Won my Washington ESD unemployment appeal - when do I get paid?

Thanks! That's encouraging. I was worried it might take another month or two.

yeah but sometimes it takes longer if there are complications with your claim history

Thank you! I've been filing weekly claims the whole time even during the appeal process. Should I expect one lump sum payment or will they split it up?

Typically it comes as one lump sum for all the back pay, then your regular weekly payments resume their normal schedule.

That's encouraging! How much back pay did you end up getting if you don't mind me asking?

I had about 8 weeks of back pay, came to around $4,200 total. Really saved me from losing my apartment.

I'll keep checking my SAW account. Do the back payments come as one lump sum or broken down by week?

Usually it's one payment that covers all the weeks you were owed, but it might show up as separate transactions on your bank statement.

Good point about calling. I've been dreading trying to get through to them though. Any tips for actually reaching someone?

Honestly, I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) after spending hours on hold. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. Worth checking out their video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - saved me so much frustration.

Never heard of that but I'll definitely look into it. Thanks for the tip!

Two weeks seems long. Have you checked if there are any other issues on your claim that might be holding things up? Sometimes winning the appeal doesn't clear all the roadblocks.

my account just shows pending still, no other issues that I can see. maybe I should try calling

Thanks! That's not too bad. I was worried it would take another month or something.

yeah mine took about 10 days after my appeal was approved, got all the back pay in one lump sum

Thanks! That's a relief to hear. I was worried something was wrong since my account hasn't changed yet.

Mine took exactly 10 business days after I won my appeal. The back pay came all at once in a lump sum.

I didn't work at all during the disqualification period, so hopefully that makes it simpler. Do they pay interest on the delayed benefits?

No interest on delayed UI benefits in Washington. You'll get the full amount you were entitled to during the disqualification period, but no additional compensation for the delay.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Is it legit? I'm getting tired of calling and getting hung up on.

Yeah it's real. Basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected to Washington ESD agents. Saved me hours of redialing busy signals.

sounds too good to be true, how much does it cost?

Interesting, I've never heard of that before. Is it legitimate?

Yeah it's real - I used it last month when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines. Saved me hours of calling.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from waiting for my benefits.

I represented myself. Gathered all my documentation and just told the truth about what happened. The hearing officer was actually pretty fair.

That gives me hope. I'm terrified about the hearing but maybe it won't be as bad as I think.

That makes sense. My case was pretty straightforward - just had to prove I quit for good cause due to unsafe working conditions.

Good cause quits are usually processed faster once approved. You should see your payment soon.

Thank you! Yeah, the whole process has been incredibly stressful. I'm just relieved it's finally over.

The system is so messed up that people have to go through appeals just to get what they're entitled to in the first place

Thanks! That's a relief. I was worried it would take another month or something.

Same thing happened to me last year - got my back pay exactly 8 days after the appeal decision.

That's a relief to hear! I was worried it might take another month or something. Do I need to file weekly claims for the weeks I was waiting during the appeal?

Yes, you'll want to file claims for all the weeks you were eligible but didn't receive benefits due to the disqualification. The system should allow you to backfile once your claim is reactivated.

Thank you! That's a relief to hear. Do I need to keep filing my weekly claims during this waiting period?

Yes, definitely keep filing your weekly claims! Don't let any weeks lapse or you could miss out on benefits for those periods.

Good point about the direct deposit! I'll double check that in my account. Was there any issue with taxes on such a large lump sum?

No tax issues, they still withhold the normal amount. Just felt like winning the lottery when it finally came through!

I've been trying to call but keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for over an hour. So frustrating!

I used Claimyr.com to get through to Washington ESD when I had issues after my appeal. They have a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Will check it out, thanks!

Yes I kept filing every week even though I wasn't getting paid. My case worker told me to keep doing it.

Good advice. A lot of people stop filing during appeals and then wonder why they don't get back pay for certain weeks.

It was misconduct related. My employer claimed I was fired for cause but I had documentation proving otherwise. The hearing officer agreed with me.

That gives me hope. I have documentation too showing my quit was for good cause.

Definitely appeal if you have documentation. The worst that can happen is they uphold the original decision.

Yes I have direct deposit already set up from when I was getting benefits before. Same bank account.

Perfect, then you should see the deposit within a week most likely.

Good point! I've been filing every week even during the appeal process. My claim status should update to 'paid' soon hopefully.

This is really important advice. I made that mistake once and had to restart my whole claim.

Good tip! I've been checking it obsessively already but I'll keep watching for those payment dates to show up.

That's a great sign! Once it shows payable, payments usually process within 1-2 business days.

Awesome! You should see the money very soon then.

Good point, I've been filing every week even during the appeal process.

Wait really? I thought you couldn't file while disqualified?

