How long does an appeal take for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

8 weeks?! That's so long. Did you end up getting your benefits paid out retroactively once you won?

Yes, they paid me back to when I first filed. But it was a long wait without any income coming in.

Do I need a lawyer for the hearing? I can't really afford one right now.

You don't need a lawyer but it can help. You can represent yourself and present your evidence. Make sure you have documentation proving you were laid off, not that you quit.

Is that legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it worked for me. They basically help you get through the phone system to talk to someone who can actually check your appeal status.

I'm skeptical of services like that but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken I might try it too.

Really? Even though I'm disqualified? Won't that mess things up?

Nope, you should keep filing. If you win your appeal, you'll get paid for all those weeks. If you don't file, you can't get paid for those weeks later.

What kind of additional documentation did they want? I'm worried they'll ask for stuff I don't have.

they wanted like a letter from my old employer confirming it was a layoff, pay stubs, stuff like that. some of it was hard to get

My old company is being really uncooperative about giving me documentation. Any other options?

Try contacting your former coworkers who were also laid off. Their testimony could help support your case. Also check if you have any emails or texts about the layoff saved.

That's encouraging to hear! What was the hearing like?

It was actually pretty straightforward. Done over the phone, lasted maybe 30 minutes. Just had to explain what happened and show my evidence.

That's so frustrating. I almost didn't appeal because it seemed so complicated.

Don't give up! The appeal process exists for a reason and you have a good case if you were actually laid off.

I've been checking but it just says 'appeal received' with no other updates.

yeah thats normal, they dont update it much until theres actual movement

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed.

It's way cheaper than sitting around waiting with no income. Check out their website for details.

Do I need to do the full 3 job searches per week even while appealing?

Yes, you need to treat it like you're still an active claimant. Keep doing your job searches and logging them in WorkSourceWA.

At least we're not alone in this. What was your disqualification for?

They said I was fired for misconduct but I was actually let go due to budget cuts. So frustrating!

That's reassuring. I just wish I knew when to expect the hearing to be scheduled.

They're supposed to give you at least 10 days notice before the hearing date. You should get a letter in the mail when it's scheduled.

Oh no! How did you miss it? Did they call you or something?

they sent a letter but i moved and didnt get it in time. make sure your address is updated with them

That's encouraging! I have emails from my supervisor about the layoffs so hopefully that will be enough.

That sounds like solid evidence. Email documentation is usually very convincing to the hearing officers.

Did they give you a timeline for when your hearing would be scheduled?

They told me it would be about 6-8 more weeks, which turned out to be pretty accurate. At least I knew what to expect instead of just wondering.

Thanks for the encouragement. Some days I feel like giving up but I know I was wrongfully denied.

dont give up! you deserve those benefits if you were laid off through no fault of your own

Good advice! I'll start making notes now about exactly what happened with my layoff.

Yeah, and practice explaining it clearly and concisely. You want to sound confident and prepared.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. This thread has been so helpful!

Keep us posted on how it goes! We're all rooting for you.

I don't think there's any interim assistance specifically for unemployment appeals, but you might want to look into emergency rental assistance programs in your area or contact 211 for other resources. Some food banks and utility assistance programs don't have income requirements if you're unemployed. It's tough but try to document everything during this waiting period - keep records of your job searches and any communication about your layoff.