


Ask the community...
Quick update on timing expectations: The Office of Administrative Hearings is currently processing appeals from about 5-6 weeks ago (based on recent client experiences). Once scheduled, your hearing will typically be 2-3 weeks after you receive the notice. If you need to expedite due to financial hardship, there is a process to request an earlier hearing date. You'll need to submit a written request explaining your hardship situation to the OAH. Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims during this entire process, even while disqualified and waiting for appeal. If you win your appeal, they can only pay you for weeks that you properly filed claims.
That's super helpful about filing weekly claims - I almost stopped doing that! Would you recommend sending the expedite request through my eServices account or directly to OAH?
wait im confused... is quitting for school always disqualifying or only sometimes? I'm thinking about going back to school too and now I'm worried about my benefits...
It's not automatically disqualifying, but it comes down to availability. If your school schedule means you can't accept full-time work, then yes, you'd be disqualified. But if you can still work full-time (taking evening classes, online courses, part-time study) AND you're actively job searching, then you may still qualify. The key is being able to prove you're available for and seeking full-time work regardless of your student status. ESD will look at your specific circumstances.
hey did u try calling the technical support number instead of the regular esd number? sometimes they can help with payment issues even tho theyre supposed to only do tech stuff. worth a try!
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! I ended up using that Claimyr service and got a callback within 30 minutes. The agent found that my payment was stuck because of a "potential availability issue" flag that was never actually resolved during adjudication. She removed it on the spot and said my payments should process in the next 48 hours. I'm cautiously optimistic... I'll post again when/if the money actually hits my account. Thanks for all the advice everyone!
anybody else notice that some ppl get through adjudication in like 2 days and others wait months?? its so random!!
UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! Called exactly at 8:00am and only waited about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed my adjudication is because they're waiting for response from my previous employer (the one before my most recent job). She said they have 10 business days to respond, and that period ends next Tuesday. If they don't respond by then, ESD will make a determination without their input. She also mentioned my current claim looks straightforward since I was laid off due to lack of work. So hopefully I'll see some movement next week! Thanks everyone for the advice and support.
Great news! This is exactly why getting through to a real person is so important - now you know exactly what's happening and have a timeline. Make sure to follow up next Wednesday if you don't see any change in your claim status.
My sister just went through this with her PFMLA claim. She ended up having to use some saved PTO to supplement her leave because the benefit amount was so much lower than expected. It really does feel like the system is designed to confuse people and pay out less. The same thing happened when I was on unemployment in 2024 - they used my 2023 wages even though I had a raise right before being laid off.
Freya Christensen
make sure ur bank account info is correct in the system!! my friend had his payment approved but the money went nowhere cuz he had an old account listed
0 coins
StarSurfer
•Good point! Just double-checked and my bank info is all correct and matches what I've been using for years. Phew!
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
Just to give you some additional peace of mind - the fact that the adjudication status is completely gone (rather than showing 'completed' or 'denied') is the best possible outcome. It means they found nothing that would prevent payment. Your claim has essentially moved to standard processing now. For future reference for anyone reading this thread: the average adjudication period in Washington state is currently running 3-5 weeks for regular UI claims. PUA and PEUC claims are no longer active in 2025.
0 coins
StarSurfer
•That makes me feel so much better! I wasn't sure if the disappearance was good or bad. So relieved to hear it's the best outcome possible!
0 coins