this happened to me last year it took 10 WEEKS to get my money!!! the whole time my bills were piling up and i almost got evicted. i finally went in person to a WorkSource office and cried to them and magically my claim got fixed the next day. try going in person if u can

Just following up - were you able to get through using any of the suggestions? One more thing I forgot to mention is that if you have any job separation issues (like if you quit or were fired rather than laid off), that almost always triggers a longer review period. Did you file your initial claim with any special circumstances?

wait so did you say you got severance? if you got severance you have to report that and it might delay when your benefits start. i think you have to use up the severance first before unemployment kicks in? someone correct me if im wrong

One more thing - make sure you appeal if they try to take more than 50% of your benefits for the overpayment. I've seen cases where the system automatically sets it higher but you have the right to request the standard 50% offset.

anybody else notice ESD always seems to take FOREVER to give you YOUR money back but if THEY think you owe THEM they want it back like yesterday?? 🙄

Update for everyone in this thread: ESD recently changed their overpayment refund process in January 2025. Previously, refunds over $1500 were automatically split into multiple payments for "system processing reasons." Under the new system, refunds should come as a single payment unless different weeks of eligibility are being processed separately. The OP's case sounds like it's still under the old system OR involves weeks being handled by different departments (regular UI vs. extended benefits, for example). For reference, the standard processing time for the remainder of split refunds is now officially 21 business days from the first payment, though it can be faster.

wait are we supposed to do job searches on christmas week too??? i thought holidays meant we didnt have to do those??

Just for future reference (and for anyone else reading this thread later), ESD actually posts their holiday payment schedules on their website usually about 2-3 weeks before each major holiday. You can find it under "Announcements" on the main dashboard after you log in. It's not always prominent, but it's there if you look for it. I just checked my account and they haven't posted the Christmas 2025 schedule yet, but based on past years, Monday the 23rd is almost certainly when payments will process. I've been through four holiday seasons on unemployment (unfortunately) and they've been very consistent with this pattern.

I just left my sick leave payment off my taxes completely. if the IRS wants it they can come get it lol. seriously though, if ESD doesn't issue a tax form and they're the ones who told you it's not taxable, i think you're fine. the IRS has bigger fish to fry than chasing people for taxes on state sick leave benefits that might not even be taxable in the first place.

For anyone still confused: 1. Washington PFML has TWO components: Medical Leave (sick leave) and Family Leave 2. Family Leave = taxable federally (you'll get a 1099-G) 3. Medical Leave (sick leave) = NOT taxable federally (no 1099-G issued) 4. If you received both types, you'll only get a 1099-G for the Family Leave portion 5. Keep your payment statements from ESD showing which type you received There's also a detailed explanation in ESD's FAQ section that covers this exact question.

Something important that hasn't been mentioned yet: taking this medical billing course might actually help your job search requirements. If you correctly document your course participation, it could potentially count as one of your job search activities in certain weeks. \n\nAccording to ESD guidelines, \

Wow, I didn't know the course could potentially count as a job search activity! That's really helpful. I'll definitely keep detailed documentation of everything. Thanks for the tip!

One strategy to consider: If you're nearing the end of your benefit year and have several weeks of entitlement remaining, you might want to avoid taking short-term work that would only disqualify you for a week or two. Sometimes it's financially better to continue collecting your full benefit rather than earning just slightly more for a short period and losing those weeks of entitlement. Of course, this depends on your specific situation and the job opportunity. Long-term employment is always the goal, but it's worth doing the math for short-term gigs.

my neighbor said something about a "claim extension" when you use up your regular UI? is that still a thing in 2025?

This definitely sounds like the waiting week situation others have mentioned. The first week you claim is a waiting week that you don't get paid for (it's basically ESD's way of ensuring you're truly unemployed before benefits start). It's completely normal for that week to show as "disqualified" because technically you aren't eligible for payment that specific week, even though your overall claim might be approved. Keep filing your weekly claims and make absolutely sure you're reporting 3 job search activities each week. If you don't meet the job search requirements, your benefits can be denied even if you're otherwise eligible. If you need actual clarification from ESD directly, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an ESD agent. Regular phone calls almost never get through, but I used Claimyr when I had a similar issue and actually talked to someone who fixed my claim. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Saved me hours of busy signals and hangups.

Update: Thank you all for the helpful advice! I went back and checked my weekly claim filing and realized I did mess up two things - I answered "no" to being able and available for work (I misunderstood the question) AND I didn't report any job searches. I've now started properly documenting my job searches (applied for 4 positions already) and will make sure to answer all questions correctly for this week's claim. I'll keep filing weekly claims while waiting for my determination letter. Is there any way to correct last week's form, or is that just a lost week now?

im still having this problem after trying everything in this thread. any other ideas? my rent is due on monday and i need to make sure my payment is processing

It sounds like the ESD system is experiencing another round of authentication issues. This happens periodically, especially after they do system updates (which they typically do at month-end). If you need to file a weekly claim and can't access the online system, remember you can also file by phone using the automated system at 800-318-6022. You won't be able to check your claim status this way, but at least you can submit your weekly claim to prevent payment delays. For those who got in using incognito mode - that works for some people because it bypasses stored cookies that might be causing conflicts. For others, incognito prevents necessary cookies from being saved, which is why you get contradictory advice about it. If you're consistently locked out after trying all technical solutions, it usually indicates an account-specific issue that only an ESD agent can resolve. Unfortunately, reaching them by phone is the only option in those cases.

When I was stuck waiting for an adjudication decision, calling ESD directly helped speed things up. But good luck actually getting through to them! I spent days trying to call before using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an agent. They have a video demo (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3) that shows how it works. The service connected me to an ESD rep who could see exactly where my claim was stuck and got it moving again. Regarding your employer appeal question - yes, they can appeal, but they need to have valid grounds (proving actual misconduct), not just disagreeing with ESD's decision. I went through an appeal hearing last year, and it was intimidating but fair. The Administrative Law Judge was very thorough in reviewing all evidence.

One last bit of advice - document EVERYTHING. If your claim is approved and your employer appeals, you'll want copies of all communications, especially anything that contradicts what they might claim about your separation. Also, if you do end up with an OAH hearing, prepare thoroughly. Review all the documentation they send you beforehand, write out your key points, and be ready to clearly explain your side. The hearings are relatively formal but fair - the judges want to get to the truth. And a positive note: in my observation, ESD's initial determinations are upheld in the majority of appeal cases, especially when they've done a thorough adjudication process like they seem to be doing in your case.