
Ask the community...
THIS IS SO ANNOYING!! I've spent HOURS of my life waiting for payments that could have been processed faster if ESD had just TOLD US about this difference between filing methods. What else are they not telling us?? And why is their website so terrible that it takes 2 extra days to process the exact same information?? The whole system is rigged against us I swear.
While I understand your frustration, I don't think it's intentionally hidden information. ESD is managing an outdated system with limited resources. The phone system was actually the original filing method before the website existed, so it runs on older infrastructure that ironically processes faster. The web system has more security protocols which slow it down but protect against fraud.
Does anyone know if I can switch back and forth between phone and web filing? Or will that mess up my claim somehow? Sometimes I'm not somewhere private where I can make the call with all my personal info.
not sure about appeals but i got disqualfied in december and just found a new job instead of dealing with esd. too much hassle tbh. goodluck
One thing I forgot to mention in my first comment - prepare for your hearing like it's a job interview. Dress professionally (even for a phone hearing, it puts you in the right mindset), speak clearly and calmly, and stick to FACTS rather than emotions. The judge who handled my case seemed really impressed that I had organized my evidence chronologically in a binder with tabs and could immediately reference specific dates and conversations. Don't interrupt the employer's testimony even when they're lying - just make notes and address each point when it's your turn. One last thing - remember that the hearing is being recorded, so avoid swearing or getting emotional, no matter how frustrating it gets!
This is excellent advice. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) hear many cases every day, and being organized makes their job easier, which works in your favor. I'd add that you should practice your opening statement beforehand - you usually get 5 minutes to explain your side before questioning begins. Focus on the key facts that show you didn't voluntarily quit but were essentially forced out due to impossible conditions.
UPDATE: Finally got through to someone! For anyone else with this issue - I used the 833-572-8400 number that @ClaimExpert suggested and pressed 1, then 3 like they said. Still waited about an hour but actually spoke to a person! My problem was that when I reopened my claim, it got flagged for "eligibility review" which prevented the weekly claim option from appearing. The agent manually added the option to my account and I was able to backdate my claim to include the waiting week. They said this is happening to a lot of people right now because their system was updated in February. Thanks everyone for your help!
@UI_Struggler Glad you got through! For your first payment after reopening, it typically takes 3-5 business days once you've successfully filed those weekly claims. Since you had that eligibility flag, it might take slightly longer, but you should see it by next week. The waiting week doesn't pay out but it's important that it's properly credited in the system.
They said 3-4 business days for the payment to process. I'm just relieved to have it fixed! That direct phone number was the key.
ugh the food industry is THE WORST for this kinda thing!! i worked at three different restaurants and they ALL pulled this stuff. pretty sure its illegal to not give breaks during 10 hour shifts but good luck proving it without documentation. the whole system is rigged against workers!!
Quick update for anyone else facing a similar situation. I filed my claim yesterday focusing on the hours discrepancy and mentioning that I tried to resolve the issue with management before quitting. My status now shows "adjudication in progress" so I'm preparing all the details I can remember about the job description from my interview. I'll keep this thread updated with how it goes. Thanks everyone for the advice!
Smart approach. Keep filing your weekly claims while in adjudication and prepare notes for yourself with specific details about what was promised versus what actually happened. Dates, names, and specifics will help your case if you get an adjudication interview.
I dealt with the SAME EXACT garbage last year! The standby rules are different from regular UI rules and ESD does a terrible job explaining the transition. My claim got denied for two weeks and I had to appeal and wait THREE MONTHS to get my money back. This system is designed to make people fail, I swear. Just be super careful about documenting EVERYTHING from now on.
I'm sorry you had to go through all that! I feel lucky they gave me the waiver. I've already started keeping a detailed job search log in a spreadsheet so I can track everything carefully.
For those following this thread: here's what counts as a job search activity for part-time workers still receiving benefits: 1. Applying for a job 2. Attending a job fair 3. Creating a profile on a professional job-matching site 4. Taking a civil service exam 5. Participating in WorkSource workshops 6. Interviewing with potential employers Remember that WorkSource now offers virtual workshops that count toward your activities. This can be easier to fit around a part-time work schedule.
the worksource workshops are actually helpful sometimes. i did the resume one and it helped me get a better job than my part time gig.
