What to expect at ESD appeal hearing? Anyone been through this process?

I had an appeal hearing back in January. It's not as intimidating as you might think! It's conducted over the phone (unless you specifically requested in-person), and it's pretty structured but informal. The judge will explain the process at the beginning. My hearing lasted about 45 minutes. The judge asks questions first, then ESD representative speaks, then you get your turn. Be organized with your defense - stick to facts about your job search activities and have dates/details ready. Bring ALL documentation that supports your case - even if you think it's minor. In my situation, I had screenshots of emails showing I'd applied for jobs even though I hadn't properly recorded them in the system. This made a big difference. The judges are actually pretty fair in my experience. They're not affiliated with ESD directly, so they're neutral third parties. I won my appeal even though I was sure I wouldn't.

i had one of these and BOMBED it so bad. they totally railroaded me and the judge barely let me talk. the esd lady kept interrupting me and saying i was wrong about everything. lost my appeal and had to pay back like $5400 😭

I work with unemployment cases frequently, and I can tell you the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) proceedings are designed to be fair, though they are formal. Here's what to expect: 1. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will explain the process and swear everyone in 2. ESD presents their case for why they disqualified you 3. You'll have the opportunity to question the ESD representative 4. Then you present your case 5. ESD may question you 6. The judge may ask clarifying questions Some tips: - Be extremely specific about your job search activities (dates, companies, methods) - Explain why you didn't log them on time (but understand this may still be an issue) - Speak clearly and don't interrupt others - Stay calm and stick to facts The judge won't decide immediately. You'll receive a written decision in 1-2 weeks. If you lose, you can appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office within 30 days. Hearings typically last 30-60 minutes. Success rates vary, but people with good documentation often win their appeals.

These ESD hearings are DESIGNED to intimidate you! They make the process complicated on purpose hoping you'll just give up. I had my hearing in March and it was a joke. They scheduled it for 9am but didn't call until 9:40, then rushed through everything in 20 minutes. Judge barely let me finish sentences. BRING EVERYTHING - all emails, screenshots of job applications, any confirmation numbers, names of people you talked to, EVERYTHING. They will try to trip you up on dates and details. Also record the call if you can (legally in WA as long as you tell them). My friend did this and it helped when she had to appeal to the Commissioner later.

If you're having trouble getting through to ESD before your hearing (which I highly recommend doing), check out Claimyr. I used them before my hearing to get some questions answered by an actual ESD agent about what documentation I needed. Saved me hours of busy signals and hold time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Their website is claimyr.com - basically they hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available. Made a huge difference in my preparation for the hearing.

Im confused about something. You said you did the job searches but forgot to log them? Isnt that the whole point of the requirement? I had a similar issue but I lost my appeal because the judge said logging them IS the requirement, not just doing them. You have to prove you logged them properly or they count as not done. Not trying to be negative just realistic about what happened in my case! Good luck!

wear something nice even if its on the phone! my neighbor said they can see you on camera sometimes. and don't argue with the judge no matter what!!!

To address your original question about getting "railroaded" - in my experience and from what I've heard from others, the OAH judges tend to be fair but strict about following procedures. They're not ESD employees and are supposed to be neutral. One important tip: when it's your turn to speak, be concise and directly address the reason for disqualification. Since yours is about job search activities, focus exclusively on proving you did those activities and have a good reason for not logging them on time. Also, make sure to call in 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time, have all your documents organized, and be in a quiet place. Good preparation makes a huge difference in these hearings.

Practicing is actually a great idea. It helps you organize your thoughts and prepare for potential questions. Another thing to understand about these hearings: in 2025, ESD is processing a high volume of appeals, so ALJs (Administrative Law Judges) are trying to be efficient. This means: 1. Be on time and ready when they call 2. Answer questions directly - don't go off on tangents 3. If you don't understand something, politely ask for clarification 4. Have your case number and identifying information ready at the start The decision truly isn't made until after the hearing. I've seen many cases where proper documentation and a clear explanation have overturned the initial disqualification, especially in job search logging cases where the actual activities were completed.