Received ESD Alternate Base Year letter but no payments - who is my 'UI representative'?

That "UI representative" language is super misleading. There's no specific person assigned to your claim - it's just whoever picks up the phone when you finally get through. The 800 number is correct, but it's nearly impossible to reach anyone these days. For your Alternate Base Year situation: this happens when you don't have enough hours in your standard base year. They'll check your most recent completed quarter to see if you qualify that way. The good news is that it means they're actively processing your claim. The bad news is that reaching out to employers for verification can add weeks to the process. You have a few options to escalate: 1. Send a secure message through your eServices portal (though responses can take 7-10 days) 2. Contact your state representative/legislator's office - they often have direct channels to ESD 3. Try the technical support line instead (different from main line) at 855-682-0785 4. If you're truly desperate, you could try going to a WorkSource office in person

ive been in ur EXACT situation last month!!! the alternate base year thing is bcuz u dont have enough hours in the normal period they check. took them 5 WEEKS to process mine after that letter!!!! the march 9 date is just a deadline for them but they usally do it way b4 that. btw theres NO specific rep assigned to u, thats just how they word it. stupid i know. keep calling but good luck getting thru lol

I was in this situation back in October. The Alternate Base Year process means they need to verify your most recent quarter's wages because you didn't qualify using the standard base year calculation (which typically looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Here's what I can tell you with certainty: 1. There is no individual "representative" assigned to your claim - that's just standard language they use in all communications. 2. The March 9th date is important but doesn't mean you'll wait that long. They're giving themselves a deadline to make a determination. 3. You MUST keep filing weekly claims even though you're not getting paid. If your claim is eventually approved, you'll get backpay for all weeks claimed. 4. The fastest way to get this resolved is to actually speak with someone at ESD, but as you've discovered, the phone system is impossibly overloaded. I finally got through to ESD using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that keeps dialing for you and calls you when it gets through to a live agent. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Don't give up - the alternate base year often results in approval, it just takes longer because they need to verify more recent employment information.

THE SYSTEM IS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU FROM GETTING YOUR BENEFITS!!! I went through the same nightmare last year and had to wait 7 WEEKS after that stupid alternate base year letter. They make everything confusing on purpose and make it IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone! They're hoping you'll just give up and go away. DON'T! Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what. Document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your eServices account. Save EVERY letter. If you need money now, apply for emergency assistance through DSHS while you wait. Also, food banks are a lifesaver during this time. Trust me, I've been there. The "UI representative" thing is total BS - there's no specific person handling your claim. It's just whoever happens to answer when you call. IF you can ever get through which is next to impossible!!!

I went through the alternate base year process in 2025 too. First, keep filing your weekly claims - you'll get backpay for all weeks claimed once approved. For your specific questions: 1. There's no specific UI representative assigned to you. That's just their standard language. 2. The March 9th date is their deadline to make a determination, but it could happen sooner. 3. Best ways to escalate: - Keep calling the main line (frustrating, I know) - Submit a request for assistance through your state representative's office - Try reaching out to the ESD Office of the Commissioner - Visit a WorkSource office in person (they can sometimes help with claim issues) For the Alternate Base Year process: they're checking if your most recent completed quarter provides enough hours/wages to qualify you. This happens when your standard base year doesn't have enough hours. They have to contact your employer to verify those wages, which is why it takes longer. Don't panic - most ABY claims are eventually approved if you were working regularly before filing. It's just a slower process because they need additional verification steps.

Look into whether ur eligible for hardship payment thru DSHS while waiting. Also check food banks in ur area. The alt base year thing actually happened to my brother in law and it took about 3 weeks after that letter before he saw any money. Hang in there!

Quick update about WorkSource since you asked - they CAN help with some ESD issues, but it depends on the office and who's working that day. Some WorkSource staff have limited access to the ESD system and can at least tell you what's happening with your claim. They can't override decisions or speed up processing, but they might give you better info than you have now. If you go in person, bring: 1. Photo ID 2. Your ESD paperwork including that Alternate Base Year letter 3. Social Security card if you have it 4. Employment history for the past 18 months Call the WorkSource office first to make sure they can help with unemployment issues and if you need an appointment.