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Update: I managed to get through to ESD yesterday! The agent confirmed that properly structured SUB Program payments under Revenue Ruling 90-72 are NOT reportable as income for UI purposes in Washington State. However, she emphasized that the program must meet all the requirements: 1. Payments can't be in a lump sum 2. Payments must be linked to UI eligibility 3. The program must be properly registered with the state She advised me to get written confirmation from my employer that their program meets these criteria and to keep it for my records. She also noted this in my claim file. Thank you all for your help! For anyone else facing this situation, definitely try to get an official answer directly from ESD rather than relying on secondhand information.
Thats great! How did you actually reach someone? I've been trying to call about a different issue for 2 weeks and can never get through!
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Didn't want to spend the money at first but after wasting hours trying to get through on my own, it was worth it. Got connected to an actual claims specialist in about 25 minutes who knew what SUB programs were. Definitely ask for a tier 2 agent if you call - the first-level reps might not be familiar with these specialized programs.
Thanks for sharing your update! This is really helpful for others who might face the same situation. I'm glad you were able to get official confirmation from ESD directly - that's exactly what I would have recommended. Your experience highlights how important it is to get answers straight from the source rather than relying on conflicting information from different representatives. The fact that the agent noted it in your claim file is huge - that documentation could save you a lot of headaches if any questions come up during a future audit or review. For anyone else reading this thread, Anastasia's approach is the gold standard: get written confirmation from your employer about the program structure, get official guidance from ESD (preferably documented), and keep everything for your records. SUB programs are uncommon enough that not all reps will be familiar with them, so persistence in reaching the right person really pays off.
Good luck! The waiting is definitely the worst part of this whole process. Once you actually talk to someone it usually gets resolved pretty quickly.
Hang in there! I know it's stressful but you'll get through this. The adjudication process sucks but most people do get approved eventually if they qualified for benefits in the first place.
Definitely! The vast majority of adjudications get resolved in the claimant's favor once they actually get to explain their situation.
This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation waiting for my adjudication call and was getting really anxious about missing it. Now I know to answer every unknown call during business hours and check my SecureAccess account regularly. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part - not knowing when they'll call or what number it'll come from.
Thanks everyone for the incredibly helpful advice! Just to update - I went ahead and filed my initial claim today. The ESD website actually had a specific section for reporting upcoming severance pay, so that was easier than expected. I reported that I'll be receiving the lump sum next week representing 8 weeks of pay. I've also started my job search log since I need to report activities each week even during the severance period. The ESD agent I spoke with (finally got through!) confirmed that once the 8-week severance allocation ends, my regular benefits should start automatically as long as I keep filing my weekly claims. Really appreciate all the help navigating this!
Great job getting everything filed! That's exactly the right approach. Just a heads up - make sure you keep detailed records of your weekly job search activities during those 8 weeks even though you won't be getting benefits. ESD can audit your job search log at any time, and you don't want any issues when your regular benefits kick in. Also, if you find a job before your severance period ends, you'll need to report that too. Sounds like you're on the right track though!
I wish you luck but I'm on month 3 of waiting for a decision on my pandemic waiver and can't get ANY updates when I call. They'll make you jump through 50 hoops just to apply then let it sit in some digital pile for months. The whole system is a joke. Make sure you keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, copies of everything you submit. ESD is notorious for "losing" documentation.
This is unfortunately common with waiver requests. I recommend sending your waiver form and documentation via certified mail with signature required, or if submitting online, save a screenshot of the confirmation page. Also, after submitting, call weekly to check status and document each call. If you don't hear back within 45 days, contact your state representative - they often have liaisons who can help move things along with ESD.
I just went through this exact same situation! The collections number (360-486-5817) that Omar mentioned is definitely the right one to call. When I called, I had to wait about 20 minutes but got through to someone who was actually helpful. They emailed me the PUA overpayment waiver form the same day. One tip - when you call, have your Social Security number and the overpayment notice reference number ready because they'll ask for both right away. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to seems confused about the waiver - I had to explain that I received a letter saying I might qualify for a waiver and they transferred me to someone who knew exactly what I was talking about. The form itself took me about an hour to complete once I had all my financial documents together.
This is really helpful, thank you! I'm glad to hear someone else got through successfully on that number. Did you have any issues with the form itself being confusing, or was it pretty straightforward once you had your documents ready? I'm trying to prepare as much as possible before I call tomorrow. Also, do you remember approximately how long it took to get a decision after you submitted everything?
Miguel Ortiz
Chase is actually pretty good with ESD deposits, I usually see mine the very next day after it switches to paid. You should definitely get it before your rent is due Monday unless something unusual happens.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Just checked and the money hit my account this morning! What a relief. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Harper Collins
That's awesome news that your payment came through! For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation - I went through the exact same thing last year. The key thing to remember is that when ESD changes your status to "paid," they've already processed the payment on their end. The timing after that really does depend on your bank. I have Wells Fargo and it typically takes 1-2 business days. One tip I learned: you can actually call your bank's customer service line and ask if there are any pending ACH deposits from Washington State ESD - sometimes they can see it in the system before it posts to your account. Saved me a lot of anxiety during my waiting period!
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