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FINAL UPDATE: I used Claimyr to get through to ESD this morning and explained the situation. The agent said since I reported my work hours correctly (including the holiday), the system just needed manual verification. She fixed it right on the call! Payment is being processed now. Thanks everyone for the help!
thx for updating us! good to know for future reference. the ESD system can be so touchy about the smallest things sometimes
Glad it worked out! For future reference, always try to be extra careful with holiday weeks. The ESD system tends to flag those for additional verification even with small discrepancies.
Great to hear it all worked out! This is a perfect example of why it's worth reaching out to ESD when you're unsure about something on your claim. I've learned that their system can be pretty sensitive to any inconsistencies, even minor ones. Thanks for sharing your experience - it'll definitely help others who run into similar situations with holiday reporting!
Absolutely agree! Sophie's experience really shows how helpful it can be to just call and clarify rather than stress about it. I've been putting off calling ESD about a question on my own claim, but seeing how quickly they resolved this is encouraging me to just pick up the phone. The system definitely seems designed to catch even small inconsistencies for review.
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Final thought - this is exactly why we have unemployment insurance. To protect workers when employers don't follow the rules. You paid into this system through your work, you deserve the benefits.
Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. I feel much better about my chances now and know what steps to take.
Good luck with your claim! Keep us posted on how it goes.
This is unfortunately a common issue with smaller employers who either don't understand their obligations or try to cut corners. The good news is that Washington ESD has seen this before and has processes in place to handle it. You'll need to gather all your employment documentation - pay stubs, W-2s, bank deposits showing your paychecks, any employment contracts or offer letters. Even text messages or emails from your boss can help establish the employment relationship. The investigation process typically takes 4-6 weeks, but your benefits will be backdated to your original filing date once approved. Keep filing your weekly claims during the investigation period and don't let them make you feel like this is your fault - your employer had a legal obligation to pay unemployment taxes and their failure to do so doesn't disqualify you from benefits you've earned.
This is really helpful information, thank you! I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the documentation I need to gather but at least now I have a clear roadmap of what to do. The fact that benefits get backdated is a huge relief since I was worried about losing weeks of payments while they investigate.
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I went through a similar situation last fall where my adjudication date kept changing - it's nerve-wracking but usually a positive sign that they're actively reviewing your case. Since you mentioned you have documentation proving the layoff (emails about budget cuts and termination letter), you're in a much better position than many people. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline of events leading up to my separation with dates and keeping all my documents organized in one folder. That way if they do call for an interview, you can quickly reference everything. The fact that your employer is contesting it means they'll likely want to speak with both parties, but with solid documentation on your side, you should be okay. Stay strong - the waiting is the hardest part!
This is such great advice about organizing everything in one folder! I hadn't thought about creating a timeline, but that makes total sense. I'm definitely going to do that today - it'll help me feel more prepared and less anxious about a potential interview call. The waiting really is the worst part, especially when you're stressed about finances. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - my adjudication date just changed from 1/22 to 2/3 and I've been waiting since mid-December. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening! From what I've been reading in this group and other forums, the date changes do seem to indicate someone is actively working on your file, even if it doesn't feel like progress. I've also been told by a friend who works in government that January is typically their busiest month for adjudications because of all the holiday layoffs and separations that happened in December. Since you have solid documentation proving you were laid off, I think you're in a good position. I'm trying to stay positive and remind myself that "no news" doesn't necessarily mean "bad news" - they're just overwhelmed. Hang in there, we'll get through this!
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This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also on a work visa (TN visa) and was laid off recently. It's reassuring to know that work authorization is the key factor, not citizenship status. I was hesitant to apply because I wasn't sure if temporary visa holders qualified. Now I know I should gather my I-94, visa documentation, and employment records before filing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to hear from people who've actually gone through the process successfully!
Yes, TN visa holders are definitely eligible! I went through the same process last year when my contract ended unexpectedly. The key thing with TN visas is making sure your work authorization documentation is current and matches your employment history. Since TN visas are tied to specific employers, you'll want to have your most recent I-94 and the documents showing you were authorized to work for your previous employer. The process was pretty straightforward once I had everything organized. Good luck with your application!
TN visa holders are in a great position for unemployment benefits! Since TN visas allow for multiple renewals and job changes (with proper documentation), you should have no issues as long as your work authorization was valid during your base period. One tip - if you're planning to change employers while on unemployment, make sure to update Washington ESD about any changes to your work authorization status. The process should be smooth since TN visas are specifically for employment purposes. Hope your job search goes well!
This is such valuable information! I'm a newcomer to this community and currently on an E-2 investor visa. I was worried that my visa type might not qualify since it's different from the H-1B and other employment visas mentioned here. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that as long as I have valid work authorization, I should be eligible too. I've been paying into the unemployment system for two years through my business. Does anyone know if E-2 visa holders face any unique challenges when applying, or is the process pretty much the same as other work-authorized non-citizens?
Welcome to the community! E-2 visa holders are absolutely eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington. Since E-2 visas authorize you to work (as an investor/business owner), you should qualify just like other work-authorized non-citizens. The process is essentially the same - you'll need your I-94, visa documents, and employment/business income records during your base period. One thing that might be slightly different for E-2 holders is documenting your income if it came from your own business rather than traditional W-2 employment, but Washington ESD handles self-employment income regularly. Just make sure you have good records of your earnings and tax payments. The key requirement remains the same: valid work authorization during the time you were earning wages. You've been paying into the system, so you should definitely apply!
Welcome! As someone who also went through this process as a non-citizen, I can confirm that E-2 visa holders are definitely eligible. The main thing you'll want to prepare for is that since E-2 income often comes from business ownership rather than traditional employment, you might need additional documentation like business tax returns, profit/loss statements, or 1099s to show your earnings during the base period. Washington ESD is familiar with self-employment situations, so don't let that worry you. The most important thing is having clear records that show you were earning income while work-authorized. Since you've been paying into the system for two years, you should be in good shape. Just gather all your visa docs, I-94, and business income records before you apply. Good luck!
Kayla Morgan
Great thread here! Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - when you're doing your weekly claims and reporting vacation pay, make sure to save screenshots or print copies of your submissions. I had a situation where Washington ESD claimed I didn't report some vacation pay correctly, and having those records saved me from having to pay back benefits. The online system can be glitchy sometimes, so documentation is your friend!
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Aisha Ali
•This is excellent advice! I never would have thought to save screenshots of my weekly claims, but that could really save you if there's ever a dispute. The Washington ESD system definitely has its quirks, so having that paper trail seems really smart. Thanks for sharing this tip!
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Amara Okafor
I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Had about 60 hours of vacation pay coming after getting laid off. The key thing is to file your claim immediately - don't wait for the vacation pay to run out. I made the mistake of waiting a week thinking I should, and it just delayed everything unnecessarily. When you do your weekly claims, just be completely honest about the vacation pay amounts and dates you receive them. Washington ESD's system will automatically calculate how it affects your benefits. The vacation pay didn't cause any adjudication issues for me, and once it was done, my regular unemployment payments started right up. Also, keep really detailed records of everything - dates, amounts, pay stubs from the vacation payout. You'll thank yourself later if any questions come up!
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Sophia Bennett
•This is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it! I was definitely overthinking whether to wait or file right away. Your point about keeping detailed records is spot on - I'm already starting a folder with all my layoff paperwork and will make sure to save everything related to the vacation payout too. Did you find the weekly claim process pretty straightforward once you got into the routine of reporting the vacation pay?
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