The governer won't help you. There all the same they jus pass u around until u give up. I spent 11 weeks waiting last year and had to take a crappy job just to avoid being homeless.

Update from someone who went through this recently: I waited 8 weeks in adjudication earlier this year. What finally worked was emailing my state senator AND representative (found their contact info on leg.wa.gov). I clearly explained my situation, how long I'd been waiting, and that I was facing financial hardship. Their office contacted ESD directly, and my claim was resolved within 5 days after that. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but persistence eventually pays off. And as others have mentioned, keep filing those weekly claims - when it finally resolves, you'll get all the back payments at once.

my neighbor went thru this whole thing last year and the adjudication part took like 10 days but then after that there was another week before money showed up. she said the worst part was not knowing what was happening. ended up getting like $7000 all at once when it finally went through tho!

I'd recommend checking your online claim status daily. Sometimes they resolve adjudication without even contacting you, especially if they get all the information they need from your employer or their own records. The status will change from "Pending" to either "Paid" or "Processing" once adjudication completes successfully. Also, you mentioned contacting your legislative representative - that's actually one of the most effective ways to get movement on a stuck claim. The fact that ESD responded to you the same day is a very good sign. Your claim has likely been flagged for priority handling now.

One thing I've learned about the ESD website updates is that they don't always reflect the current state of your claim processing. Sometimes backend work is happening that doesn't trigger visible status changes. \n\nIf your payment is delayed more than a week after status showed 'paid' or if your claim has been in adjudication for more than 3 weeks, that's when you should definitely contact ESD directly. Otherwise, status fluctuations are generally just normal processing steps.

This is reassuring. I think I've been overthinking every little change. Will give it a few more days before I panic. Thanks again everyone!

wait does anyone know if the op should pay back the money while appealing or wait to see what happens with the appeal first??

UPDATE: I filed my appeal online and uploaded copies of the memo and my pay stubs showing the 25% reduction. I also explained that while I didn't specify the reason in my resignation letter, the hour reduction was the true cause. I've requested a hearing. This is so stressful - I really can't afford to pay back all that money! I'll keep you posted on what happens.

Quick update on the system issues: The ESD website is scheduled for maintenance tonight from 11pm-3am, which should address some of the error codes people have been experiencing, including WS-839. For those still struggling with phone lines, remember: 1. You can file weekly claims for up to 4 previous weeks 2. Document all job search activities even if you can't file (3 per week minimum) 3. If your claim is in adjudication or has a specific issue, note that in the system when you do connect 4. Morning calls (8:00-8:30am) and late afternoon (3:30-4:00pm) typically have shorter wait times Stay persistent and keep detailed records of all your attempts to contact ESD - this documentation can help if there are any issues with your claim later.

I just got off the phone with ESD (finally!) and the agent told me they're aware of widespread issues with both the phone system and website errors. She confirmed they can help file missed weekly claims over the phone and that they're prioritizing cases where people have been unable to file due to technical issues. She also mentioned that if you get the WS-839 error specifically, you should try the eServices mobile app instead of the website - apparently it's using a different server that isn't as overloaded. For the original poster: Based on what the agent told me, I'd recommend documenting every time you've tried to call (dates and times) and keeping screenshots of any website errors. This will help them verify you've been making good faith efforts to file.

I think what everyone is missing here is that the original poster said their 'previous unemployment claim ran out a few months ago' and they're 'eligible to reapply today.' This sounds like they're filing a new claim, not continuing an existing one. That might change some of the answers here because starting a new claim has different questions than weekly claims on an existing claim. I remember the application asking about future employment differently than the weekly claims do.

Since you're filing a new claim, the process is slightly different. On the initial application: 1. When asked about employment status, select "unemployed" 2. There will be a question about whether you have a definite return to work date - answer "yes" and provide your future start date 3. You'll need to explain your situation in the comments/additional information section 4. After approval, you'll still need to complete job search requirements until you start working For a new claim, ESD will also verify your quarters of employment and earnings from the previous 18 months to determine eligibility and benefit amount. Make sure you have accurate information about your previous employers ready.

One thing to remember is that the rules were different for 2021 because of COVID relief programs. Depending on WHEN in 2021 you received unemployment and how much income you had overall, some unemployment benefits might have been tax-exempt under the American Rescue Plan. So even if you did forget to report it, you might not actually owe anything additional.

Update us after you figure it out! I'm curious what happens. I've been paranoid about my taxes too lol

I had this exact problem two weeks ago! The website was down all Sunday and Monday, and I panicked because I thought we only had 48 hours to file. But the ESD rep told me we actually have the entire following week to submit a claim before it's considered late. So if your claim week ends Saturday, you have until the following Saturday to file. That info really reduced my stress level!

Just to provide the complete information for future reference: 1. Regular weekly claim phone line: 800-318-6022 2. TTY/TDD line for hearing impaired: 800-365-8969 3. ESD Technical Support (for eServices issues): 855-682-0785 And if you encounter website issues in the future, try these steps first: • Clear browser cache and cookies • Try a different browser (Edge sometimes works when Chrome fails) • Try a mobile device on cellular data instead of wifi • Try very early morning (5-6am) or late evening (10-11pm) when server load is lower

I'm in a similar situation - family of 5 in Kirkland. When I lost my tech job, going from $175k to maximum unemployment was a MASSIVE shock. We're burning through savings just to keep up with the mortgage. The thing is, I understand the system was designed decades ago when having a max benefit made sense - most people weren't earning what tech/healthcare/professional services pay now. The system hasn't evolved to match the modern economy. On the flip side, I spoke with a friend who lost a retail job in Spokane, and for her, the benefits are actually not bad compared to her previous income. Shows how much geographic disparity there is.

Just as an update on the timeline - I looked it up and the maximum weekly benefit amount increases each July based on the previous year's average annual wage. So the $999 amount was set in July 2023 based on 2022 wages and will adjust again this July (2025) based on the state's average wage from 2024. As several people noted, the challenge is that it's a statewide average that doesn't account for regional differences. The benefit amount is intended to be approximately 63% of your average weekly wage, up to that maximum cap. For anyone wanting to advocate for change, the relevant laws are in RCW 50.20.120.

Update for the OP: You might want to check if your appeal was properly transmitted from ESD to OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings). They're actually separate agencies. Sometimes ESD receives the appeal but fails to forward it to OAH, which is who actually schedules and conducts the hearings. If you contact OAH directly and they have no record of your appeal, that's your smoking gun that ESD failed to process it correctly. At that point, you can request that ESD immediately transmit your appeal to OAH with documentation showing when you originally filed it. This would establish that any delays were administrative errors, not your fault.

This is a HUGE problem with Washington's unemployment system! They deliberately make the appeal process confusing and difficult to navigate. I had to appeal a disqualification last year and the ONLY reason I got a hearing was because I sent a certified letter to the Commissioner's Office stating I would be contacting my state representative and filing a formal complaint. Magically, my "lost" appeal was found and I had a hearing scheduled within two weeks. DON'T GIVE UP! The system is designed to make you quit fighting for what you're entitled to. Get everything in writing and escalate as high as you need to go.