You handled this perfectly, Molly! 92 miles each way is absolutely unreasonable by any standard. I went through something similar about 8 months ago - ESD referred me to a job that was 85 miles away and I was terrified to decline it. But I documented everything just like you did and referenced the same WAC code. They approved my refusal within about 10 days without even putting my claim on hold. The key things you did right: 1) You were polite with the employer, 2) You have specific documentation with exact distances and times, 3) You explained the hardship clearly, and 4) You cited the relevant regulation. That's exactly what ESD wants to see. One tip - when you file your weekly claim and they ask about refusing work, be very detailed in that text box. Don't just say "commute too far" - include the mileage, time, and reference to WAC 192-150-112. The more specific you are upfront, the less likely they'll need to investigate further.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - just got referred to a job that's 78 miles away and would take me about 2.5 hours with Seattle traffic! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I was panicking thinking I'd have to choose between accepting an impossible commute or losing my benefits. Reading about WAC 192-150-112 and seeing everyone's experiences gives me confidence that I can decline this referral without penalty. It's crazy that they even suggest jobs that far away - do they not consider basic geography when making these matches through WorkSource? Molly, please keep us updated on how your case goes! I'll probably be filing my refusal in the next day or two and will follow the same documentation approach you outlined.

Have you considered looking into QuickBooks certification or other accounting software certifications? Many are available online and relatively affordable. With so many businesses switching to cloud-based accounting, having current certifications in popular software might help you stand out. Plus, if you're doing this while still receiving benefits, it shows continued professional development in your job search activities.

Sydney, I completely understand your anxiety - being 8 weeks away from benefits ending with a child to support is incredibly stressful. A few suggestions that haven't been mentioned yet: 1) Consider reaching out to local churches or community organizations even if you're not religious - many have emergency assistance funds for people in transition. 2) Look into Washington's Basic Food program (SNAP) now rather than waiting - the application process can take time and having that safety net in place early reduces stress. 3) For accounting specifically, have you checked with local CPA firms about seasonal tax prep work starting in January? Many hire temporary staff and it could bridge you until you find permanent work. 4) Document every single job application, interview, and networking contact meticulously - if Extended Benefits do become available, having detailed records beyond the minimum requirements will work in your favor. You're doing everything right, and 8 weeks is still time to find something. Stay strong!

I'm going through something similar right now - won my overpayment appeal last month after they claimed I owed $22,000. I've paid about $4,500 through their payment plan while fighting it. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both encouraging and terrifying! It sounds like the key is being really proactive about requesting the refund rather than waiting for them to automatically process it. I'm going to follow Paolo's detailed steps and send both a secure message and certified letter this week. Has anyone had experience with getting refunds for payments that were automatically deducted from ongoing unemployment benefits? They were taking money out of my weekly payments for months before I even knew about the appeal process, so I'm hoping those count toward what should be refunded too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is incredibly helpful for navigating this mess!

This thread has been so enlightening! I'm currently dealing with a $16,800 overpayment notice that I'm appealing, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize I need to start documenting everything NOW rather than waiting until after I (hopefully) win. A few questions for those who've been through this: 1. Should I keep making payments on the payment plan while appealing to avoid interest, or does that hurt my case somehow? 2. When you submit the formal refund request, do you need to include proof that you weren't at fault, or is referencing the appeal decision number enough? 3. For those who used both secure message AND certified mail - did you send identical content or tailor each one differently? I'm printing out Paolo's step-by-step guide and Javier's regulatory references to keep handy. It's incredible that we have to become experts in ESD bureaucracy just to get back money they wrongfully took, but at least this community is helping each other navigate it! Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's way more helpful than anything on ESD's official website.

I went through this exact same situation last year - 8 weeks stuck in adjudication! What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I emailed all three of my district reps (found through the leg.wa.gov finder tool mentioned above) AND used Claimyr to actually get through to ESD on the same day. The rep's office followed up a few days later, but Claimyr got me connected to an actual person who was able to see that my claim had been sitting in a queue with no action. Turned out to be a simple documentation issue that took 5 minutes to fix once someone actually looked at it. If you're desperate after 6 weeks, I'd definitely try both approaches simultaneously. Also make sure you're checking your eServices account daily - sometimes they request additional docs through there and if you miss it, your claim just sits indefinitely. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been in adjudication for 4 weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful! I'm going to try the district finder tool to contact my representatives and also look into Claimyr. One thing I wanted to add that helped me stay organized - I created a simple spreadsheet to track all my attempts: date, method (phone/email), who I contacted, and any response received. It's been useful when explaining my situation to different people so I don't have to remember all the details. Also, for anyone else reading this, make sure you're calling ESD right when they open at 8 AM - I've had slightly better luck getting into the queue early in the morning rather than later in the day. Still haven't gotten through, but at least I get further in the hold system! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and resources here.

UPDATE: Just got a call from an adjudicator this morning! They only asked a few questions about my layoff, and I was able to email them my termination letter right away. They said everything looked good and my benefits should be processed within 48 hours. So the date change definitely meant something was happening! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

Congratulations Dylan! This is exactly what we all hoped would happen. Your positive outcome gives me so much relief as someone who's been through this nightmare before. The fact that they processed everything so quickly once they actually reviewed your case shows that having proper documentation (like that termination letter) makes all the difference. Thanks for coming back to update us - so many people disappear once their issues get resolved, but it really helps others going through the same stress to see successful outcomes.