As a new bus driver, I really appreciate all the detailed info here! One thing I'm curious about - does it matter if we're part-time vs full-time drivers? I only drive morning and afternoon routes (about 6 hours total per day) and wondering if that affects eligibility or benefit amounts.

Part-time vs full-time status doesn't affect eligibility - what matters is meeting the minimum earnings requirements during your base year. Your benefit amount will be calculated based on your total wages, so part-time drivers typically get lower weekly benefits than full-time drivers, but you can still qualify. The 6 hours daily you're working should be plenty to meet the requirements as long as you've been working consistently during the school year.

For anyone dealing with adjudication delays or needing to speak with Washington ESD about employer responses, I highly recommend checking out Claimyr. I was stuck for weeks trying to get answers about why my claim was taking so long. Used their service and finally got through to someone who could explain what was happening. Game changer honestly.

Just went through this process myself last month. My employer did respond within the 10-day window, but what surprised me was that Washington ESD sent me a copy of their response automatically. They basically just confirmed my last day worked and said it was a layoff due to restructuring. The whole thing was resolved in about 2 weeks. I think the key is being completely honest in your initial application - if your story matches what your employer reports, it goes much smoother. Since you mentioned it was budget cuts, that should work in your favor since it's clearly not misconduct on your part.

I'm new to this community but experiencing the exact same thing! Just received a $94.73 deposit from ESD this morning and I was completely confused since my unemployment claim ended back in April 2024. I haven't filed for anything or even logged into my ESD account in months. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like these adjustment payments are totally legitimate and part of ESD working through their wage investigation backlog. I'm planning to check my ESD account tonight for any messages and will keep an eye out for that official notice over the next couple weeks. Thank you all for sharing your stories and explanations - this community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing situations with ESD!

I'm completely new to this community but had to join and comment because I literally just experienced this exact same thing! Got a $167.23 deposit from ESD this afternoon and I was having a complete meltdown thinking it was some kind of error that would come back to bite me later. My unemployment claim ended way back in February 2024 and I haven't touched anything ESD-related since then. Reading through all of these responses has been such a huge relief - it's amazing how many people are going through the same thing with these unexpected adjustment payments. It really sounds like ESD is just catching up on a massive backlog of wage investigations and making sure people got what they were actually entitled to. I'm definitely going to log into my ESD account tonight to check for messages and will watch for that official notice in the mail. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - this community is incredible for helping newcomers understand these confusing ESD situations!

Final thought - even if you end up owing the money, negotiating a payment plan is way better than letting them garnish your wages. Wage garnishment shows up on your credit report and can affect future employment. Voluntary payment plans usually don't.

I went through something similar last year with a $3,100 overpayment from Washington ESD. The most important thing I learned is that they're actually pretty reasonable to work with if you contact them before they start collection actions. I called within the 30-day window and was able to set up a payment plan for $150/month over 24 months. The agent I spoke with was understanding about my financial situation and even mentioned that they prefer payment plans over garnishments because it's less administrative work for them. Don't let the fear paralyze you - most people who reach out proactively end up with workable solutions. Just make sure whatever payment amount you agree to is something you can realistically maintain every month.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just had my hearing last week for a similar denial - I was taking one online business class while job hunting. What really helped me was being super clear that I view the class as professional development, not a barrier to work. I brought a letter I wrote stating I would immediately withdraw from the class if any job conflicted with it, plus my entire job search log showing I'd applied to 47 jobs in 6 weeks. The judge asked me point blank "If you got a job offer tomorrow that required you to start during your class time, what would you do?" I said without hesitation "I would accept the job and drop the class immediately - I need income and employment is my absolute priority." Still waiting for the written decision but the judge seemed satisfied with my answers. The whole hearing took about 25 minutes. Stay confident and make it crystal clear that school comes second to any work opportunity. You've got this!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now too! ESD denied my claim because I'm taking one evening accounting class (4 credits, twice a week) while job searching. My hearing is scheduled for next week and I'm honestly pretty nervous about it. Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful - especially about emphasizing that work is the absolute priority and being ready for those direct questions about dropping the class for employment. I've been documenting everything: my class schedule, job applications (I'm up to 28 so far), and I wrote a statement about being willing to withdraw from school for any job opportunity. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had success getting their benefits backdated to when they were originally denied? I've been without income for almost a month now while waiting for this hearing, and the bills are really piling up. Just hoping there might be some relief once this gets resolved. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel much more prepared and confident going into my hearing!