How long does it take to appeal unemployment decision in Washington ESD?

Wow that's longer than I expected. Do they backpay you if you win the appeal?

Yes, if your appeal is successful you'll get backpay from when your claim should have started. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during the appeal process.

12 weeks?? That's insane. How are people supposed to survive that long without income?

I know it's brutal. The system is really overwhelmed. You might want to look into food banks and other assistance programs while you wait.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the lines are busy. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Finally got to talk to someone about my appeal.

That actually sounds helpful. I'm so tired of getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Did they charge you a lot?

They focus on just getting you connected rather than being expensive. Worth it to finally talk to a real person at Washington ESD about my case.

Mine was denied for 'voluntary quit' but I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. I have documentation proving it wasn't voluntary.

That's a winnable appeal if you have proper documentation. Make sure to submit all your evidence before the hearing deadline.

Similar thing happened to me. My employer initially reported it wrong to Washington ESD. Once I showed the layoff notice and emails about the budget cuts, they reversed the decision.

That's not exactly encouraging... Did you lose your appeal?

yeah lost the first one but won on the second level appeal to the board of appeals, took like 6 months total though

There are multiple levels of appeal available. If you lose at the first hearing, you can appeal to the Board of Appeals, and then potentially to Superior Court if needed.

What kind of documentation did you need to gather?

Everything related to your job separation - termination letter, emails, performance reviews, anything that supports your case. Also any correspondence you've had with Washington ESD about your claim.

Don't forget witness statements if you have coworkers who can back up your story about the layoff or firing circumstances.

Good point. Should I be filing weekly claims during the appeal even though I was denied?

Yes absolutely! Keep filing your weekly claims. If you win the appeal, you'll need those claims on file to get your backpay. If you don't file them, you could lose those weeks permanently.

This is really important advice. I've seen people lose out on thousands of dollars because they stopped filing during their appeal.

I contacted my state rep about my delayed appeal and they actually helped! Got a response from Washington ESD within a week after months of waiting.

That's a great idea. I didn't know they could help with Washington ESD issues.

Yeah, their constituent services office deals with state agency problems all the time. Worth a try if you're really stuck.

How do they usually contact you for additional info?

Usually through your online account on the Washington ESD website, but sometimes by mail. Check both regularly.

3 months is definitely too long. Have you tried calling to check on the status? Sometimes appeals get lost in the system.

tried calling hundreds of times, can never get through to anyone

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you can't get through to Washington ESD on your own, they help you actually reach an agent who can check your appeal status.

Thanks for the tip! Is there anything else I should know about the actual hearing process?

Be prepared to present your case clearly and stick to the facts. The hearing officer will ask questions and give your employer a chance to respond too.

Also bring up any evidence you have right away - don't wait for them to ask specific questions about documentation you want to submit.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel more prepared now for what to expect with the timeline and process.

Good luck with your appeal! The waiting is the hardest part but stay persistent with filing your weekly claims and gathering evidence.

Is it worth getting a lawyer for an unemployment appeal? Seems like it might be expensive.

Depends on how much money is at stake and how complex your case is. Legal aid societies sometimes help with unemployment appeals for free if you qualify income-wise.

That's what I'm hoping for. The backpay would really help at this point.

Exactly. And make sure you're documenting any hardships the delay is causing - sometimes that information can be relevant to your case.