Just to clarify my earlier response - yes, if it's PAID leave, he needs to report both the hours and the pay. The system is designed to track both how much money you receive and how many hours you were compensated for. One other thing to be aware of: if his final paycheck includes the FMLA pay, he'll need to report that on his weekly claim for the week in which he receives it (not when it was earned). ESD cares about when money is received, not when it was earned.
i think everyones overcomplicating this lol. just be honest on ur claims and youll be fine! report any money u get, skip reporting for weeks ur fully employed (or fully on paid leave) and resume reporting when ur not getting any other money. ESD isnt trying to trick u, just be straightforward
DO NOT skip filing weekly claims! That's incorrect advice that could cause major problems. Even if you receive $0 in benefits for a week due to other income, you must still file your weekly claim to keep your claim active. If you skip filing, your claim may be closed and you'd have to reapply.
my cousin works at esd (not in claims tho) and she says they are SUPER backed up right now. like 2-3x normal volume because of the tech layoffs that happened in january. she said even with governors office emails theyre still processing in mostly date order unless theres a true hardship like eviction or utility shutoff with documentation. maybe try sending in hardship proof if u have eviction notice?
I got a late rent notice yesterday, but not a formal eviction notice yet. I'll scan that and upload it to my documents section in eServices. Do I need to call and tell someone I've uploaded hardship documentation, or will they see it automatically?
You need to both upload the document AND send a message through the eServices message center specifically stating you've uploaded hardship documentation due to pending eviction. Reference the document name in your message. The document won't automatically be flagged as hardship proof otherwise - it'll just sit in your file without changing your priority level. Make sure your message subject line clearly states "HARDSHIP DOCUMENTATION - EVICTION RISK" so it gets proper attention.
this happened 2 me 2 months ago. I was in adjucation for 10 weeks then suddenly everything was approved and got HUGE backpay all at once!! keep doing ur weekly claims so when it does approve youll get all the back weeks. i almost gave up 2 then BOOM money appeared. dont lose hope!!!
That gives me a little hope... I've definitely been filing every week without fail. Did you do anything special that seemed to finally move things along, or did it just suddenly get approved?
honestly i think it was just finally my turn in the queue lol. but i did call like 50 times and sent messages weekly asking for updates. squeaky wheel and all that. hang in there!!
have u checked ur correspondence folder in eservices? sometimes they send questions or need more info but dont email u about it
Update us when you get paid! I'm curious how long it'll end up taking in your case. It really seems to vary person to person.
Former ESD appeal attorney here. The deadline to appeal is critical - file it even if you're still gathering evidence. You can always withdraw if needed. For your specific situation (alleged unauthorized data access), you'll need to prove: 1. You were authorized to access the systems in question 2. You used them for legitimate work purposes 3. You didn't violate any clearly communicated policies The legal standard for misconduct in Washington requires that your actions were: - Willful or wanton - Deliberately violating employer interests - Showing substantial disregard for your employment obligations If this was simply a misunderstanding about what systems you were allowed to use, that typically doesn't rise to misconduct level. Make sure you emphasize your 4-year positive work history and perfect performance reviews. As for legal representation, the Unemployment Law Project is excellent and offers sliding scale fees. Call them at 206-441-9178 or visit unemploymentlawproject.org.
wow u seem like u really know ur stuff! do u still work with unemployment cases? my sister is about to have a hearing next month and could use some advice
One thing that really helped me win my appeal was printing out the actual RCW (state law) definition of misconduct and bringing it to my hearing. It's RCW 50.04.294 if you want to look it up. The legal definition is much narrower than what most employers think. Most importantly, if this was just a misunderstanding about which systems you were authorized to use, that's likely NOT misconduct under the law. Misconduct requires you to deliberately disregard your employer's interests. Bring any training materials or emails showing you were given access to these systems. If you have performance reviews showing you were a good employee, bring those too - they help show you wouldn't deliberately violate policy. Oh, and if you decide to get an attorney, many will do a free consultation to evaluate your case. Some work on contingency (only get paid if you win).
This is incredibly helpful! I just looked up RCW 50.04.294 and you're right - it's much more specific than I thought. It says misconduct doesn't include "inadvertence or ordinary negligence in isolated instances" or "good faith errors in judgment" - which is exactly what happened in my case if anything. I'll definitely print this out for my hearing.
Emily Parker
this happens literally every holiday but ppl always panic lol. memorial day, july 4, labor day, all the same. ESD computers dont work on holidays either apparently
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Justin Evans
•Look not everyone has been on unemployment for years and knows all the little quirks of the system! Some of us are new to this whole nightmare process and when money doesn't show up when expected it's SCARY!!!
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Joshua Wood
For future reference, here's how the ESD payment schedule typically works: - File weekly claim on Sunday - Processing Monday-Tuesday (add a day for holidays) - Payment processing Tuesday-Wednesday (add a day for holidays) - Funds available Wednesday-Thursday (add a day for holidays) So with a Monday holiday, expect everything to be pushed back to Friday or the following Monday. Also worth knowing that end-of-month claims (like the ones that overlap June/July or December/January) often take longer because of ESD's accounting cycles.
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Katherine Harris
•This is super helpful - I'm going to save this info for future reference. I had no idea about the end-of-month claims taking longer too. Good to know!
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