Good news - misconduct cases have a fairly high rate of being overturned on appeal, especially if the employer doesn't show up to the hearing or doesn't have solid documentation. Just be honest, stick to relevant facts, and don't get baited into arguments or emotional responses if your case goes to hearing. In the meantime, I strongly recommend starting to document everything now. Write down a detailed timeline of events leading to your termination while it's fresh in your mind. Gather any emails, texts, or documents that support your position. If you know coworkers who witnessed relevant events, ask if they'd be willing to provide statements (though they're not obligated to). Also, keep a log of all communication with ESD about your appeal - dates, times, what was discussed. This can be helpful if there are any procedural issues later.

One thing I learned during my appeal process is to keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit to ESD or OAH. I had to resubmit documents twice because they somehow "lost" my original paperwork. Save digital copies and get tracking confirmation if you mail anything physical. Also, if your case does go to OAH, don't be surprised if the hearing gets rescheduled at least once. Mine was postponed twice due to scheduling conflicts on the employer's side. It's frustrating but pretty common from what I've heard from others here. The waiting really is the hardest part, but try to use this time productively to build your case. Document everything, organize your evidence, and maybe even practice explaining your situation out loud so you're ready whether it's an adjudicator call or a formal hearing.

Since your employer is appealing a "discharged for misconduct" case, their burden of proof is quite high. They need to prove your actions were: 1. Willful or wanton disregard of employer's interests 2. Deliberate violation of reasonable policies 3. Carelessness so severe or repeated to show intentional disregard Simple poor performance usually doesn't meet this standard. If they never gave you written warnings or improvement plans, that works strongly in your favor. Since ESD already ruled in your favor once, you're starting from a position of strength.

Hey Edison! I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. It's definitely stressful but you're in a good position since ESD already ruled in your favor. A few things that really helped me: 1. Print out your original ESD determination letter - bring multiple copies to reference during the hearing 2. If you have any emails or messages from your employer about your termination, bring those too 3. Write down specific examples of how your "performance issues" were never properly documented or addressed through formal channels The fact that you never got written warnings or a performance improvement plan is HUGE in your favor. Most employers who fire for legitimate performance reasons have a paper trail. The judge will definitely ask your employer about their progressive discipline policy. One more tip - stay calm and professional even if your former employer says things that upset you. I made the mistake of getting a bit emotional during mine and had to take a moment to collect myself. You've got this! The burden is really on them to prove misconduct, not just poor performance.

I'm also new to the PFML process and this thread has been incredibly informative! I just wanted to add my recent experience for anyone else who might be in a similar situation. My claim was approved last Friday and I received my first deposit on the ReliaCard this past Tuesday - so it was 2 business days, which matches what a lot of people are reporting here. One thing I learned that might help others is that you can actually sign up for email notifications through your Paid Leave account to get alerts when your weekly claim status changes. It saved me from constantly logging in to check if my status had updated from "pending" to "approved." You can find this option under account settings if anyone is interested. Also wanted to echo what others have said about keeping up with your weekly filings - it's easy to think you're all set once you see "approved" but you definitely need to keep filing every week to continue receiving benefits. The system will remind you, but it's good to stay on top of it. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - it really helps reduce the anxiety when you're dealing with this for the first time and just want to know when you can expect some financial relief!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through my first PFML claim right now and was feeling so lost about the whole process. My claim just switched to "approved" status yesterday and I was panicking about when I'd actually see any money. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope - it sounds like I should expect to see a deposit within the next few days if the 2-4 business day pattern holds true. I chose the ReliaCard option too and was starting to wonder if I made the right choice, but based on what people are sharing here it seems like it actually might be faster than direct deposit in some cases. The tips about checking the balance online before the card arrives and setting up text alerts are game changers - I had no idea those options existed! I'm definitely going to look into those email notifications in my account settings that Malik mentioned, and I'll remember to call ReliaCard customer service if I don't see the physical card within a week or so. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to share their timelines and practical advice. This is exactly what I needed to hear to calm my nerves about budgeting during this leave. It's so much better getting real experiences from people who've actually been through this recently!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Applied for Training Benefits on January 22nd for a nursing program at Tacoma Community College and have been stuck in pending status for 4+ weeks now. Also seeing those two different adjudication dates that everyone's mentioned - so glad I found this thread because I was starting to think something was seriously wrong with my application. The financial stress is absolutely brutal. I've had to take out payday loans just to cover basic expenses and I'm behind on my car payment. What makes it even more frustrating is that nursing is such a high-demand field and I'm trying to retrain from hospitality which was decimated during COVID, but the system makes it nearly impossible to actually get the help you need. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm going to upload a hardship statement through eServices today and contact my school's financial aid office about emergency grants. The information about only 4 specialists statewide processing these applications is absolutely mind-blowing - no wonder we're all experiencing the same delays! For those who applied in early/mid January, it sounds like we might finally be getting close to the front of that very slow-moving line. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and strategies - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this broken system. Fingers crossed we all get approved soon!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare! Applied for Training Benefits on January 14th for a data science program at University of Washington and have been stuck in pending status for over 5 weeks. Like everyone else here, I have those two confusing adjudication dates showing up which was driving me absolutely crazy until I read all the explanations in this thread. The financial stress is completely overwhelming - I've maxed out my credit cards, borrowed money from family, and I'm about to be late on rent for the second month in a row. I left my job in marketing because the industry was unstable, and I'm trying to pivot into data science which is actually growing, but ESD is making it nearly impossible to survive while getting the training I need. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both a relief and terrifying - relief that it's not just me stuck in this broken system, but terrifying to learn there are only 4 specialists statewide handling these approvals! That explains why we're all experiencing identical delays and why the phone system is completely useless. I'm definitely going to upload a hardship statement today after reading the advice here, and I'll contact UW about emergency financial aid options. I had no idea schools offered emergency grants for students dealing with unemployment delays. Also going to look up my state representatives as a backup plan if nothing moves in the next week. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and strategies - knowing we're all fighting the same battle really helps. For those of us who applied in mid-January, hopefully we're finally getting close to the front of that incredibly slow-moving line. We'll get through this together!

This thread has been super helpful! I start unemployment next week and was totally confused about the filing schedule. Now I know to file every Sunday starting with my first eligible week.

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you're filing your weekly claim, make sure to answer all the questions honestly even if you think it might affect your benefits. Washington ESD has ways to verify information and being dishonest can get you in trouble later. Also, keep records of your job search activities and any work you do during the week so you can accurately report when filing. The questions are pretty straightforward but having your info organized beforehand makes the process go much faster.