck with your claim! The 2099 date trick definitely works.
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