I've been through this exact situation twice in the past three years, and I know how incredibly stressful and confusing it is. You're getting great advice here, but I wanted to add a few things that really helped me during my adjudication periods. First, create a "war chest" of documentation beyond just those layoff emails. Get screenshots of any company-wide announcements about downsizing, LinkedIn posts from your company about restructuring, news articles about your company's financial struggles, etc. I even had a coworker write a brief statement confirming the layoffs were legitimate. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case. Second, while you're waiting, check if your state has a "work share" program or if there are any temporary/gig work opportunities that won't affect your UI claim. Some people don't realize you can earn a small amount while on unemployment without it impacting your benefits (up to a certain threshold). Third, and this might sound weird, but start preparing mentally for the adjudicator interview now. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely. When they do call, you'll be nervous, so having your story organized in your head helps a lot. The waiting is absolutely brutal - my first adjudication took 8 weeks, my second took 6 weeks. But in both cases, I eventually got approved and received all back pay. Your employer disputing a legitimate layoff is unfortunately super common right now, but if you have documentation proving it was a layoff, you should prevail. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now - my claim went into adjudication 2 weeks ago after my employer falsely claimed I was fired for attendance when I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. The anxiety is eating me alive, especially seeing people mention 8-12 week wait times! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about continuing to file weekly claims during adjudication (I almost stopped after the first week thinking it was pointless), and the advice about gathering ALL possible documentation is spot on. I'm going to start putting together that "war chest" of evidence someone mentioned - company emails, any public announcements about layoffs, etc. One thing I learned from calling 211 (thanks to whoever mentioned that!) is that some areas have specific "unemployment bridge" programs that can help with essential expenses while waiting for adjudication. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're stretching every dollar. The lack of transparency from ESD is absolutely maddening - they really should tell you what specific issue triggered the adjudication instead of leaving you to guess. But hearing all these success stories where people eventually got approved and received all their back pay gives me hope. We shouldn't have to go through this stress because employers want to lie and avoid paying UI taxes, but at least we're not alone in fighting it!

The bottom line is Washington ESD has multiple ways to detect unreported work. Data matching, employer reports, audits, tips from other people, etc. The risk of getting caught is high and the penalties are severe. Always report all work on your weekly claims.

I went through something similar last year and made the mistake of not reporting some freelance work I was doing. Washington ESD found out during their quarterly wage matching process and I had to pay back about $2,800 plus a penalty. The stress wasn't worth it at all. My advice is to call them immediately (maybe use that Claimyr service others mentioned since their phone lines are impossible) and voluntarily disclose the unreported work. They're usually more lenient when you come forward yourself rather than them catching you. Also, even if the work seems "minor" or irregular, it ALL needs to be reported - there's no minimum threshold. Better to be overly cautious than face the penalties later.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 5 weeks in pending resolution with no explanation. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It sounds like the timeline is completely unpredictable. I've been trying to call ESD every day but like everyone else, can't get through. The stress of not knowing what's being investigated or how much longer it might take is really getting to me. At least I know I'm not alone in this situation. Has anyone had success with contacting their state rep's office? That seems like it might be worth trying at this point.

I'm in week 4 of pending resolution and this thread is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It's good to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare, but seeing people wait 8-10 weeks makes me want to cry. I was laid off from my marketing job due to budget cuts, so like @Nia Thompson it should be straightforward, but here we are. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims even though nothing is getting paid out. The worst part is having absolutely no idea what they're even investigating or if there's anything I can do to speed it up. My savings are almost gone and I'm starting to panic about next month's bills. Has anyone tried calling multiple times per day or is that just a waste of time?

I'm currently going through this same process and wanted to share what I've learned. My Commissioner's Review has been pending for about 2 months now. One thing that's helped me mentally is setting up a realistic timeline - based on what everyone's shared here, I'm planning for 4-6 months minimum. A few practical tips that have helped me: - I set up automatic transfers to move any small amounts to savings when possible, even $10-20 - Applied for utility assistance programs before I got behind on bills - Started a simple spreadsheet tracking my appeal timeline and job search activities - Found local food banks and community resources as backup options The waiting is absolutely brutal, but try to use this time to build as many safety nets as possible. Also, if you haven't already, document EVERYTHING about your original job separation - dates, emails, witness contacts, etc. Sometimes people remember additional details during the long wait that could strengthen their case. Hang in there! The system is slow but don't give up hope.

I went through the Commissioner's Review process in early 2024 and it took exactly 19 weeks for my case. What really helped me during the wait was creating a "survival budget" - I cut everything non-essential and found every possible assistance program I qualified for. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: if you have any new evidence or documentation that wasn't submitted during your OAH hearing, you CAN still submit it to the Commissioner's Review Office. I found an old email from my supervisor that supported my case and submitted it 6 weeks into the review process. Also, try calling ESD early in the morning (right at 8 AM) or late in the afternoon after 4 PM - I had better luck getting through during those times. The wait times were still long but at least I didn't get disconnected as often. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what, and if you're approved, you'll get backpay for every week you properly claimed. The lump sum was a lifesaver when it finally came through. Stay strong - I know how exhausting this process is!

I totally understand your paranoia about this - I went through the exact same anxiety when I started collecting benefits last year! After dealing with Washington ESD for over a year now, I can tell you that their audit process is much more targeted than people think. They primarily investigate when there are red flags like employer disputes, income discrepancies, or patterns that suggest fraud. I've never heard of anyone getting randomly selected for an audit just because they've been collecting for a certain amount of time. The automated systems they use are constantly cross-checking your reported information against employer payroll data and other state records, but this actually works in your favor if you're being honest - it helps verify your accuracy rather than catch you in lies. Keep doing what you're doing with detailed record-keeping and accurate reporting. The fact that you're worried about following the rules probably means you're exactly the type of claimant they don't need to audit!

I went through the same anxiety spiral when I first started collecting unemployment about a year ago! From everything I've experienced and learned, Washington ESD really doesn't do random audits - they're much more strategic about it. Their automated systems are constantly running background checks on all claims, cross-referencing your reported income with employer wage reports and looking for red flags, but this is actually protective for honest claimants like yourself. The main triggers for actual investigations are things like employer disputes (when your former employer challenges your eligibility), significant income discrepancies, or patterns that suggest intentional fraud. Since you're being so careful about reporting your work searches and any income, you're probably in the safest category possible. I've been collecting on and off for situations like layoffs, and the only time I ever heard from them for "additional review" was when there was a clerical error on their end that got resolved quickly. Keep doing what you're doing with the detailed record-keeping - it shows you're taking the process seriously, which is exactly what they want to see from legitimate claimants.