ESD keeps denying my claim despite submitting all documents - help with appeal process?

I went through almost the EXACT same situation last month!!! ESD kept saying I didnt submit my docs but i had screenshots proving I did. My advice - FILE THAT APPEAL ASAP!!! You only have 30 days from the denial date. Make sure to include in your appeal letter that you submitted everything multiple times and have the representative's name who told you it would be approved. Also IMPORTANT - request a phone hearing rather than in-person if possible, it's faster. Also don't stop filing your weekly claims even during the appeal process. If you win, they'll pay you for all those weeks retroactively!

You might be getting denied because of your pension. I think WA state has some rule about retirement pay and unemployment benefits. Have you checked that?

I work as an employment counselor and see this issue frequently. Here's what's likely happening: your pension documentation and ID verification may be getting flagged in the automated system despite being submitted correctly. This commonly happens with certain file formats or when the system experiences high traffic. For your appeal, you'll need to prepare: 1. Copies of ALL documents you've submitted (ID, pension information, etc.) 2. Screenshots or confirmation numbers from each submission 3. Dates and notes from phone conversations (especially with the government office representative) 4. A clear timeline of everything you've done to comply Appeals are currently taking 5-7 weeks to process in Washington state. The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) will send you a scheduling notice with a hearing date about 2 weeks after you file your appeal. You'll present your case to an Administrative Law Judge who has the authority to overturn ESD's decision. If you need immediate assistance with bills while waiting, contact your county's Community Action Agency as they may have emergency assistance programs.

the EXACT same thing happened to my husband last winter!!! ESD is completely broken, they claimed for 2 months they never got his W2 when he uploaded it THREE TIMES! we finally got it resolved when he contacted his state senator's office and they pressured ESD. Try calling your local representatives office again and explain the denial happened AFTER their intervention.

I had similar issues with ESD claiming they never received documents I submitted multiple times. What fixed it for me was finally getting through to an actual claims specialist who had the authority to override the system flags. Have you tried using Claimyr to reach an ESD agent directly? I was skeptical at first, but it worked for me after weeks of failed attempts calling the regular ESD line. Their service connected me to an ESD rep in about 25 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I got through to an actual specialist (not just the frontline support), they were able to see all my previously uploaded documents in their system and fix the issue on the spot. Might be worth trying before your appeal hearing.

My neighber had this happen and what she found out is that the ID verification system they use (called ID.me) was marking her documents as suspicious even though they were legit!! Something about the image quality or file format. For the appeal make sure you bring paper copies of EVERYTHING and ask them specifically to check if the ID.me system was what flagged you. Also make sure ur still doing the 3 job search activities each week even during appeal!!!

One more thing I forgot to mention - when you have your hearing, be super organized and speak clearly. The judges appreciate when you're prepared. My hearing only lasted 20 minutes because I had everything ready to go. Oh, and they're pretty strict about starting on time, so log in early if it's virtual!

ESD IS A COMPLETE JOKE!!!!! I've been dealing with them for MONTHS and every single time its a new excuse!!! They are INTENTIONALLY making it difficult to get benefits we DESERVE after paying into the system for YEARS!!! The whole system is designed to wear us down until we give up!!!!!

Regarding your question about the pension - yes, definitely address both issues in your appeal hearing. Start by acknowledging the pension and explaining that you disclosed it from the beginning and understood it would reduce (not eliminate) your benefits. Then move on to the documentation issue as the main reason for the improper denial. Also, check if the denial letter specifies exactly which documents they claim are missing. Sometimes they'll list specific items, which helps you focus your appeal on those particular documents.