Great news! Thanks for updating the thread - this will help future claimants who search for similar issues.

YAY!!! So happy for you!!! Time to celebrate!!!

One more thing - since you mentioned relocating for a spouse's job transfer, make sure you understand the exact legal standard for that exception. Under WAC 192-150-120, it's considered good cause to quit if your spouse's employer required the transfer, it's outside your normal commuting area, and you stayed employed as long as was reasonable prior to the move. Focus your testimony on these specific elements and you'll have a much better chance of success.

By the way, don't forget to check your mail/email obsessively after the hearing. I kept checking the ESD website for my decision, but it actually came by regular mail about 10 days later. The judge didn't tell me the decision during the hearing - apparently they almost never do. Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes!

just be prepared for how SLOW the waiver process is!! took 4+ months for them to review mine and then they denied it anyway 😡 they don't make it easy on purpose

I want to thank everyone for all this helpful information. I finally reached an ESD agent this morning using that Claimyr service someone recommended, and they confirmed I can pursue both the Commissioner's Review and a waiver simultaneously! The agent actually emailed me all the necessary waiver forms while we were on the phone and walked me through what documentation I'll need to provide. They also said that even if everything gets denied, I can still set up a payment plan as low as $50/month if I demonstrate financial hardship. I feel like I finally have a path forward instead of just panicking. Will update once I hear back about either process. Thank you all again for sharing your experiences!

APPLY NOW!!! if u wait ur only hurting urself!! even if it takes long to get approved theyll backpay to when u first applied. dont listen to ppl saying u wont get it, nobody here knows ur exact situation. its FREE to apply so why not do it????

One important detail to remember: when you file your weekly claims while waiting for a decision, make sure you accurately report any job search activities. ESD has become stricter about verifying these, and you need at least 3 qualifying activities each week. Keep detailed records including company names, contact information, job titles, and application methods. This will save you headaches later if they audit your job search activities.

This reminds me of my claim from last fall. Actually my situation was a little different because it wasn't the governor's office, but I had to get my union rep involved. The alert thing happened to me too though. ESD's website has all these weird quirks that make you question your sanity sometimes. Like, did I really see that notification or am I just desperate and imagining things? Anyway, in my case it took about two weeks after escalation, but then everything went through at once.

I just realized I didn't answer your full question. After the governor's office got involved with my claim, I received a call from an ESD specialist about 8 business days later. The call came from a blocked number, and they asked me several verification questions before discussing my claim. The specialist had clearly reviewed my file before calling. Once they fixed the issue, my portal updated within 24 hours and payment came 2 days after that. The ESD specialist mentioned they prioritize governor-elevated claims, but they still work through them in the order received. Depending on the current backlog, it could be 5-15 business days before you hear anything. If you're worried about missing a call, add a note to your ESD account (through the Contact Us section) stating your availability and best contact methods. Sometimes this helps ensure they reach you.