How to get retroactive unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

What counts as proof of good cause? I honestly just didn't know I could file while doing part-time work.

Not knowing you were eligible can be good cause, but you'll need to document why you didn't know. Keep any records of misinformation you received or show you tried to research it.

Did you eventually get approved? What kind of documentation did they want?

Yeah I got approved but it took 6 months. They wanted medical records, proof I was misinformed, and a detailed explanation of my circumstances for each week I was requesting.

How does that service work? Is it expensive?

It just helps you get through to an actual person at Washington ESD instead of getting stuck in phone trees or hung up on. Much better than calling repeatedly for hours.

I was skeptical at first but honestly after trying to call ESD for weeks with no luck, anything that works is worth it. Got connected same day.

Yes but you have to show good cause for the delay. It's not automatic and Washington ESD scrutinizes these requests pretty carefully.

Well shoot, I wish I had known this earlier. Guess I missed out on those benefits.

Do you remember what the form is called? I'm having trouble finding it on their site.

I think it's called 'Request for Reconsideration of Effective Date' or something like that. It's buried in their forms section.

You can also request it by calling but good luck getting through. The online form is probably your best bet.

That's so frustrating! Did you have to keep calling to check on the status?

Yeah I called every few weeks but usually couldn't get through to anyone who knew anything about my case.

I did do some freelance work during that time. Will that disqualify me completely?

Not necessarily, but it might reduce your weekly benefit amount for those weeks. You still need to report it honestly.

Exactly, and not reporting work can get you in serious trouble for benefit fraud. Always better to be transparent.

You're still within the one-year limit so you can try, but you'll need really strong documentation of good cause for such a long delay.

I was dealing with a family emergency and honestly just didn't think about unemployment until recently. Hope that counts as good cause.

What do you mean by base period? Is that different for backdated claims?

Base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file late, it might include different wages than if you filed on time.

Good point! I was wondering about that. So I should file for current benefits while also requesting the backdate?

Absolutely. Handle them as separate issues. File your regular claim for current weeks and submit the backdate request for past weeks.

Did they help you get answers about the backdate specifically?

Yeah, the ESD agent I reached through their service was able to see exactly where my request was in the process and what additional info they needed.

Should I send it certified mail or is online submission better?

I'd do both honestly. Submit online and also mail a hard copy certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

Online submission through your SecureAccess Washington account is usually more reliable and you get confirmation it was received.

What were the reasons for denial? Trying to avoid those mistakes.

Usually insufficient good cause or not enough documentation to support the reason for delay.

Just the original benefit amount. No interest or penalties are added to backdated unemployment benefits.

That's what I figured. Still better than nothing though.

I wasn't sure about this. I thought any work would disqualify me completely.

Nope, they just reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earned. It's called partial unemployment benefits.

Yes, you can appeal the denial just like any other ESD decision. You have 30 days from the date of the denial notice to file your appeal.

Thanks, I'll look into the appeal process. This whole system is so complicated.

What level of detail are we talking about? Like a timeline of events?

Exactly. Day by day if necessary, explaining what you were doing, who you talked to, what information you had, etc.

Good point! I hadn't thought about the tax implications. Thanks for all the help everyone!

Yeah unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld automatically or pay quarterly estimates.

Good luck! It seems like a lot of work but potentially worth it if you qualify.

Thanks! At least now I know what I'm getting into.

How long do those interviews usually take?

Mine was about 20 minutes. They asked detailed questions about each week I was requesting and why I didn't file originally.

And if you miss that interview call, it can delay your case significantly. Make sure you're available when they say they'll call.

Agreed! I feel much more prepared now to tackle this process.

Best of luck with your backdate request. Hope it works out for you!

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! The part about reporting all work, even small cash jobs, is something I was worried about. I did some freelance graphic design work and wasn't sure if I needed to report that. Better to be completely transparent than risk getting in trouble later. Four months seems like a long time but if it results in approval it's worth the wait. Did you have to do a phone interview as part of your process?