Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to submit my CAT application this week for the Data Analytics program. I'll make sure to include job postings and labor market info as suggested. Will update this thread once I hear back from ESD about the approval. Crossing fingers!

I went through the CAT approval process for an online Computer Science program at University of Washington last year and it was approved! The key things that helped me were: 1) I included a detailed career plan showing how the degree would help me transition from my previous retail job to software development, 2) I attached job postings from local tech companies specifically asking for CS degrees, and 3) I got a letter from UW's career services showing their graduate employment rates in tech. The whole process took about 3 weeks from submission to approval. One tip - make sure you keep doing your job searches until you get the official approval letter! I almost got in trouble for stopping too early. Happy to answer any other questions about the process.

Quick update on timeline expectations: Appeals are currently taking 6-10 weeks to be scheduled with OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings). The good news is that with childcare-related "good cause" quit cases, the success rate on appeal is relatively high when properly documented. Also, an important tip: If you haven't already, you should immediately file for "continued benefits pending appeal" - there's a separate form for this on the ESD website. If approved (which is common), you can continue receiving benefits while your appeal is pending. Be aware that if you ultimately lose the appeal, these additional benefits would also need to be repaid. However, as mentioned earlier, if you win your appeal, the overpayment issue disappears entirely. And in 2025, ESD has expanded their criteria for "good cause quits" to specifically include childcare-related scheduling conflicts, which should help your case.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what a stressful situation! This exact thing happened to me about 8 months ago. ESD deposited over $3,000 and then denied my claim the next week. I was terrified about having to pay it back immediately. Here's what I learned: You have rights in this situation! First, definitely file that appeal ASAP - you have 30 days from the denial letter date. Second, you can request a waiver of the overpayment if repaying would cause financial hardship (which it sounds like it would). There's a specific form for this on the ESD website. The fact that you have documentation showing your employer changed your schedule knowing about your childcare constraints is HUGE for your case. That's exactly the kind of "good cause" scenario that often wins on appeal. Keep all those emails and texts organized chronologically. One thing that really helped me was writing out a clear timeline before my hearing - dates, what happened, who said what. It made it much easier to explain my situation clearly to the judge. Hang in there - this process is awful but you're not powerless here. The fact that you acted in good faith and have documentation supporting your case puts you in a much better position than you might think right now.

Just wanted to add that if you're really struggling to reach Washington ESD for questions, that Claimyr service people mentioned actually worked for me too. Used it to clarify some stuff about my job search requirements and got through in like 20 minutes instead of wasting my whole day trying to call.

Just want to emphasize what others have said - don't wait to file your appeal! I made the mistake of trying to gather "perfect" documentation before submitting and almost missed the 30-day deadline. You can always add more evidence later, but once that deadline passes, you're out of luck. File the basic appeal first, then work on strengthening your case. Washington ESD is very strict about those timelines and won't make exceptions for almost any reason.

Last thought - consider consulting with an employment attorney before you quit. Many offer free consultations and can tell you if your situation likely qualifies for good cause. Better to know upfront than find out after you've already quit.

Just went through this exact situation myself. The combination of harassment and significant hour cuts you're describing could definitely qualify as good cause, but you absolutely need to document everything first. Start keeping a detailed log of every incident - dates, times, what was said/done, any witnesses present. Save all emails and texts related to the schedule changes. Most importantly, you need to show Washington ESD that you tried to resolve these issues before quitting. Even if your company doesn't have HR, document any conversations you've had with your supervisor or the owner about these problems. If you haven't formally complained yet, do that first and keep records of their response (or lack thereof). The adjudication process can take several weeks, so make sure you have some savings to cover that gap. But don't let the bureaucracy stop you from protecting your wellbeing if the situation is truly toxic.

One more thing worth mentioning - make sure you fully understand the potential impact on your benefits if you refuse any additional hours your employer might occasionally offer. If you're receiving partial unemployment and your employer offers you extra hours for a particular week (even if it's still less than your original 40), refusing those hours could potentially be considered refusing suitable work. This is why clear communication with both your employer and ESD is crucial. Document everything, including conversations about your reduced schedule. If your employer ever offers you additional hours that you can't work for some reason, make sure to have valid reasons documented. I'd also recommend checking out WorkSource Washington's workshops - some of them actually count toward your job search activities and can help you understand the partial unemployment process better.

Hey Benjamin! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my hours got slashed from 35 to 18. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. Apply ASAP - partial unemployment claims can take 2-3 weeks to process, so don't wait 2. When you file your weekly claims, be super precise about your hours and earnings. I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking every hour worked and every dollar earned before taxes 3. For job searches, online applications through Indeed/LinkedIn count, attending virtual job fairs counts, and even networking calls with former colleagues count as long as you document them properly 4. Get a letter from your employer NOW stating they reduced your hours due to business needs (not your request). This will save you headaches later if ESD questions anything The partial benefits won't replace your full paycheck, but every bit helps when you're trying to keep up with bills. In my case, I got about $240/week in partial benefits which covered my car payment and part of rent. One last tip - set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Paper checks take forever and you don't want payment delays when money's already tight. Good luck!