How long for Washington ESD unemployment appeal decision - been waiting 6 weeks

I've been filing weekly claims but it feels pointless when everything just shows $0. Thanks for the timeline info though, at least I know I'm not the only one waiting this long.

Yeah definitely keep filing those weekly claims! I made that mistake during my appeal and had to fight to get those weeks added back later.

That's exactly what's driving me crazy - no communication at all about timing or status. Did you end up winning your appeal?

Yes I won, but it was a stressful few months. Started looking into services that help you actually reach ESD agents by phone. Found one called Claimyr that got me through to someone who could at least confirm my appeal was in the system and moving forward.

Never heard of that service before. How does it work exactly?

16 weeks?! That's almost 4 months without income. How is anyone supposed to survive that long?

That's why it's so important to file the appeal immediately and keep documenting everything. The retroactive payment helps but doesn't pay the bills in real time.

That's actually where Claimyr helped me - they got me through to an actual ESD representative who could see my case details. Normally I'd spend hours trying to call and just get hung up on. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Thanks for the tip! Anything beats sitting here wondering if my case got lost in the system somewhere.

Mine is definitely quit vs discharge. They're saying I quit but really I was forced out due to safety issues that management ignored.

Document everything about those safety issues if you haven't already. Photos, emails, witness statements, anything that shows you had good cause to leave.

That gives me hope! $4,000 would make such a huge difference right now. Did you have to do a phone hearing or was it decided on documents alone?

I had a phone hearing that lasted about 45 minutes. The judge asked detailed questions about why I left my job. Having documentation really helped my case.

Good advice. I have some documentation but probably need to gather more. The safety violations were pretty well documented at least.

Safety violations are strong evidence for good cause. Make sure you have dates and specific incidents documented.

Also keep records of any attempts you made to resolve the safety issues before leaving - that shows you tried to fix the situation first.

14 weeks is insane. How did you manage financially during that time?

Honestly it was really tough. Had to rely on family help and food banks. The back pay was substantial though - over $5,200 when it finally came through.

What service was that? I'm tired of getting hung up on every time I call.

Claimyr - they handle the calling for you and get you connected to actual ESD staff. Was able to get confirmation that my appeal was progressing and get an estimate of timing. Way better than the endless busy signals and disconnections.

Congratulations! That's amazing news and gives me hope for my own case. What was the key factor that won your appeal?

Having detailed documentation of the workplace issues that led me to quit. I had emails, photos, and witness statements that proved I had good cause to leave.

20+ weeks?! That's almost half a year without income. How is that even legal?

It's not ideal but that's the reality of the current system. The good news is the back pay includes interest in some cases.

Thanks for the insider perspective. Is there anything claimants can do to avoid delays or get priority processing?

Not really - appeals are processed in order received. The best thing you can do is make sure all your documentation is complete and clear when you file.

I do the same thing! Check my account multiple times a day even though I know it won't change that fast.

Same here. The waiting is torture when you're worried about basic survival.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've been hesitant but might need to look into that soon if this drags on much longer.

I totally understand the hesitation, but these programs exist for exactly situations like this. Most people working there understand the unemployment system delays.

$8,000 would solve so many problems right now. Trying to stay optimistic that my appeal will be successful too.

Sounds like you have a strong case with the safety issues. Document everything and stay positive!

Agreed that the system needs fixing. For now I'll just keep doing what I can and hope for the best.

That's all any of us can do. The system isn't perfect but it does eventually work for most people who have valid cases.

That's really helpful to know it actually works. Might be worth trying if I don't hear anything soon.

Yeah, for me it was worth it just for the peace of mind of knowing my case wasn't lost in the system somewhere.