You can still file, they just won't pay you until the disqualification is resolved. But you need to keep filing to maintain eligibility.

That's exactly what I needed to hear! Was the lump sum deposited the same way as regular weekly benefits or did they send a separate payment?

Same method as usual - went straight to my checking account via direct deposit. No special process or anything, just showed up as one larger deposit.

Good luck trying to get through to anyone at Washington ESD though. I spent weeks trying to call about my payment delays.

That's true, their phone system is impossible. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Good idea, I'll start checking daily. Right now everything still shows as disqualified.

You can also set up alerts on the Washington ESD website to notify you when your claim status changes.

Thanks for the tip! Hopefully I won't need it but good to know there's an option if Washington ESD drags their feet.

Never heard of that service before but might be worth trying if the regular phone lines don't work.

Mine took about 6 weeks from when I filed the appeal to getting the hearing decision. The actual hearing was only like 20 minutes though.

6 weeks... ugh that's what I was afraid of. At least there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Appeals are taking longer than usual right now, probably 6-8 weeks is typical. Make sure you have all your documentation ready.

They said I quit voluntarily but I was actually laid off due to lack of work. Had to get a letter from my former supervisor to prove it.

Oh wow, that's exactly my situation too! My employer reported it wrong to Washington ESD. Did you need a lawyer?

No lawyer needed, just had good documentation. The hearing officer was pretty fair about it.

That's rough. My hearing was scheduled pretty quickly, maybe 3 weeks after I appealed.

Hearing schedules vary a lot depending on how backed up they are. Keep checking for cancellations - sometimes you can get an earlier date.

I'll try that, thanks for the tip!

Tell me about it. The whole system is a joke. They're quick to deny you but slow to pay when they're wrong.

It's frustrating but there are legitimate processing steps they have to follow after an appeal reversal. The manual review is actually important to make sure the payments are calculated correctly.

Oh no, that's discouraging. Have you tried calling them to check on the status?

tried calling dozens of times but can never get through. the phone system is a joke

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they specialize in helping people get through to Washington ESD when the regular phone lines are jammed.

They said I quit voluntarily but I was actually laid off due to lack of work. Had to get documentation from my former employer to prove it. Definitely worth appealing if you have good evidence.

That's exactly my situation! My employer is claiming I quit but I was laid off. How did you get them to provide documentation?

I contacted HR directly and explained the situation. They actually had no idea what the unemployment office had been told and were happy to provide the correct information.

Misconduct cases can be so stressful! Glad you won your appeal too. Hopefully we both get paid soon.

Yeah it was nerve-wracking but worth fighting. Good luck with your back pay!

Good point about taxes. I completely forgot about that. Should I have taxes withheld or just pay when I file?

You can change your withholding settings in your SecureAccess Washington account. I'd recommend having them withhold 10% for federal taxes to avoid a big bill later.

I had the same problem trying to reach Washington ESD about my appeal status. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

I've been calling Washington ESD every day at 8am sharp and still can't get through. It's like they only have 3 people answering phones for the entire state.

I was unemployed the whole time so hopefully it's straightforward. No part-time work or anything complicated.

That should make it much easier for them to calculate. Clean cases like yours usually process faster.

Good point, I have everything saved. What kind of issues did you run into?

They initially only paid me for half the weeks I was owed. Had to call and reference my appeal decision to get the rest released.

Good to know there's an actual timeline they're supposed to follow. Is there a specific place on the SAW website to track appeal processing status?

Once logged into SAW, check your 'Claim Summary' section. It should show when your claim status changes from disqualified back to eligible. That's usually when payments start processing.

I know, it feels like it's taking forever! But I'm trying to stay patient after finally getting some good news.

The anticipation is the worst part. At least you know it's coming now!

Good to know, I'll keep checking. Friday would be exactly one week since the decision so that timeline makes sense.

Sometimes they do payments on Tuesdays too, depends on their processing schedule.

What kind of paperwork are you talking about? I thought winning the appeal would be the end of it.

Usually just verification forms or updated eligibility questionnaires. Nothing major, but they need it completed before they'll release payments.

Congrats! Yeah I think we just have to be patient. At least we won and know the money is coming.

True, winning the appeal was the hard part. Now just waiting for Washington ESD to do their thing.

If you both don't see payments by next week, definitely use that Claimyr service to get through to someone at Washington ESD.

Three weeks is still within the normal timeframe, but I understand the frustration. If you need to check on the status, try using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD - it's way better than trying to call on your own.

I might have to look into that. The regular phone lines are useless.

Good advice! I'll keep track of my expected amount. How do I dispute it if the calculation seems wrong?

You'd have to call Washington ESD or submit a request through your online account. Document everything in case you need to appeal again.

