Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm going to review my paperwork tonight and then contact OAH tomorrow to start the withdrawal process. You've all given me a much better understanding of what's involved.

Just wanted to add that timing can be important when withdrawing an appeal. If your hearing is scheduled soon, you'll want to contact OAH as quickly as possible to avoid any complications. They usually need at least a few business days notice to properly cancel everything and notify all parties involved. Don't wait until the last minute if you've made your decision.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been considering plasma donation while on unemployment, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge. The clarification that it needs to be reported as "other income" rather than wages is particularly helpful - I would have definitely made that mistake. I'm also grateful for the practical tips about record keeping and saving screenshots of weekly claim submissions. It's reassuring to hear from people like @Omar Zaki who've been successfully managing both plasma donation and unemployment reporting for months. The fact that the extra income can actually reduce job search stress and help you be more selective about opportunities is a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share detailed information - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's so hard to find in official documentation!

This has been such an eye-opening thread! I've been unemployed for about 6 weeks now and my savings are running low, so I've been seriously considering plasma donation but was completely in the dark about how it would affect my UI benefits. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence about moving forward with it. The fact that Washington ESD has that earnings threshold where you can make your weekly benefit amount plus $5 without any reduction is huge - that means I could potentially earn $400+ per month from plasma without losing any UI benefits. I especially appreciate the practical advice about record keeping and reporting it as "other income" rather than wages. It's also reassuring to hear from folks like @Omar Zaki and @NebulaNomad who've been doing this successfully for months. I think I'm going to start donating next week and just make sure to be meticulous about tracking and reporting everything from day one. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world guidance!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I just encountered this exact question on my Washington ESD forms and was completely stumped by the wording. Like Jessica said, it really does seem like a circular question when you're applying FOR benefits in the first place. After reading through everyone's explanations, I now understand they're asking specifically about your current unemployment period - so if you've been unemployed for 2 months but only just now filing your claim, they want to know if you received any benefits during those 2 months (which would be no for first-time filers). The distinction between your "unemployment period" versus your overall unemployment history is key. I also appreciate the advice about using the comments section to clarify your situation if you're unsure - that's such a smart approach. It's frustrating that Washington ESD uses such confusing language, but at least we have this community to help decode their forms!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a newcomer here and just started dealing with Washington ESD forms myself. This exact question had me staring at my computer screen for like 20 minutes trying to figure out what they were asking. The wording really is terrible - "Have you collected unemployment benefits during your unemployment period" sounds like they're asking if you've received benefits while being unemployed, which obviously you haven't if you're just now applying! But reading through all these explanations, I finally get it - they mean during THIS specific stretch of unemployment, not your entire unemployment history. Since I've been unemployed for about a month and this is my first time filing for this period, my answer is clearly "no." Thank you all for taking the time to break this down so thoroughly. It's such a relief to have clarity on these confusing questions, especially when you're already stressed about being out of work. This community seems amazing for navigating the Washington ESD maze!

Reading through this thread as someone new to the unemployment system, I'm struck by how common this adjudicator callback situation seems to be! It's both reassuring and frustrating to see that so many people have dealt with missed calls and the anxiety that comes with those vague voicemails. What I'm taking away from everyone's experiences: 1) Call right at 8 AM for shortest wait times, 2) Document every attempt you make to contact them, 3) Check eServices, mail, AND email for any additional information they might have sent, 4) Don't panic - most of these turn out to be routine verification issues, and 5) They are required to make reasonable contact efforts before deciding your claim. Connor, I'm so glad you got through and it was just a simple employer verification issue! Your update gives me hope that the system, while imperfect, does eventually work when you're persistent. Thanks to everyone else for sharing your strategies and experiences - this thread is going to be a great resource for anyone facing similar situations.

As someone who just started receiving unemployment benefits last month, this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening and helpful! I had no idea that missed adjudicator calls were so common or that there were specific strategies for getting through to ESD. Reading everyone's experiences has definitely reduced my anxiety about potentially facing this situation myself. It's reassuring to know that most of these calls end up being routine verification issues rather than serious problems with claims. The collective advice here - especially about calling at 8 AM, documenting all contact attempts, and checking multiple communication channels - is invaluable. Connor, I'm so relieved your situation worked out and it was just an employer verification issue! Your persistence really paid off. And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips. This community is such a great resource for navigating what can be a really stressful and confusing process. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year - 4 months in adjudication hell with a former employer who was clearly stalling. What finally broke things loose for me was a combination approach: 1. Filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office about my employer's bad faith handling of unemployment claims (they have a worker protection unit) 2. Contacted my state senator's office using their online constituent services form - way more effective than calling 3. Sent a certified letter to ESD's main office in Olympia with copies of all my documentation The key thing that seemed to make the difference was when the senator's office got involved - they have a direct liaison with ESD leadership. My claim was approved within 2 weeks of their intervention. Also, start documenting the financial hardship this delay is causing you (late fees, potential eviction notices, etc.). Sometimes showing the real-world impact helps prioritize your case. Hang in there - I know how desperate and helpless this feels, but you will get through it!

I feel your pain - I just went through this exact nightmare myself. Was stuck in adjudication for 2.5 months while my former employer dragged their feet responding to ESD's requests. Here's what finally worked for me: The most effective thing was contacting the ESD Ombuds office that Eleanor mentioned, but here's the key - when you call them at 844-395-6697, ask specifically to speak with an ombudsman about "employer non-responsiveness causing claim delays." They have special procedures for cases where employers are clearly stalling. Also, when you contact your senator's office (which I highly recommend), mention that you're facing imminent eviction/homelessness. They have emergency protocols for constituents in crisis situations. My senator's caseworker actually called ESD while I was on the phone and got my claim moved to "priority review." One more tip - if you can prove your employer has a pattern of disputing all unemployment claims (like the HR person telling you it's company policy), that's actually evidence of bad faith that can work in your favor. Document that conversation if you can remember details about when/who said it. Don't give up - the system is awful but people do get through it. You've got this!