Missed WorkSource appointment deadline due to mail mix-up - what are my ESD options now?

Call WorkSource IMMEDIATELY and explain the situation. Take a photo of the envelope/postmark if you still have it as evidence. They deal with mail issues more often than you'd think. Then call ESD to document the situation. Make sure you do both TODAY, don't wait. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to fix this. When you call, get the name of whoever you speak with and write down the date/time of your call.

omg this happened to me last year!!! so stressful! def call work source asap and explain. they might give u a break if you havent missed deadlines b4

This is actually a common issue. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call WorkSource first thing tomorrow morning. Document who you speak with. 2. Explain the mail delivery issue and that you're calling as soon as you received the notice. 3. Ask for a "good cause" exemption for missing the deadline. 4. Request that they document this in your case notes. 5. Follow up with ESD to ensure this won't affect your benefits. Under WAC 192-180-012, you can request a "good cause" exception for circumstances beyond your control. Misdelivered mail qualifies. You should be okay as long as you act immediately and document everything.

You might want to try using Claimyr to get through to ESD quickly. I had a similar situation with a delayed notice and spent days trying to reach someone. With Claimyr (claimyr.com), I got through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It really helped me resolve my issue faster than I expected.

Make sure you're also logging into your eServices account and checking your notices there. ESD sends most important communications both by mail AND through your online account. For future reference, check your online account at least once a week even if you're expecting mail notices. That way you'll catch these things before deadlines pass. As for your current situation, you need to call both WorkSource AND ESD. Different departments handle different aspects of your claim. Being proactive and explaining the situation to both will help your case.

HAHAHA welcome to ESD hell. This is EXACTLY how they operate. Send notices late, deny benefits on technicalities, make it impossible to reach anyone. I had THREE notices go to wrong addresses last year. They don't care if it's their fault or USPS fault. YOU get punished either way. The whole system is designed to deny benefits by any means possible.

let us know what happens!! i'm curious if they give u a break

One other thing to keep in mind: if for some reason they don't accept your explanation and they deny benefits for a week, you can still appeal that decision. Appeals for WorkSource-related issues have a fairly high success rate when there are legitimate circumstances like mail delivery problems. Just make sure you file the appeal within the deadline (usually 30 days from the denial notice).

UPDATE: Finally got through to WorkSource! The person I spoke with was actually really understanding. They said this happens more often than you'd think. They've rescheduled my appointment for next week and added notes to my file explaining the situation. They also said I should call ESD to make sure everything is documented there too. Going to try that now. Thanks everyone for your help!