Thank you so much everyone for all the help and advice! I'll give it until next Friday, and if nothing's changed by then I'll try calling, using Claimyr if needed, and reaching out to my state rep if all else fails. I'll update here when something happens in case it helps someone else in the future.

I've been through this exact nightmare! Won my OAH appeal in December and it took ESD almost 3 weeks to update my account status and release the funds. The worst part is there's literally no way to track the progress - you just have to wait and hope they eventually process it. A few things that helped me: I called every few days starting at exactly 8am when they opened (better chance of getting through), and I also filed a complaint with the state auditor's office about the delays. Not sure if that actually helped, but I felt like I was doing something. Also make sure you screenshot your current account status showing "disqualified" so you have documentation of the delay in case you need it for your landlord or creditors. When the money finally comes through, it should be the full amount plus any interest they owe you for the delay. Hang in there - you've already won the hardest part! The money will come, it's just ESD's broken system that makes everything take forever.

Update: I called ESD this morning at exactly 8:00am and miraculously got through after only a 45 minute wait! The agent confirmed they received my appeal decision and said my payment is being processed now. Should hit my account within 5-7 business days. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

That's amazing news about your appeal reversal! I went through something similar with my former employer claiming job abandonment when I was actually terminated for "restructuring." Won my appeal in January and it took exactly 12 business days to see the money in my account. One thing I learned - make sure to screenshot your account showing the judge's decision and your eligibility status. I had a weird glitch where my account briefly showed "disqualified" again for like 2 days before the payment processed, and having those screenshots helped when I called ESD in a panic. Also, while you're waiting, double-check that your direct deposit info is current in eServices. A friend of mine had her payment delayed because her bank account info was outdated and the payment bounced back to ESD. Hope you see that money soon - $6,680 will definitely help with the landlord situation!

BTW make sure you keep doing your weekly claims even while your appeal is pending. If you win your appeal, they'll only pay you for weeks you submitted claims for!!!

Hey there! I went through the exact same thing with OAH last year. Here's what I learned: The waiting is the worst part, but it's totally normal. You should get your letter within 10-14 business days (not including weekends). In the meantime, definitely check your eServices correspondence folder like @Reginald Blackwell suggested - sometimes it shows up there first. Also, make sure your address is correct in your ESD account because OAH uses that info directly. While you wait, start gathering ALL your employment records from your base year - pay stubs, W2s, employment verification letters, anything that shows your work hours. The "insufficient hours" determination is often wrong because they miss certain types of employment or miscalculate quarters. Once you get portal access, you'll be able to see exactly how they calculated your hours and what they might have missed. Hang in there - the appeal process actually works much better than dealing with ESD directly!

Just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The confusion is totally understandable because DoorDash feels like you're working for them, but legally you're an independent contractor. When I called Washington ESD (took forever to get through), they confirmed that ALL gig work - DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, etc. - gets reported as self-employment income, not wages. The key thing is to report your gross earnings for the week you actually received the payment, not when you did the work. So if you worked last Sunday but DoorDash paid you on Tuesday, that income goes on the claim for the week you got paid. Keep detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, which week each payment belongs to. It'll save you headaches if they ever audit your claim. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact same confusion when I started doing gig work while on unemployment! The Washington ESD website really could be clearer about this. What helped me was understanding that when you work for DoorDash, you're technically self-employed - they send you a 1099 at the end of the year, not a W-2. So on your weekly claim, look for the section that asks about self-employment earnings and report your gross amount there (before any deductions for gas, etc.). Don't put DoorDash in the employer section at all. I learned this the hard way after initially reporting it wrong and having to call to get it corrected. Also, just a heads up - they'll typically reduce your weekly benefit amount by whatever you earned minus a small allowance (I think it's like $5), so factor that into your planning. But honestly, even with the reduction, the extra income really helps while you're job searching.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year. You definitely made the right call asking about this upfront - I almost made the mistake of trying to file for both until I learned they're mutually exclusive. One thing I'd add is that paid family leave in Washington also covers if you need to care for a family member with a serious health condition, so it's pretty flexible. The application process was actually smoother than I expected once I got all the paperwork together. Make sure to keep good records of everything you submit because they may ask for additional documentation later. Good luck with the new baby!

I'm in a similar boat as the original poster - expecting our first baby in April and trying to navigate all these benefit options. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea that fathers could get paid family leave in Washington or that you couldn't combine it with unemployment. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - do you know if there's a minimum amount of time you have to take off for paid family leave, or can you do it in smaller chunks? My employer is pretty understanding but I'm trying to figure out the best way to structure my time off.