Won ESD commissioner appeal - how do I claim backpayments owed?

Congratulations! When I won my commissioner appeal last year, I had to be proactive to get my backpay. Here's what you should do: 1. Take a copy of the commissioner's decision letter and upload it to your ESD account under 'Upload Documents' 2. Call ESD to notify them about the decision - this speeds things up. The regular number is impossible to get through on, so call first thing in the morning. 3. If you weren't filing weekly claims during this whole process, you'll need to backfile for each week you were eligible. Typically, you should receive payment within 2-3 weeks after they process the commissioner's decision. If nothing happens after 2 weeks, call again.

congrats! my frend had similar situation. esd will NOT auto pay u need 2 call them and mention the comissioner desision. also keep filing weekly even if denied always!!

I'm an Administrative Law paralegal, and I work with ESD cases frequently. Here's what you need to know: 1. The Commissioner's decision is binding on ESD, and they must comply with it. 2. For any weeks you didn't file claims, you'll need to request a "backdated claim" (also called conditional payment). Call ESD and specifically request this. 3. Per RCW 50.32.190, ESD is required to implement the Commissioner's decision within 30 days. 4. Keep a copy of the Commissioner's decision forever - seriously. If there's ever an overpayment issue in the future, you'll need this to prove your benefits were properly awarded. 5. Be prepared to answer questions about your job search activities for those weeks, as they'll likely still want verification you were looking for work during that period.

I went through this exact nightmare last year!! ESD is THE WORST at implementing commissioner decisions. I won my commissioner appeal and then had to wait ANOTHER 2 months fighting with them to actually pay me. Here's what happened to me: 1. Won commissioner appeal 2. Called ESD daily for weeks - always disconnected 3. Filed complaint with my state representative 4. FINALLY got payment Don't trust them to do ANYTHING automatically. Keep calling until you get a human. The whole system is designed to make people give up!!!

If you're having trouble getting through to ESD on the phone (and let's be honest, we ALL do), check out Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with an appeal decision and couldn't get through for weeks. Used their service and got connected to a real agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It saved me weeks of frustration when I needed to request backdated payments after my appeal. Just make sure you have your decision letter and all your information ready when you call.

Just want to say CONGRATS!!!! The commissioner rarely overturns decisions so you must have had a really strong case. What kind of evidence did you present that helped you win?

Following up on my earlier comment - make sure when you call ESD about implementing the Commissioner's decision that you specifically request "conditional payment" for any weeks you didn't file claims. This is important terminology to use. Also, if it's been more than 2 weeks since you received the Commissioner's decision, I recommend contacting them through your online eServices account with a message titled "Commissioner Decision Implementation Request" and include the decision number. Document all your attempts to contact them (dates, times, reference numbers), as this will be helpful if there are further delays.

wait do u need to kep doing job serch after winning appeal? i thought once u win u just get paid automatically?

UPDATE: I called ESD this morning and finally got through after being on hold for 2.5 hours! The agent confirmed they received the Commissioner's decision and are processing it. They're allowing me to backfile for all the weeks I missed, but I have to answer the job search questions for each week. She said I should see the payments within 7-10 business days. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!