How long does an appeal for unemployment take with Washington ESD?

Appeals can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks typically. The Office of Administrative Hearings handles them and they're pretty backed up. Make sure you submitted all your documentation when you filed the appeal.

ugh the waiting is the worst part! i filed mine in september and didnt get my hearing until november. but i won so it was worth it

I actually used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD during my appeal process. Was able to speak with someone who confirmed my appeal was moving forward and got an estimated timeline. Way better than trying to call on my own - their system at claimyr.com gets you through the phone queue. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! My appeal took 4 months and that was pre-pandemic. Now with all the backlogs it's probably even worse. Washington ESD doesn't care if people can't pay rent while waiting for their appeals.

During the appeal process, you should continue filing your weekly claims even though you're not getting paid. If you win the appeal, you'll get back pay for all those weeks. Don't stop filing or you'll lose those weeks forever.

just checking in - any update on your appeal timeline? mine's been pending for 2 months now

One thing to keep in mind - if your former employer contests the appeal, it can add time to the process. They have to respond and sometimes request extensions. But most appeals get scheduled within 8-10 weeks of filing.

My brother went through this last year. Took about 3 months total but he got all his back pay once he won. Just hang in there.

Update on the Claimyr thing - I used it again yesterday to check on a different issue and got through in about 10 minutes. The Washington ESD rep was able to pull up my case immediately and give me real answers. Definitely worth it if you're stuck trying to get information.

Pro tip: If you haven't already, make sure you have copies of EVERYTHING related to your termination. Employment contracts, emails, witness statements if possible. The hearing judge will want to see documentation, not just hear your side of the story.

been there, the waiting is torture but most people do win their appeals if they were truly laid off and not fired for misconduct

Check your online account regularly! Sometimes they schedule hearings and the notice gets lost in the mail. You don't want to miss your hearing date because you didn't know about it.

oh and make sure your contact info is updated with washington esd! my friend almost missed her hearing because they had her old phone number

The whole appeals process feels like it's designed to make people give up. But stick with it - you have rights and if you were legitimately laid off you should get your benefits.

Final thought on getting status updates - I tried calling Washington ESD the old fashioned way for comparison after using Claimyr, and spent 2 hours getting disconnected repeatedly. The callback service is definitely the way to go if you need real information about your appeal timeline.

Just remember that even if the appeal takes forever, you'll get back pay for all the weeks if you win. I know it doesn't help with bills right now but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

One last piece of advice - start preparing for your hearing now even though it might be weeks away. Write down a timeline of events, gather documents, and practice explaining your side clearly and concisely. Being prepared makes a huge difference in the outcome.