Remember that the judge is supposed to be neutral. They're not on your employer's side or your side - they're just trying to determine what actually happened based on the evidence. Try to present facts rather than emotions, even though I know this situation is really stressful financially.

Dylan, I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago when my employer claimed I was terminated for misconduct but it was really just a disagreement over procedures. The most important thing I learned is to focus on the specific incident they're claiming as misconduct - don't let them bring up unrelated performance issues or personality conflicts. Take notes during the hearing because you might need to reference what was said if you decide to appeal further. Also, if your employer makes any statements that contradict what they told you when you were fired, point that out to the judge. Inconsistencies in their story can really help your case. The whole process took about 4 months total for me but I did eventually get my benefits restored with back pay.

UPDATE: Just want to let everyone know that I got my back payments today! It took exactly 19 business days after the appeal decision. The money came in as separate deposits for each week just like someone mentioned. My online account still shows the old disqualification status though, which is weird. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Congratulations on getting your back payments! 19 business days falls right in that 2-4 week range everyone was talking about. This is really helpful for future reference - it's good to see a success story with actual timeline data. Don't worry about the online account still showing disqualifications, that's totally normal and doesn't affect your payments going forward. Hope this helps you get caught up on those bills!

honestly the hardest part about unemployment isn't figuring out the benefit amount, it's dealing with all the bureaucracy and staying on top of the weekly claims and job search requirements. the money helps but the process is exhausting

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Washington ESD recently updated their online benefit calculator to be more user-friendly. If you create an account on their website, you can actually see your wage history from previous employers automatically populated, which makes estimating your benefits much easier. I discovered this when I was helping my sister with her claim last month. It's under the "Calculate Your Benefits" section once you log in. This might save you from having to track down old pay stubs or wait on hold to get your wage information.

Here's what I've learned after dealing with ESD for years (unfortunately): 1. WorkSource can help with SOME unemployment issues but not adjudication - that's handled by specialized adjudicators. 2. Different WorkSource locations have different capabilities. Some have actual ESD staff on certain days, others don't. 3. For adjudication specifically, your best bet is to: - Make sure ALL documentation related to your dispute is uploaded to your eServices account - Reach an actual ESD agent by phone who can verify everything is properly attached - Ask them to add detailed notes to your file - Request an estimated timeframe for adjudication Adjudication is taking 4-6 weeks right now for many cases, but if you can reach an agent who confirms your documentation is complete, it sometimes speeds things up.

I had a similar adjudication issue last year and went through the same frustrating cycle. After weeks of calling and one useless WorkSource visit, I finally got through by calling the ESD line at exactly 8:00 AM when they opened. The agent was able to see that my employer had submitted conflicting information about my hours, but they needed me to provide additional documentation (time sheets, schedule confirmations) that I didn't even know was required. Once I uploaded everything, it still took another 2 weeks to resolve, but at least I knew it was moving forward. The key was having that agent put detailed notes in my file about what was missing and when I submitted it. Don't give up - keep trying to reach someone who can actually look at your specific case and tell you exactly what they need to make a decision.

UPDATE: I called OAH this morning like @profile5 suggested. They confirmed the judge ruled in MY FAVOR and waived the entire overpayment! That's why I have the CRO Petition - ESD is appealing the judge's decision. The OAH rep said they resent the decision letter which I should receive in a few days. Thanks everyone for your help figuring this out. I'll keep you posted on what happens with the Commissioner review!

Wow, what a rollercoaster! I'm so glad you called OAH directly - that was brilliant advice from @Vanessa Chang. It's ridiculous how ESD's system shows these cryptic statuses without any explanation. I went through something similar 6 months ago and spent weeks panicking over confusing status updates. The fact that they ruled in your favor is huge! Even if ESD appeals to the Commissioner, you're in a much stronger position now. Keep copies of everything and don't let them intimidate you during this CRO process. You've already proven your case once!