How to request a hearing for unemployment disqualification in Washington ESD

Thanks! I'll check the back of the letter. Should I include documentation with my appeal or wait until the hearing?

Include any documentation you have that supports your case - pay stubs showing reduced hours, emails about schedule changes, etc. The more evidence the better.

Did you win your appeal? How long did the whole process take?

yeah i won, took about 6 weeks from appeal to hearing. the judge was fair and listened to my side

That sounds helpful! I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Did they charge you a lot?

It was worth it to finally talk to someone who could explain the process. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than trying to get through their phone lines

Oh good point about the weekly claims. I wasn't sure if I should keep doing that or not.

Yes definitely keep filing! Even if you're not getting paid, it protects your claim dates. The hearing judge will ask about this.

wait really? i thought you couldnt file if you were denied

No, you should continue filing weekly claims during the appeal process to maintain your eligibility for back pay if you win.

It does feel overwhelming. What kind of documentation helped you the most?

Pay stubs, emails from your boss, anything showing the conditions that forced you to quit. I had text messages from my supervisor about schedule changes that really helped my case.

That's good to know. I was worried about having to go somewhere in person.

Phone hearings are way less stressful than in person. Just make sure you're in a quiet place and have all your documents ready.

I did try talking to my manager about getting more hours but she said business was slow. Should I mention that?

Absolutely! That shows you made a good faith effort to resolve the situation before quitting. Write down everything you remember about that conversation.

this is really good advice. i wish i had known this stuff when i went through my appeal

That's really reassuring. I think I'm going to try that service too since I keep striking out with the regular phone number.

sounds like a good option for people who cant get through. the esd phone system is terrible

Thanks for the encouragement. How long did it take from filing the appeal to getting your back pay?

about 8 weeks total. the hearing was at week 6 and then took another 2 weeks to get the decision and payment

I think that's exactly what happened to me. My hours went from 40 to like 8 per week. Is there a specific threshold?

There's no specific percentage but a reduction from 40 to 8 hours is definitely substantial enough to potentially qualify. Document the timeline of when your hours were cut.

Yes, hearings are recorded and you can request a copy of the recording. There might be a small fee for this.

good to know, thanks

Document everything about the harassment first. You'll need evidence to show that quitting was your only reasonable option.

Yeah definitely document everything. I wish I had kept better records of when my hours were cut.

Thanks, I'll start keeping a log of incidents and any communications about it.

That would be amazing if they don't show up. It's a small business so maybe they won't.

Even if they do show up, don't panic. Just stick to the facts and be honest about what happened.

Oh no, I hope that doesn't happen to me. How long did the second appeal take?

another 3 months but i won that one too. at least i got all my back pay eventually

That's helpful to know. I was worried that quitting automatically meant I'd lose.

Not at all. Washington state recognizes several good cause reasons for quitting, including substantial reduction in hours or pay.

Good advice. I'm going to start gathering everything this weekend.

also write down a timeline of events before the hearing so you dont forget important details when youre nervous

That sounds incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to look into that service.

wish i had known about that when i was going through my appeal. would have saved me a lot of stress

I'm just starting this process but already feeling anxious about the waiting.

its hard but try to stay positive. from what ive read here it sounds like most people win if they have a good case

That's a good point. I've been worried about my bills but if I win I should get caught up.

exactly, and the back pay includes any increases in benefit amounts that happened while you were waiting

Thank you! Everyone's advice has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about moving forward with the appeal now.

thats what this community is for. hope everything works out for you