Make sure to file your weekly claims during this entire process, even while waiting for appeals. I've seen too many people win their appeals but then not get all their back benefits because they stopped filing weekly claims during the appeal period.

Hang in there! I went through something very similar last year - employer contested, lost at ALJ level, then appealed to Commissioner. The whole thing took about 8 months total but I did eventually get all my back benefits. The key thing that helped me was being super persistent about the benefits pending appeal. I had to call ESD multiple times and reference that specific RCW statute before they finally started my payments. Also, when writing your response to their Commissioner appeal, really hammer home the point that they had their chance at the ALJ hearing and chose not to participate. The Commissioner's office doesn't like employers who game the system like this. Document everything and don't let them wear you down - that's exactly what they're hoping for.

One more important thing about the appeals process: if you win your appeal, ESD will pay all benefits for the weeks that were held during the appeal process. However, you must continue filing your weekly claims during this time, even though you won't receive payments until after the appeal decision. If you don't file weekly claims while waiting for your appeal, you won't be paid for those weeks even if you win.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and totally understand the stress you're feeling! Here's what helped me prepare for my OAH hearing: 1. Create a spreadsheet with ALL your job search activities - even the ones you think you might not have documented well 2. Check your browser history if you did online applications - sometimes you can find evidence there 3. Contact employers directly if needed - some will confirm you applied even if you don't have screenshots 4. Gather any emails, texts, or LinkedIn messages related to your job search The hearing itself was way less intimidating than I expected. The judge was professional and fair, and they genuinely wanted to understand what happened. I won my appeal because I could show I was making a good faith effort to find work, even though my documentation wasn't perfect. The waiting is the hardest part, but keep filing your weekly claims like Carmen mentioned. When I won, I got about $3,200 in back payments within a week. You've got this - just stay organized and be honest about your job search efforts!

Practicing is actually a great idea. It helps you organize your thoughts and prepare for potential questions. Another thing to understand about these hearings: in 2025, ESD is processing a high volume of appeals, so ALJs (Administrative Law Judges) are trying to be efficient. This means: 1. Be on time and ready when they call 2. Answer questions directly - don't go off on tangents 3. If you don't understand something, politely ask for clarification 4. Have your case number and identifying information ready at the start The decision truly isn't made until after the hearing. I've seen many cases where proper documentation and a clear explanation have overturned the initial disqualification, especially in job search logging cases where the actual activities were completed.

I went through this process about 6 months ago and want to echo what others have said - it's really not as scary as it seems! My hearing was also over the phone and the judge was very professional and fair. One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline document beforehand with dates, company names, and methods of contact for each job search activity. Even though I had missed logging a couple in the system on time, I was able to show the judge exactly what I had done and when. I also brought screenshots of emails and application confirmations. The key thing the judge seemed to focus on was whether I had actually done the required number of activities, not just whether I had logged them perfectly. Since you mention you did do the activities but just forgot to log two of them, make sure you have any evidence possible - confirmation emails, names of people you spoke with, job posting numbers, etc. My hearing lasted about 35 minutes and I got the written decision 10 days later - I won! The judge said in the decision that while timely reporting is important, the evidence showed I had met the underlying requirement of actively searching for work. You've got this! Just be honest, organized, and stick to the facts.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - if the other party (usually ESD) submits new evidence at the last minute that you haven't seen before, you can ask the judge for a continuance to give you time to review the documents. Just say "Your honor, I haven't had an opportunity to review these documents and request time to do so before proceeding." Most judges will grant this reasonable request. Good luck with your hearing!

Just wanted to add one more tip from my recent experience - when you send your documents to the ESD Appeals Office, also send them via multiple methods if possible (email AND fax) to ensure they receive them. I had an issue where my email got caught in their spam filter and almost missed the deadline. Also, if you're sending by email, use a clear subject line like "APPEAL EVIDENCE - Case #[your case number] - [your name]" to make sure it gets routed correctly. The appeals staff handle tons of cases daily and a clear subject helps them process your submission properly.

Thank you so much for all this information. I'm going to try reaching ESD again tomorrow morning right when they open. If I can't get through after a few more attempts, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'll update here once I find out what's going on with my claim.

I had a similar experience last year - filed my first weekly claim and got the dreaded 'disqualified' with zero explanation. Turns out I had accidentally selected 'No' to the question about being ready and willing to accept work (I thought it was asking if I had refused any work offers). The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even while this is unresolved - you can get back pay for any weeks that get approved later. I know calling ESD feels impossible, but try calling right at 8am when they open, or even better, call the automated system at 7:30am and wait on hold until they open at 8. Sometimes you can get through faster that way. Also double-check every single answer on your weekly claim before submitting. The questions are confusingly worded and it's easy to accidentally trigger a disqualification. In my case, once I got through to an agent, they fixed it immediately and I got all my back pay within a week. Don't panic - this is fixable!