my adjudication took 9 weeks but i got ALL the backpay at once so hang in there!! was like $6700 all at once when it finally cleared. felt like winning the lottery lol

Based on your situation, I'd recommend three immediate actions: 1. Contact your landlord proactively about the situation - many will work with you if you communicate early about a temporary delay 2. Keep detailed records of all your call attempts (dates, times, results) - this can be useful if you need to escalate your case 3. If you're truly facing imminent financial hardship (eviction, utilities shutoff), request an expedited hardship review. Call and specifically use the phrase "financial hardship expedite request" - this flags your case differently in their system While adjudication typically takes 5-7 weeks, hardship cases can sometimes be expedited. No guarantees, but it's worth attempting if you're in a dire situation.

congrats on winning!!! honestly dealing with esd is like banging your head against a wall. i was in the same boat last yr and finally got my money but took almost 3 months after the judge ruled in my favor. you have to be super persistent and call like everyday. good luck with ur new claim too!

Quick update on the process since I just helped my brother-in-law through this exact situation last month: Call 833-572-8400, choose the option for questions about an existing claim, then when asked about your specific issue, say "appeal decision payments." This should route you to the right department faster. Have your appeal decision handy - specifically the part listing which weeks you should be eligible for. They'll ask for the OAH docket number (starts with "OAH" followed by numbers) from the top right of your decision letter. The system has improved somewhat since 2024. Back payments after appeals now take about 3-4 weeks instead of 2-3 months like before. Just make sure you're very clear that you're requesting payment for weeks that were approved in your OAH decision, not regular weekly benefits.

Here's the official ESD guidance: You should file your initial claim immediately to establish your benefit year correctly. For the vacation weeks, report that you're not able and available for work when filing those weekly claims. You won't receive benefits for weeks you're unavailable, but this won't affect your overall eligibility or total benefit amount. Waiting to file your initial claim could result in losing benefits for eligible weeks before your vacation. If questioned about the vacation, simply explain it was pre-paid and arranged before your job loss - keep any receipts showing it was booked before your layoff date as documentation.

Has anyone actually tried calling ESD lately? I spent HOURS last week trying to get through. Started calling at 8am exactly when they opened and still couldn't get a human. How is OP supposed to even confirm this info if they can't reach anyone?!

Following up on my earlier comment - I think it would be helpful to understand that under WAC 192-220-017, ESD can reexamine a decision at any time if they receive new information. However, any benefits paid before a redetermination are typically only considered overpayments if there was claimant fraud or misrepresentation. In your case, since it appears to be your employer potentially contesting the claim after an initial determination, you should be entitled to continue receiving benefits during the review unless ESD specifically notifies you of a hold. Even if they eventually rule against you, you might qualify for a waiver of overpayment if you received the benefits through no fault of your own (which appears to be the case here).

btw did u use a fact finding form to respond to their new questions? make sure u fill that out SUPER detailed. my friend got denied cuz she just wrote short answers and they said she didn't provide enough info

For anyone reading this thread who's preparing for an OAH appeal: remember that the burden of proof in voluntary quit cases is on ESD, not on you. This means they must prove you voluntarily quit without good cause. In discharge cases, the burden is on the employer to prove misconduct.\n\nWhen preparing, focus on:\n1. Timeline of events with supporting documentation\n2. Contradictions in the employer's statements\n3. Any procedural errors ESD made during their investigation\n\nAlso, request your complete case file from ESD before the hearing - you have a right to see all evidence they'll present.

This is gold! I wish I'd known to request my complete case file - that would have been super helpful. I was able to point out contradictions anyway, but having their full documentation would have made it easier. One thing that really helped my case was showing the timeline of when ESD suddenly changed their determination (months after initially approving me).

This might sound weird but try checking your account late at night. For some reason my decision showed up at like 11:30 PM on a Tuesday. I think they must run some kind of batch update to the system overnight.

One thing I learned during my appeal process - the decision might not automatically trigger payments even if you win. If you win your appeal, you may need to contact ESD directly to ensure they process any back payments owed to you. In my case, I won my appeal, but had to call several times before they released my back payments for the 9 weeks I was initially denied. Just something to keep in mind once you do get your decision.

To follow up on your question about alternatives if you don't qualify for regular UI due to insufficient W-2 hours: Unfortunately, the pandemic-era programs that covered self-employed workers (PUA) have ended. If you don't qualify for regular UI, you might want to look into: 1. WorkSource job placement services 2. DSHS emergency assistance programs 3. Local workforce development programs that might offer retraining 4. Apply anyway and appeal if denied - sometimes ESD misses eligible wages in their system And yes, absolutely apply even if you're unsure about qualifying. The formal determination is necessary if you need to appeal or pursue other options.

@OP regarding the Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - yes, it definitely worked for me. It's not sketchy at all - they basically just help you navigate the ESD phone system and get placed in the callback queue properly. Once they connect you, you're talking directly with ESD. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days. The agent I got was able to explain exactly what I needed for my new claim application after my benefit year ended.

have u tried messaging ur state representative?? thats wat i did after waiting 9 wks and suddenly my claim got fixed in 3 days!! they can do something called a "legislative inquiry" that puts ur claim at the top of someones list. worth a try b4 u go thru all that job application stuff lol

I share your frustration with the system, but I'd caution against assuming the delays are due to incompetence or poor management. The reality is that ESD is dealing with an antiquated computer system that was scheduled for replacement before the pandemic hit. The claims process involves multiple verification points through different agencies and employers, and adjudication specifically means there's some discrepancy that requires human investigation. If you're serious about applying, search for "Unemployment Insurance Specialist" or "Employment Security Specialist" on careers.wa.gov. But be aware - the starting pay isn't great considering the technical knowledge required (around $22-28/hour depending on experience), and the pressure can be intense when you're dealing with people who are desperate for their benefits. In the meantime, have you tried requesting an expedite on your claim due to financial hardship? There's a specific process for this that can sometimes help.

Just to clarify based on some misinformation in this thread: 401k withdrawals are typically only counted for the week they're received. However, if you're receiving systematic/periodic payments from your retirement account (like monthly distributions), those CAN affect multiple weeks. Based on your description, you took a one-time withdrawal, which should only affect the one week. If you're concerned, check your ESD account online - look at 'Payment History' and it should show if future payments are being held or if just the one week was affected. Also, be aware that taking 401k withdrawals while on unemployment can sometimes trigger additional verification requirements, so keep an eye on your ESD messages in case they request any documentation about the withdrawal.

UPDATE: I just checked my ESD account and filed this week's claim (with no additional income to report) and it shows as 'processing' with the full benefit amount! Looks like it's just a one-week impact after all. Thanks everyone for your help and clearing this up for me. The stress was really getting to me!

Wait are holiday furloughs even eligible for unemployment? My company does this too but HR told us we shouldn't file because it's planned in advance or something. Now I'm confused if I've been missing out on benefits I could've claimed...

Update: I reopened my claim yesterday and selected "TEMPORARY LAYOFF" as everyone suggested. I made sure to enter my return-to-work date and answered "Yes" when asked if I'm returning to the same employer. The system accepted my application without any errors, so hopefully it goes through smoothly! I'll update again once I know if it gets approved or stuck in adjudication. Thanks everyone for your help!