wait ur company was shut down permanently after telling u it was temporary?? thats exactly what happened to me!! they strung us along for like 4 months saying we'd be back soon then boom, closed forever. such bs. anyway i got severance too and reported it on my weekly claim for the week i got it. my severance letter didnt say it was for specific weeks so esd just counted it as income for that one week. i still got my full unemployment benefits after that week.

Just to follow up on your standby status - you should proactively contact ESD to update your status from standby to regular unemployment. When your standby period ends (either the originally approved period or when your company officially closes), you must immediately begin conducting and documenting your job search activities (3 per week). Also important: Once you switch from standby to regular unemployment, you must be able and available for work each week. This means you need to be actively seeking suitable work and ready to accept job offers. If you're planning any vacations or time away, be aware this could affect your eligibility during those weeks. Regarding your maximum benefits - yes, you can still receive your full maximum benefit amount (MBA) over time, but the weeks you receive severance pay may delay when you can access those funds if the severance is allocated over multiple weeks.

wait do not! ignore this money!!! i repeat DO NOT TOUCH IT!!! this is a common esd scam where they deposit money then contact you pretending to be esd saying there was a mistake and you need to send the money back but to a different account. real esd never asks you to send money to a different account. has anyone called you about this yet????

RESOLUTION UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD this morning! The money is legitimate - it's interest that accrued on the benefits they tried to take back during my overpayment case. When I won my appeal in 2022, they were supposed to pay interest on the money they had recovered from me, but apparently there was a glitch in their system. They said they did a system-wide audit recently and found several cases like mine where interest wasn't properly paid after appeals were won. The ESD rep apologized for the confusion and told me they're sending formal letters explaining these payments, but they went out after the deposits were made. So the money is really mine to keep! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. If anyone else gets a random deposit from ESD, definitely contact them to confirm what it's for, but it might be legitimate money they owe you.

I tried using Claimyr last week and got through to ESD in about 25 minutes. Best $25 I ever spent considering I was waiting on over $1800 in benefits that were stuck. The agent I spoke with was actually really helpful once I got through.

I help clients with ESD issues regularly, and here's what you need to know about contacting them effectively: 1. For adjudication issues specifically (which you mentioned in a comment), phone is actually the fastest method despite the frustration 2. Timing matters - call Tuesday-Thursday between 8:15-9:30am for shortest wait times 3. Secure messages are handled in the order received but have a 3-5 business day current response time 4. Be extremely specific in any message you send - include your claim ID, the exact issue, and what resolution you're seeking 5. If it's been more than 3 weeks in adjudication, your state representative can often help expedite The system is frustrating but persistence with the right approach does work eventually.

Does anyone know if you need to keep filing weekly claims even after benefits are exhausted? I'm confused about whether I should keep doing this or if it's pointless?? The ESD website has conflicting info.

Just out of curiosity have you tried looking at remote work in other states? I know someone who couldn't find anything locally but got hired by a company in Colorado for remote healthcare admin work. Might be worth expanding your search geographically since so many places are remote now?

Has anyone actually gotten PFML in Washington recently? I hear the system is completely broken and payments are super delayed??

To follow up on your question about the PFML application process - it's not overly complicated, but it does require coordination with your healthcare provider. Here's a quick overview: 1. Create an account on the PFML portal through ESD 2. Start your application (you can save and return to it) 3. Your healthcare provider will need to complete a certification form 4. Submit documentation about your employment and wages 5. You'll receive a determination within 2-3 weeks typically Since your treatments start in 2 weeks, start the application immediately. There's a waiting week before benefits begin. Also, PFML can be taken intermittently, which might be helpful for a weekly chemo schedule if you're able to work some days. As others have mentioned, the system can have delays, so persistence is key if you encounter issues.

Just remember that ESD is NOT on your side! They'll find ANY reason to deny your waiver request! A friend of mine got denied because she had $1,200 in her checking account when they reviewed her case - they said that meant she could afford to pay back the overpayment! BE CAREFUL what financial info you share!!!

I understand the concern, but you do need to be honest on your financial disclosure for the waiver. Providing incomplete information can result in automatic denial or even potential fraud issues. One last thing - if both your petition and waiver are denied, you can still negotiate a payment plan with ESD. They can go as low as $25-50 per month based on your financial situation. While not ideal, it's better than having the full amount sent to collections, which would impact your credit score and potentially lead to tax refund interception.

EVERYONE JUST FILES WHERE THEY MADE THE MOST MONEY!!! This isn't complicated people. I've worked in 3 different states and always file wherever I earned the highest wages. The unemployment office will sort it out if there's an issue.

Just wanted to update everyone - I called ESD this morning and finally got through after trying for 2 days. The agent confirmed that I can file in either state, but since most of my wages in the base period were from WA, I'd likely get a better benefit amount filing with them. They're sending me some paperwork to complete for an interstate claim. Thanks everyone for the help!

My first ESD claim from January was also stuck in adjudication for several weeks. I finally got through to someone by calling repeatedly at exactly 7:59 AM right before they open. The issue in my case was that my former employer incorrectly reported my final day of work, which triggered an automatic investigation. Once I explained this to the ESD representative, they were able to resolve it and release my payments within 3 days. It might be something similarly minor in your case. If you can't get through by phone, another option is to contact your state representative's office. They often have dedicated staff who can help constituents with ESD issues and can sometimes get answers faster than you can on your own.

@OP any updates? Did you manage to get through to ESD or figure out what was causing the adjudication?

I totally get where you're at. I was stuck in adjudication for 5 weeks earlier this year (not as long as you, but still stressful). What finally worked for me was emailing my state senator's office. They have staff who deal with ESD issues all the time. I got a call from an ESD supervisor within 2 days after my senator's office contacted them. Not saying it's guaranteed but worth trying!

Just checking back - were you able to get any movement on your claim? One thing I forgot to mention is that if you do get through to someone, be sure to ask them to document in the notes that you're experiencing financial hardship and specifically request they flag your case for expedited review. The exact phrase that seems to work is "Please note severe financial hardship and risk of housing instability in my case notes."

btw don't forget to keep doing your job search activities even while your claims are being denied!! my cousin didn't do this and when he finally got his appeal approved they wouldn't pay him for the weeks he didn't log his activities

One more thing - when you do connect with an ESD agent, ask them about possibly being placed on standby status while your appeal is processing. If you're expecting to be recalled by your former employer or have a definite job starting within 4 weeks, you may qualify. This would temporarily exempt you from job search requirements. Also, after you've filed your appeal, you should receive information about your hearing date within about 2-3 weeks. The hearings are currently being conducted by phone due to the backlog. Make absolutely sure you're available for that call - missing it almost always results in losing your appeal.