How long does a protest take for unemployment - Washington ESD timing?

Thanks for the info! I have been filing my weekly claims still. Do you know if there's any way to speed up the process?

Not really, but you can check your account online periodically for updates. Sometimes they'll request additional info which can delay things if you don't respond quickly.

10 weeks?? That's terrible. Have you tried calling them to check on status?

tried calling dozens of times but always busy signal or get disconnected after waiting forever

That's encouraging to hear you won! I do have the layoff notice they gave me and some emails about the budget cuts. Hopefully that's enough evidence.

Did you have to do a phone interview or hearing as part of the protest process?

No phone interview in my case - they made the decision based on the written documentation from both sides. But I think they do phone interviews if the evidence is conflicting.

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? How much does it cost?

Yeah it's legitimate, I was skeptical too at first. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy. The focus is just on getting you connected to an actual Washington ESD person instead of dealing with busy signals.

Interesting, might have to check that out. I've wasted so many hours trying to get through to ESD.

Totally agree. It's like they don't understand people have bills to pay while waiting for their decision.

Yeah it really is stressful. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you don't know when you might get an answer.

If the employer doesn't provide evidence to support their protest within the timeframe Washington ESD gives them, it can definitely help your case. They can't just make claims without backing them up.

That's what I was hoping. Fingers crossed they don't respond then!

Exactly! I'm in this weird limbo where I don't know if I should take a lower paying job or wait it out. Did you keep job searching during your protest?

I kept looking but was more selective since I wasn't getting any income anyway. Probably should have been more aggressive about it in hindsight.

Good advice! I did save copies of everything I submitted. Should I send it certified mail or is online submission okay?

Online submission through your Washington ESD account is fine and actually preferred. You get a confirmation that it was received.

If you lose the protest, Washington ESD will determine you were overpaid and yes, you'd have to pay back any benefits. But you can appeal that decision if you disagree with it.

Ugh that's scary. So you're basically gambling with money you might have to give back.

That's why it's so important to be honest and have good documentation. Don't claim benefits if you know you're not eligible.

That's awful that they're fighting your claim when you have medical documentation! Hopefully Washington ESD sees through their BS.

Medical records should definitely be strong evidence in your favor. Did you also submit any call logs or texts showing you tried to contact your employer?

Yeah I included screenshots of my calls and a text I sent to my supervisor. Hopefully it's enough.

That makes sense. Mine should be pretty cut and dry since I have the official layoff notice from HR.

Good point, I've been keeping up with my job search log. Didn't want to give them any other reason to deny my claim.

Smart thinking. Washington ESD can be picky about job search compliance.

That's really helpful to know! I might try that if I don't hear anything in the next week or so.

Did they charge you for the service? Trying to decide if it's worth it.

They do charge but it was worth it to me to avoid the frustration of constant busy signals. The peace of mind of actually talking to someone was valuable.

Hopefully it won't come to that, but good to know I have options if the initial decision doesn't go my way.

Appeals can take even longer though, sometimes 3-4 months for a hearing date. The backlog is pretty bad.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm trying to stay optimistic. The waiting is just really tough.

Welcome to the protest waiting club! It sounds like you're in a really similar situation to mine. Having those emails showing you were meeting targets should definitely help your case - that's exactly the kind of documentation that can counter their poor performance claim. The waiting really is the worst part, especially when bills are piling up. At least we're both keeping up with filing our weekly claims so we'll get backpay if we win. Fingers crossed for both of us!