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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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prob just need to wait longer. i know its stressful but the system is slow. keep filing weekly claims tho
I'll keep filing and try to be patient. This thread has been really helpful - thanks everyone!
I'm a newcomer here and going through the exact same thing! Filed my claim about a week ago and the uncertainty is driving me crazy. Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring - sounds like this is totally normal and I just need to be more patient. I'm definitely going to check my spam folder and the correspondence section in my account like people suggested. Thanks for asking this question Mohammed, I was too nervous to post but needed these answers too!
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Pro tip: if you get denied for any reason, appeal immediately. Don't wait. The appeal deadlines are strict and you can't get benefits while waiting for an appeal hearing if you miss the deadline.
How long do appeal hearings typically take to schedule?
Usually 4-6 weeks to get a hearing date, but it varies. They're pretty backlogged right now.
The reality is that unemployment benefits aren't designed to fully replace your income. They're meant to provide temporary assistance while you look for work. Most people need to make significant budget adjustments to make it work.
Start planning those cuts now, even before you file. It's easier to adjust gradually than all at once when you're stressed about money.
Exactly this. I made the mistake of not adjusting my spending until after I filed and it was a shock to the system. Unemployment is really just a bridge, not a replacement income. Start identifying what expenses are truly essential vs nice-to-have right now while you still have time to plan.
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I just got off the phone with ESD (finally!) and the agent told me they're aware of widespread issues with both the phone system and website errors. She confirmed they can help file missed weekly claims over the phone and that they're prioritizing cases where people have been unable to file due to technical issues. She also mentioned that if you get the WS-839 error specifically, you should try the eServices mobile app instead of the website - apparently it's using a different server that isn't as overloaded. For the original poster: Based on what the agent told me, I'd recommend documenting every time you've tried to call (dates and times) and keeping screenshots of any website errors. This will help them verify you've been making good faith efforts to file.
I didn't even know there WAS a mobile app! Is it new? Where do you download it from?
It's fairly new - launched in January 2025. Search for "WA ESD eServices" in your app store. Not all features work yet, but weekly claims filing does. Make sure you download the official one from Washington State.
Just wanted to share my experience from this week - I finally got through using a combination of the advice here! I called the technical support number (888-316-5066) that @Melina Haruko mentioned at exactly 8:00am, used the menu sequence 4-1-2-1 that @Pedro Sawyer shared, and only waited about 35 minutes. The agent was super helpful and filed my three missed weeks on the spot. Also tried the mobile app suggestion - it worked way better than the website! No more WS-839 errors. For anyone still struggling, definitely try downloading "WA ESD eServices" from the app store first before dealing with the phone system. Thanks everyone for all the tips - this community is a lifesaver when the official systems are failing us!
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This whole thread has been super helpful. I'm in a similar situation and didn't realize there were so many factors to consider. Going to start documenting things better and maybe try that Claimyr service to get some official guidance from ESD.
Glad it's helpful for you too! It's good to know I'm not the only one dealing with this kind of situation.
Yeah definitely try Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD. Makes the whole process so much easier.
I went through this exact situation about 18 months ago. The key thing that helped me get approved was keeping a detailed log - I wrote down every incident with dates, times, what was said/done, and who witnessed it. I also saved any emails or texts that showed the pattern of behavior. When I finally quit and applied for benefits, I had a 3-page timeline that clearly showed the escalating harassment. It took about 4 weeks for approval but having that documentation made all the difference. Start building your paper trail now, even if you're not sure you'll quit - you can always decide not to use it later.
This is really helpful advice! A 3-page timeline sounds like exactly what I need to be putting together. I've been hesitant to start documenting because it feels like I'm planning to quit, but you're right that I can always choose not to use it. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Did you include anything else besides the incident log, or was that timeline the main piece of evidence that convinced them?
Noland Curtis
Congratulations on getting your refund! This is such a helpful update for anyone else going through this process. The 7-week timeline seems pretty consistent with what others have reported. It's good to know they provided a detailed statement with the check too - that transparency helps a lot when dealing with ESD. Thanks for coming back to share the outcome, especially since so many people are dealing with similar waiver/refund situations right now.
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Mei Liu
•This is such great news and really helpful for everyone following this thread! I'm dealing with a similar overpayment situation right now and was feeling pretty anxious about the whole process. Your detailed update gives me hope that things will actually work out. The 7-week timeline and the fact that they provided a clear statement with the refund check is really reassuring. Thanks for taking the time to come back and share the positive outcome - it means a lot to those of us still waiting to hear back on our waivers!
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NightOwl42
This is such a relief to read all these updates! I'm currently going through the exact same situation - got my waiver approved two weeks ago after paying back about $2,800 of a $5,200 overpayment. The waiting and uncertainty has been really stressful, especially with all the conflicting information online. Seeing that most people did get their refunds within 6-8 weeks (even if ESD's communication is terrible) gives me hope. I'll definitely keep all my documentation and watch for that paper check. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decode ESD's confusing letters!
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Chloe Green
•I'm so glad this thread exists too! I just started the waiver application process last week after getting hit with an $8,400 overpayment notice. Haven't made any payments yet while I wait to hear back, but reading everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring. It sounds like even though ESD's communication is awful, they do eventually follow through on approved waivers and refunds. The 6-8 week timeline seems pretty consistent across everyone's stories. Fingers crossed for both of us that our waivers get approved! This whole process is so stressful but at least we know there's light at the end of the tunnel.
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