Yes, I've been filing every week. My current claims are now being approved, it's just the retroactive payments I'm waiting for.

That's reassuring. I'm hoping the improvements you mentioned apply to my case too.

What improvements? The system still sucks from what I can tell

Around $4,800 total. It'll be a huge relief when it finally comes through.

Wow that's a good chunk of change! Definitely worth the fight.

just make sure they calculate it right when it comes. sometimes they mess up the math on back payments

Not really. The system has to go through several verification steps before releasing payments. It's frustrating but that's just how it works.

You can try calling and asking them to prioritize it, but most agents will tell you it just takes time.

This is another situation where Claimyr could help - getting through to an agent who can actually check the status of your appeal processing instead of just getting generic answers.

Represented myself. I prepared really well and had all my documentation organized. The hearing was less intimidating than I expected.

That's impressive! I'm scared to do mine without a lawyer but can't afford one.

Most people represent themselves in unemployment appeals. Just be prepared and stick to the facts.

Thank you! It was definitely scary but I'm glad I fought it.

Oh no, I haven't been filing weekly claims since my initial disqualification. Will that cause problems now that I won the appeal?

You should be able to backfile for the weeks you missed, but definitely start filing again immediately. The sooner you get back on track with weekly claims, the better.

Don't panic - Washington ESD usually allows backfiling after successful appeals. Just be prepared to explain the gap when you restart filing.

No, Washington ESD doesn't pay interest on delayed unemployment benefits, even if the delay was due to their error.

figures... oh well at least we get the money eventually

Yeah it sucks but better than nothing. Some states do pay interest but not Washington.

Yes, I have direct deposit already set up from when I first filed my claim. Good reminder though!

How do you set up direct deposit if you don't have it? I might need to do that.

Really? That's amazing. I might have to try that if I don't see anything by next week.

Yeah, totally worth it. The agent explained that appeal payments go through a different processing queue and gave me a reference number to track it.

I agree, the process was much more complicated than it should have been. But I'm grateful for the outcome.

The appeal process exists for a reason though. Sometimes initial decisions are wrong and need to be corrected.

They initially said I quit voluntarily, but I was actually laid off due to budget cuts. I had documentation from my employer showing it was a layoff, not a resignation.

That's helpful to know. Documentation seems to be key in these appeals.

Will do! I'll check back in once I see the payment hit my account.

Thanks for the update! How long did it take you to get through when you called?

I actually used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. worked way better than trying to call myself, got connected in like 20 minutes

I might try that Claimyr service too if I don't hear anything by Friday. Getting through to Washington ESD is impossible otherwise.

That makes sense. I've been keeping up with my job search log the whole time, so I should be good on that front.

Good call, I just double-checked and everything looks right. Thanks for the reminder!

No problem, learned that lesson the hard way. Washington ESD doesn't always notify you if there's a payment issue.

Thank you! It really was stressful going through the whole process, but I'm glad I didn't give up.

Stories like this give me hope for my own pending appeal. Good for you for fighting it!

That's encouraging. The hearing was definitely the most stressful part of this whole process.

No, I wasn't receiving any benefits during the disqualification period, so no overpayment issues. That's probably why my case is more straightforward.

If you received benefits during a period that was later disqualified, and then win your appeal, Washington ESD should reverse any overpayment determination as well. The appeal decision covers the entire period in question.

I understand the frustration but hang in there. The appeals process is slow but people do win when they have valid cases.

I felt the same way while I was waiting. It's incredibly stressful but don't give up if you think you have a good case.

Totally agree. A simple email explaining the next steps would have saved me a lot of anxiety.

They don't communicate about anything. It's like they want you to give up and go away.

You'll pay taxes on it just like regular unemployment benefits. They should withhold taxes if you elected that option when you first filed.

Yeah I had taxes withheld from the start so hopefully they'll withhold from the back pay too.

That's great to hear! Hopefully my case follows a similar timeline.

5 days seems optimistic but I hope you're right

Good point! I did update my bank info recently. I'll double-check that it's correct in my profile.

That's encouraging, thanks! Hopefully mine processes soon.

yeah and dont worry if the first payment seems wrong, sometimes they send partial payments then the rest a few days later

Ugh, that's not what I wanted to hear. Did you eventually get everything you were owed?

Yeah eventually got it all but had to fight for every penny. Keep detailed records of everything - dates, times, who you talked to, etc.

I didn't know about the alerts! I'll set those up right now. Thanks for the tip.

Good idea! I'll try sending a message if I don't see movement in the next few days.

Do they actually respond to those messages? I've sent several and never heard back.

That's really helpful to know! I didn't realize they could flag payments for priority processing.

wait they can do that? i've been waiting 3 weeks for my appeal payment and nobody told me about priority processing

I didn't know that about the interest! My appeal took about 6 weeks total so maybe I'll get a little extra.

