Washington ESD claim showing decline after initial approval - what caused this?

this happened to my neighbor too, turned out Washington ESD was doing some kind of automatic calculation error

You need to check if there's a partial earnings deduction being applied incorrectly. Sometimes Washington ESD's system will start reducing benefits based on old work reports that weren't processed correctly. Log into your account and look under 'Payment History' for any deduction codes.

I had this exact same problem last year! The decline pattern sounds identical to what happened to me. Washington ESD's computer system was somehow applying a percentage reduction each week like I was working part-time, but I wasn't working at all. I tried calling for weeks but could never get through to anyone who could help.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! This same thing happened to me and three other people I know. They just randomly start reducing your benefits with NO WARNING and NO EXPLANATION. You have to fight tooth and nail to get anyone to help you!

This sounds like a monetary determination error where Washington ESD is recalculating your weekly benefit amount based on incorrect wage information. When this happens, the system can start reducing benefits in stages rather than all at once. You'll need to request a redetermination of your monetary eligibility. The key is getting to an agent who can review your original wage calculation versus what the system is currently using.

omg same thing happening to me right now!! started at $756 per week now down to $445 and no idea why

For everyone experiencing this issue - document everything. Screenshot your payment history, save copies of all your weekly claim submissions, and write down the exact dates when the reductions started. When you finally reach an agent, having this documentation will make the resolution much faster.

I work for a nonprofit that helps people with unemployment issues and we see this declining benefit pattern about once a month. It's usually caused by the system incorrectly processing old wage information or applying deductions that shouldn't be there. The only real solution is speaking with a claims specialist at Washington ESD who can access your full case file.

This is so weird, my cousin had the exact same pattern happen to her benefits last month. Started high, then went down a little each week until it was almost nothing. She eventually got it fixed but it took forever.

I'm dealing with this right now too and it's making me lose my mind. Started at $692 weekly, now down to $380 over the past month. I've submitted three messages through SecureAccess Washington and haven't heard anything back. The whole system is a nightmare.

Check if you have any old jobs that might be reporting wages incorrectly to Washington ESD. Sometimes employers file quarterly reports late and it can mess up your benefit calculations retroactively.

This happened to me in 2023 and it turned out Washington ESD had somehow linked my claim to someone else's part-time work hours. The system was automatically reducing my benefits thinking I was working when I wasn't. Took 8 weeks to straighten out and I almost went broke waiting.

whatever you do don't wait too long to get this fixed, I waited 2 months thinking it would resolve itself and ended up owing money somehow

Based on all these similar experiences, this appears to be a systemic issue with Washington ESD's benefit calculation algorithm. The declining pattern suggests the system is incorrectly applying some kind of progressive reduction formula. Everyone affected should document their cases and push for resolution through direct agent contact.

Update: I just tried calling Washington ESD again this morning and got disconnected after being on hold for 2 hours. This is absolutely ridiculous.

I'm a former Washington ESD employee and this declining benefit issue usually happens when there's a data sync error between the wage database and the payment system. It's a known bug but they've never properly fixed it. The only way to resolve it is having an agent manually correct the calculation.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this, even though it sucks that it's happening to so many people.

This whole thread makes me grateful my claim has been straightforward so far, but now I'm worried this could happen to anyone at any time.

Final update: I used Claimyr like several people suggested and got connected to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes. She found the error immediately - somehow my account was flagged as having unreported income when I've been unemployed the whole time. She fixed it on the spot and said I'll get all the missing money in my next payment. Cannot believe how simple the fix was once I actually talked to someone who knew what they were doing!