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After my appeal, I had to wait nearly 3 weeks for payment, but a friend of mine got hers in just 8 days, so it really varies. I think it depends on: 1. How complicated your case was 2. Whether your employer contests the judge's decision 3. Current ESD workload 4. If you have any other issues on your claim The most frustrating part is there's no good way to check the status during this waiting period. The online system just shows your original disqualification until suddenly it updates all at once when they process it.
Hey Malik! I just went through this exact same process about 2 months ago. Had my hearing on a Tuesday and was super nervous about the timeline too since my rent was due soon. Here's what happened in my case: Got the decision letter exactly 14 days after the hearing (it was favorable!), and then ESD took another 6 days to actually update my claim and release the payments. So total time from hearing to money in my account was 20 days. The backpay was automatic for all the weeks I had filed during the appeal - didn't have to do anything special for that. Just make sure you keep filing every single week like others have said! One tip: I set up text alerts on my bank account so I'd know immediately when the deposit hit. The ESD website updated the same day but I saw the money first. Good luck, sounds like your hearing went really well!
One more important thing: even if you have to report the full UI amount, make sure you're claiming all possible deductions on your DSHS application. Housing costs, utilities, childcare expenses, and medical expenses can all help you qualify for more benefits even with higher income. Don't leave any deductions on the table!
Thank you for this reminder! I pay $1675 in rent plus utilities, so I'll definitely make sure to include all of that. Does anyone know if car payments and insurance count as deductions for SNAP?
I went through a similar situation with ESD overpayment recovery a few months ago. Just wanted to add that when you call ESD to request a hardship reduction, be prepared with specific documentation of your monthly expenses - rent, utilities, food costs, etc. They'll likely ask for proof that the current recovery rate is causing genuine financial hardship. Also, if you qualify for reduced recovery, make sure to get the new rate in writing through your eServices account. The process took about 3 weeks for me, but I was able to get my recovery rate reduced from 25% to 15%, which made a huge difference in my ability to cover basic expenses while still paying back the overpayment.
I'm going through something similar right now - filed 3 weeks ago after my restaurant closed permanently and I'm also stuck with "disqualified" status during adjudication. Reading all these responses is really helpful because I was starting to panic that I'd been denied already. It's such poor system design to use "disqualified" when they mean "under review." I'm going to try uploading proof of the business closure like Effie suggested and maybe look into that Claimyr service if I can't get through by calling myself. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is normal even though it's incredibly stressful when you're behind on bills.
You're definitely not alone in this! I just went through the exact same thing when my office closed down two months ago. The "disqualified" status had me convinced I was rejected too until I found this community. What really helped me was calling first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM - I got through after about 45 minutes of redials. The agent confirmed it was just waiting for employer verification and moved my case to priority review since the business had closed. Got approved 3 days later with full back pay. Also definitely upload that closure documentation - it made a huge difference in my case. Hang in there, the system is confusing but it does work eventually!
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I know how anxiety-inducing it is to see "disqualified" when you know you should qualify! I went through almost the exact same situation 6 months ago when my company suddenly shut down. Like others have said, that status is just a terrible default while they review your case. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - screenshots of my claim status each week, copies of all the paperwork from my employer about the closure, and a log of every time I tried calling ESD. When I finally got through (took about 3 weeks of trying), having all that documentation ready made the call go much smoother. The agent was able to see exactly what was happening and got my case resolved that same day. Also, don't stop filing your weekly claims even though it feels pointless - you'll get backpay for all those weeks once it's approved. The waiting is awful but you will get through this!
This thread has been really helpful. I was also confused about where to apply and this cleared everything up. Sometimes the simple questions are the hardest to get straight answers for.
Just a heads up - make sure you have your Social Security number and driver's license ready when you apply. The SAW system will need those for identity verification. Also, if you've moved recently, use your current address but be prepared to explain any address changes from your last job. The system can flag mismatched addresses and cause delays.
Brooklyn Knight
This is such a common and stressful situation! I went through something similar a few months ago where my payment was delayed by almost a week. What helped me was creating a little checklist to work through systematically: 1) Check eServices payment history for any status changes, 2) Call your bank to see if they're holding the deposit, 3) Verify all your profile info (address, bank details) is current in the system, and 4) Check Washington ESD's website for any system maintenance announcements. In my case it ended up being a combination of a system update on their end plus my bank being extra cautious about a larger-than-usual deposit. The waiting is awful when you're counting on that money, but in most cases the payment does eventually come through. Hang in there!
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Amina Diallo
•That's a really helpful systematic approach! I'm definitely going to save this checklist for future reference. It's so much better than just sitting there worrying and not knowing what steps to take. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to know that even when there are multiple factors causing delays, the payments usually do get sorted out eventually.
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Yuki Nakamura
I've been dealing with Washington ESD payment delays on and off for over a year now, and what I've learned is that persistence is key. When this happens, I always start by checking three things in this order: first, log into eServices and look at your payment history - not just the main dashboard but actually click into the payment details to see if there are any status codes or notes you might have missed. Second, if it shows as "paid" on their end, call your bank immediately - don't wait. Banks can hold ACH deposits for all sorts of reasons (address changes, new account activity, fraud prevention, etc.) and they can usually tell you right away if that's what's happening. Third, if your bank says they haven't received anything, then you know it's definitely a Washington ESD processing issue and you'll need to contact them directly. The Claimyr service mentioned earlier in this thread actually does work - I've used it twice when I absolutely needed to get through to an agent quickly. Yes it costs money, but when you're facing rent deadlines, sometimes it's worth it to avoid hours of busy signals. The key thing to remember is that these delays are usually temporary processing issues, not permanent problems with your claim. Stay calm and work through the steps systematically!
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Omar Zaki
•This is incredibly thorough and helpful advice! I really appreciate you breaking down the exact order to check things in - that systematic approach makes so much sense rather than just randomly trying different things. The point about actually clicking into the payment details rather than just looking at the dashboard is something I wouldn't have thought of. And you're absolutely right about not waiting to call the bank if it shows as paid - I wasted a whole weekend worrying when I could have just made that call on Friday. It's also reassuring to hear from someone who's dealt with this multiple times that these are usually just temporary processing hiccups. Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed guidance!
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