Yeah it's usually only a few dollars but it should show up as a separate line item if you're eligible.

Mine was also a misconduct claim - they said I violated company policy but couldn't prove it was willful. The key was showing it was just a misunderstanding, not intentional rule-breaking.

That's helpful, thanks. Did you have a lawyer or represent yourself?

Represented myself. Just made sure to have all my documentation organized and stuck to the facts. The hearing officer was pretty fair about it.

Haha that's actually a perfect analogy! The whole unemployment system is like a difficult game with unclear rules.

Hang in there! I know it's frustrating but most people do win their appeals if they have good documentation.

I hope so. I've got all my paperwork ready, just waiting for them to schedule the hearing.

Appeal hearings are definitely backlogged right now. 5-6 weeks for scheduling is pretty normal unfortunately.

That's great news! Maybe I should check if there are any similar holds on my account.

Glad Claimyr worked out for you! It's amazing how many issues are just sitting there that need manual intervention.

Will do! I'll post back once I see the money hit my account.

Same here, I'll update when mine comes through too.

Thanks! Yeah, I thought the hard part was over but now I'm just anxiously waiting for the money to actually show up.

Exactly! Just knowing that I'll eventually get the back pay takes a huge weight off my shoulders.

That's wonderful news! Congratulations on both winning your appeal and getting your back pay.

Awesome! So happy for you. That's a significant amount that will really help.

Great outcome! Thanks for updating the thread - this will help others who are in similar situations.

This gives me so much hope! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your timeline.

Good point! Just checked and everything looks correct.

Also verify your address is current in case they need to mail you anything about the payment.

Oh that's good to know! I was expecting one big lump sum. How do they usually split it up?

Usually by benefit week, so you might get 2-3 payments covering different date ranges. Each payment will show the specific weeks it covers in your payment history.

Yeah the whole thing was way more stressful than it needed to be. But at least it's over now.

True, and now you know your rights if anything like this happens again.

They'll withhold taxes on the full lump sum payment based on your withholding election. You can change your tax withholding in your account if needed.

Thanks, I need to check what mine is set to. Don't want a huge tax bill next year.

Good point, I should probably increase my withholding for this big payment.

Thanks! Yeah the relief of winning was huge. Now just need that money to actually show up!

It will, just gotta be patient with Washington ESD's processing times.

Hope it works out for you too! Make sure you have all your documentation organized before the hearing.

Working on gathering everything now. Your success story gives me confidence.

Most appeals do get approved if you have good evidence. Don't give up!

Haha maybe a small celebration once all my bills are caught up first!

fair enough, gotta take care of the important stuff first

Yeah Claimyr really works well for getting through the phone queues. Saved me hours of trying to call on my own.

Cool, I'll check out that demo video and see if it's worth trying.

Hope you get your payment issue sorted out soon!

Absolutely, I'll update the thread once I get paid. Fingers crossed it's by this Friday!

Thanks! Really hoping your timeline works out.

Thanks! It was definitely confusing at first but once I understood the process it wasn't too bad.

Good to know there's light at the end of the tunnel for these appeals.

The appeal process works pretty well once you get past the initial confusion and paperwork.

Perfect summary! This would have been really helpful to know at the beginning.

Saving this comment for future reference. Thanks for laying it out so clearly.

I'll keep that in mind as a backup option if I need to follow up. Thanks for the suggestion!

Is Claimyr only for Washington state or do they help with other states too?

I'm definitely looking forward to that! It'll help me catch up on everything I fell behind on during this process.

just don't spend it all at once lol

I checked my account and don't see any outstanding issues. My job search logs are all up to date too.

That's good - sounds like you should be all set for payment then.

Absolutely! I'll update this thread once I see the money in my account. Thanks everyone for the support and advice!

I did have some part-time work while waiting for the appeal. Will that affect my benefit amount going forward?

It might - Washington ESD recalculates based on any wages earned during the benefit year. Not necessarily a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

How does something like that even work? Do they just call repeatedly until they get through?

Pretty much yeah - they handle all the calling and waiting, then connect you when they reach an agent. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Yeah it's been really tough financially. Looking forward to getting back on stable ground again.

Hang in there - you're past the hardest part now that you won the appeal. The rest is just paperwork and processing.

You're still required to be actively seeking work and available for work. The appeal doesn't suspend those requirements, just restores your eligibility for benefits.

Got it, thanks for clarifying that. Don't want to mess anything up now that I finally won!

The hearing officer's decision was final - didn't need to submit anything else. Washington ESD just had to implement the ruling and start processing payments.

That's reassuring. Fingers crossed my hearing goes as well as yours did!