How long does it take to get an appeal hearing for unemployment at Washington ESD?

8 weeks?? That's so long. Did they at least give you any updates during that time or did you just have to wait in silence?

Pretty much radio silence until I got the hearing notice in the mail. You can check your SecureAccess Washington account but it doesn't show much detail.

Is there any way to expedite it if you're facing financial hardship? I'm about to lose my apartment.

Unfortunately no expedite process for regular appeals. The only thing you can do is make sure all your documentation was submitted correctly with your appeal.

I've tried calling probably 20 times and either get busy signal or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. It's so frustrating!

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Finally got to talk to someone about my appeal status.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate at this point to talk to an actual person.

They basically handle the calling for you and connect you when they reach an agent. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through the busy lines.

Mine was for job separation issues. My employer claimed I quit but I was actually laid off due to lack of work. Should be pretty straightforward.

That type usually moves faster since it's more clear-cut. You should get your hearing notice soon. Make sure you have documentation from your employer about the layoff.

Did you still go through with the hearing even after finding work? I'm job hunting but worried about the timing.

yeah I went through with it because I wanted the back pay from when I was denied. ended up winning and got like $4800 in benefits

I've been doing that but it feels pointless since they all show as disqualified weeks. Good to know it matters for the back pay though.

Exactly. Keep documenting your job search activities too in case they ask about that during the hearing process.

Good point. I have some emails from my supervisor about the layoffs that should help my case.

Perfect! Print those out and organize everything chronologically. The hearing officer will appreciate clear documentation.

That's scary. What if I miss the hearing notice somehow?

You can request a new hearing if you miss it due to not receiving notice, but it's better to just check your mail and SecureAccess Washington account daily.

Most are still phone hearings. You'll get a call from the hearing officer at your scheduled time. Make sure you're somewhere quiet with good reception.

Thanks! I was worried about having to drive to some office in Olympia or something.

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

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was worth it just to stop the stress of endless calling and busy signals.

That's great news! How long did it end up being from when you filed your appeal?

Just over 6 weeks total. Not as bad as some of the longer waits people mentioned but still felt like forever.

Good luck with your hearing! Stick to the facts about your layoff and you should be fine.

Remember to be clear and concise in your testimony. Don't ramble or get emotional, just state what happened with your job separation.

I totally agree. The system is set up to make people give up on their appeals.

While I understand the frustration, the hearing officers do thorough reviews of each case. It's not just a rubber stamp process.

Yeah I've had to swallow my pride and ask family for help. Not ideal but necessary.

No shame in that! The unemployment system is supposed to be a safety net but these delays make it almost useless.

That's encouraging to hear. My employer's initial response to Washington ESD was pretty vague about the circumstances.

Exactly. At the hearing you get to present your side with evidence. Much more fair than the initial determination process.

Good to know there's someone I can actually reach if needed. The regular customer service lines are impossible.

That's true, though even those lines can be busy. That's why services like Claimyr are so helpful - they handle all the calling hassle for you.