Just had my ESD appeal hearing - anyone know how long for a decision?
I just finished my appeal hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings this morning for my denied unemployment benefits. The judge seemed pretty thorough and listened to my side carefully (I was disqualified because my former employer claimed I quit voluntarily when I was actually laid off). The whole hearing took about 65 minutes which felt like forever! I'm super anxious about the outcome since I'm owed about $7,850 in back benefits if they reverse the decision. Has anyone gone through an OAH appeal recently? How long did it take to get your decision after the hearing? The judge mentioned something about 2-3 weeks but I'm hoping it might be faster. This waiting is killing me - bills are piling up and I really need this resolved soon.
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Sean O'Brien
I had my appeal hearing back in January. Got the decision exactly 8 days later in my eServices account. The judge actually ruled in my favor and reversed the disqualification! Just make sure you check both your mail AND your eServices account because sometimes they post it online before the paper copy arrives.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•Thanks for the info! Did you get your backpay quickly after the decision was posted? I'm worried about how long I'll have to wait even if I win.
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Zara Shah
usually takes 2 weeks but i've heard of ppl getting it in like 3-4 days sometimes. depends on the judge i guess
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Luca Bianchi
•This isn't totally accurate. The timeframe for OAH decisions is governed by WAC 192-04-150, which states judges should aim to issue decisions within 30 days of the hearing, though most try to complete them faster. The complexity of your case and current caseload affects timing - simple voluntary quit cases often resolve faster than misconduct cases that require more legal analysis.
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GalacticGuardian
I'm still waiting for mine and it's been 3 weeks!! This system is so unfair and broken. They expect us to file claims every week perfectly on time but then make us wait FOREVER for decisions that affect our ability to pay rent and buy food. I'm about ready to give up on this whole process.
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Nia Harris
•Have you tried calling ESD to check on the status? Sometimes decisions get made but don't show up in the system right away. I was able to get through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. They got me connected to an agent in about 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent was able to see my decision was actually made even though it wasn't showing online yet.
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Mateo Gonzalez
My hearing was back in february and I got my decison in 12 days. But then it took another 3 weeks before the money actually showed up in my account after they reversed the denial!! so even if you win theres still more waiting. the whole time they still expect you to do your 3 job search activities every week and file claims or else you'll lose everytihng. its ridiculous how they treat people.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•Ugh, that's frustrating! Did you have to do anything special to get the backpay processed or did it just automatically happen after the decision?
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Luca Bianchi
The statutory timeframe for OAH decisions is 30 days, but most judges try to issue decisions more quickly. From my experience helping claimants, the average is 10-14 days for a decision to be mailed. A few important tips: 1. Continue filing your weekly claims while waiting for the decision 2. Check both eServices and your physical mail 3. If you win, ESD typically processes payments within 3-7 business days 4. If you haven't received a decision after 3 weeks, you can contact OAH directly at 1-800-366-0955 Best of luck with your appeal. Based on what you described (employer claiming voluntary quit vs. layoff), if you presented clear evidence of the layoff, your chances are good.
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Aisha Ali
•this is all good info but my brothers friend won his appeal and it STILL took 2 months to get paid because esd had to do another review after OAH!!! the whole thing is a joke
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Anastasia Smirnova
Thank you everyone! I just received the notice today that the judgment was reversed and I'm owed all the back pay, whoo hoo!!! Edit: it's already showing my past weeks as paid. Whoo hoo! I'll see some money soon! Thank goodness!!!
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Sean O'Brien
•That's awesome news! Congrats! And super quick turnaround too. Glad you got a favorable decision!
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Mateo Gonzalez
•wow that was FAST! congrats! was it in your eservices or did you get a letter? im gonna check mine again too
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Carmella Popescu
Congratulations Anastasia! That's such great news and what a relief that must be! I'm currently waiting for my own appeal decision after a similar situation - my employer also falsely claimed I quit when I was actually terminated. Your post gives me hope that justice can prevail. How many days was it from your hearing to getting the decision? And did you have to provide any additional documentation during the process or was it just based on what you presented at the hearing?
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Diego Flores
•Hey Carmella! Thanks for the congrats! It was exactly 6 days from my hearing to getting the decision - way faster than I expected. I didn't have to provide any additional docs after the hearing, it was all based on what I presented during the appeal. I had my termination letter, emails from HR about the layoff, and a witness (my former coworker) who testified that multiple people were let go the same day. The judge seemed really focused on the timeline and documentation. Good luck with your appeal - sounds like you have a solid case too if you were terminated and not quit! Keep checking your eServices daily, that's where mine showed up first.
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Amara Adebayo
Wow, what an incredible outcome! Congratulations on winning your appeal and getting that back pay - $7,850 is life-changing money when you're struggling with bills. It's so encouraging to see someone fight the system and win, especially when employers try to falsely claim voluntary quit to avoid paying into the unemployment fund. Your case gives hope to others dealing with similar situations. Thanks for updating us with the good news and timeline - 6 days is remarkably fast! Enjoy that well-deserved relief!
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