How long is the appeal process for unemployment in Washington ESD?

Did you win your appeal? I'm worried they won't believe me even though I have the paperwork.

Yes I won! The key is having documentation like you do. Make sure you submit everything before the deadline.

So the hearing is where they actually review all my documents? How does that work exactly?

Yes, you'll present your case over the phone or video call. The judge will ask questions and review your evidence. Your former employer will also have a chance to present their side.

How much does that cost? I'm already stressed about money.

It's worth it if you need to actually talk to someone. Way better than spending hours on hold just to get disconnected.

Really? I didn't know I could still file weekly claims while appealing. That's good to know.

Yes this is super important! I made the mistake of not filing and had to do a whole separate process to get those weeks back.

That seems unusually long. You might want to check if there's an issue with your appeal paperwork or contact information.

i tried calling but gave up after 3 hours on hold

That's great! Make sure you have all your documents organized and ready to reference during the hearing.

Good luck! With layoff documentation you should be fine. The judge will see right through any employer BS.

How long after the hearing did you get your backpay? I'm hoping it's not another long wait.

About a week after the decision was mailed. The backpay came as a lump sum.

Yeah I have the official layoff notice and a letter from HR explaining the restructuring. Should be pretty clear cut.

Have you tried checking your account online? Mine showed the hearing date before I got the letter.

I check every day but it just says 'appeal pending' still. Maybe I should try calling again.

I was skeptical about using a service like that but honestly it saved me so much time and frustration. Worth every penny.

I'm trying to be patient but bills don't wait unfortunately. At least I know it's moving forward now.

You can but it's usually not necessary for straightforward cases like layoffs. The hearings are designed for regular people to represent themselves.

ok good to know. probably not worth the cost then

Congratulations! That's awesome news. Employers often don't show up when they know they're wrong.

This gives me hope for my own appeal. So glad it worked out for you!

Great outcome! Now you know for future reference that Washington ESD appeals do work when you have the right documentation.

Yeah just make sure you keep filing weekly claims during the process. That was the best advice I got here.

Exactly! The system works but they make it hard to navigate. Having a resource like Claimyr to actually talk to someone makes a huge difference.

How long did the Board of Appeals process take? Hopefully I won't need to go that far.

Another 6-8 weeks but totally worth it. They overturned the judge's decision and I got all my backpay.

Perfect summary! I wish I had known all this from the start.

Adding to this - if you can't get through to check status, services like Claimyr can help you actually reach someone at Washington ESD.