Just be prepared for this to potentially take MONTHS to resolve. The appeals backlog at OAH is ridiculous right now. Make sure you have a plan for how to stay afloat financially in the meantime. Not trying to be negative, just realistic based on current timeframes I've been seeing.

I work in HR (not for your company obviously) and this kind of situation is unfortunately common. The good news is that you have strong documentation with your call records. A few practical tips for your appeal: 1. Request your complete personnel file from Brookfield Manufacturing - they're required to provide it within 14 days in WA. This will show if there were any prior attendance issues documented. 2. If possible, get the employee handbook section on attendance policy in writing. Companies sometimes claim different policies during hearings. 3. Consider requesting phone records from your carrier as backup to your screenshots - Verizon, AT&T, etc. can provide detailed call logs that are harder to dispute than phone screenshots. 4. Document EVERYTHING - dates, times, who you spoke with, what was said. The more detailed your timeline, the better. The fact that you were only there 4 months and this was allegedly your first "no call no show" actually works in your favor. Most misconduct cases require a pattern of behavior, not a single disputed incident. You've got this!

Hope some of these suggestions help! The unemployment system is frustrating but don't give up. Keep trying different approaches until something works.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for over a year now and can confirm there's really no direct email for unemployment claims. The secure messaging system through eServices is your only "official" option, but it's basically broken - I've sent multiple messages over the past few months and maybe got one actual response. The phone system is equally terrible, but I've found that persistence is key. Set aside entire mornings to call repeatedly starting right at 8 AM. Also, don't overlook reaching out to your state legislators - their constituent services staff can sometimes push your case through when normal channels fail. It shouldn't be this hard to get basic help with unemployment benefits, but unfortunately that's the reality we're dealing with right now.

Another option that worked for me when I had this exact same issue - try going to different ATMs throughout the day. Some people don't realize that the $1000 ATM limit might reset at different times depending on when you first used it, not necessarily at midnight. I was able to get an extra $400 out by trying an ATM at a different bank around 6pm after hitting my limit that morning. Also, if you have any local check cashing places, they sometimes have higher daily limits for money orders than grocery stores or post offices. It's worth calling around if you're really stuck. The ReliaCard situation is honestly ridiculous - they should have emergency overrides for essential expenses like rent!

I'm dealing with this same issue right now! Just got my first unemployment payment on the ReliaCard and had no idea about all these daily limits. Reading through everyone's suggestions has been super helpful. I'm definitely going to set up direct deposit to my regular bank account ASAP to avoid this headache in the future. It's really frustrating that they don't clearly explain these limits when you first get the card - seems like basic information people would need to know when planning their expenses. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and workarounds!

It's not too late to change your tax withholding preference. Log into your eServices account, go to your claim summary, and look for the option to update your tax withholding preference. The standard withholding is 10% for federal taxes (WA has no income tax). Making this change won't affect what you've already received, but it will help reduce your tax liability for future payments.

Just wanted to add a tip for anyone who might be in a similar situation - if you're still collecting benefits and want to avoid a big tax surprise, you can also make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS using Form 1040ES. This is especially helpful if you're in a higher tax bracket or have other income sources. I learned this the hard way my first year on unemployment! Also, keep all your 1099-G forms organized - you'll need them if you get audited down the road.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! Filed my claim 2 weeks ago after being laid off from my office job, submitted all the paperwork from HR, and just got the same form letter from Pamela. It's so stressful not knowing how long this will take. One thing I learned from calling around is that you can also reach out to your state representative's office - they sometimes have staff who can help with ESD issues. I called mine yesterday and they said they'd make an inquiry on my behalf. Not sure if it'll speed things up but at least someone else is advocating for me now. Also, if you have any friends or family who can lend you money for rent, don't be too proud to ask. I had to swallow my pride and ask my parents for help, but it's better than getting evicted while waiting for bureaucracy to sort itself out. This whole system is so broken - you shouldn't have to choose between paying bills and following their endless processes.

I'm dealing with this same situation right now - got the exact same message from Pamela last week after submitting everything from my employer when I got laid off from my hotel job. What's really frustrating is that I called the ESD line 47 times yesterday (yes I counted) and only got through once, just to be told there's nothing they can do to speed up the adjudication process. One thing I found out though - you can check if there are any new requests for information by logging into your ESD account and looking under "Messages" and also "Correspondence." Sometimes they ask for additional docs but don't always send you an email notification. I missed a request for 3 days because of this and it probably delayed my claim even more. Also, if you're really struggling financially, look into the Washington state Emergency Food Assistance Program and see if your county has emergency rental assistance. I applied for both and it's helping me get through this waiting period. The whole system is designed to wear you down and make you give up, but don't let them win. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what!