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I just need to share this with people who understand... after 4 long months in adjudication hell and a denial that crushed me, I FINALLY won my appeal yesterday! I was let go from my restaurant management position back in January - boss claimed 'misconduct' because I missed two shifts when my car broke down. ESD denied my claim in March citing 'misconduct' with zero investigation. I nearly gave up after waiting 7 weeks for an appeal hearing date. The hearing was nerve-wracking - my former employer showed up with documentation I'd never seen before! But I had my attendance record, text messages about my car troubles, and proof I'd tried to find a ride. The judge actually listened and REVERSED the denial! My back payments should be coming within 10-14 business days ($14,500 for 4+ months). For anyone still fighting their claim: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Save texts, emails, take screenshots. And get help from the Unemployment Law Project - they gave me free advice that probably saved my case. https://unemploymentlawproject.org/ Just want you all to know there IS hope even when you feel like giving up. This group kept me going when I was ready to throw in the towel.
sooo after I win my appeal (staying positive lol) will they pay me for all the weeks I've been filing with no money?? Its been 3 months and I'm drowning in debt
Yes, if you win your appeal, ESD will pay you for all eligible weeks you've claimed during the appeal process - assuming you've been filing your weekly claims consistently. This is called "back benefits." Make sure you've been answering all the weekly certification questions truthfully and reporting any work/earnings. If you missed filing for any weeks, you'll need to request to backdate those claims, which is a separate process.
I had my appeal last month for a similar issue! My old job said I abandoned my position when actually they changed my schedule without telling me! The judge in my case was super fair too. Took about 2 weeks after the decision for money to hit my account. Congrats!!
This whole system is DESIGNED TO BE CONFUSING!! They make these 'errors' on purpose so people give up claiming. I had THREE different ESD agents tell me THREE different ways to report holiday pay for WorkShare. One said report as worked hours, one said report as holiday pay, and one said don't report it at all!!! How are we supposed to know what's right when even THEY don't know?!?!
While I understand your frustration, the confusion is more likely due to WorkShare being a relatively specialized program that not all agents are equally trained on. The official ESD policy is clear: holiday pay should be reported as holiday pay, not hours worked. It affects your benefit calculation differently. If you encounter an agent who seems unsure, ask to speak with a WorkShare specialist specifically.
My company uses WorkShare too and I just went through this exact problem last month! What worked for me was leaving a detailed message in their eServices portal explaining the holiday pay situation. They responded within 3 days and manually processed my claim. Might be worth trying while you're also attempting to call.
Just curious - did you select "laid off" as your reason for separation from your current job? Sometimes people accidentally select the wrong reason which creates unnecessary adjudication.
One more thing to note - if your claim goes to adjudication, you'll likely receive a fact-finding interview request. This could be a phone call or questionnaire. Be completely honest, but frame your reasons clearly. For the job after your father's passing, emphasize the emotional impact and inability to perform work duties effectively. For the job you left for better opportunities, detail the specific improvements in pay, benefits, and working conditions. Most importantly, respond to ALL ESD communications promptly. Missing a fact-finding deadline can result in automatic denial.
Thank you for this advice! I'll keep a close eye on my mail and ESD account for any communications. If they do schedule a fact-finding interview, is it usually by phone or in person?
Most fact-finding interviews are conducted by phone. They'll schedule a specific date and time window when an adjudicator will call you. Make sure your phone accepts calls from unknown/blocked numbers during that time. If you miss the call, they typically try one more time before making a decision based on available information.
my cousin works at esd (not suppose to say this lol) but she says their computer system auto-denies TONS of valid claims and then the appeals backlog is crazy right now!!! like 12 weeks behind!!! might be faster to just try calling over and over until u get a actual person who can fix it without appeal. good luck!!!
Any update on your situation? Did sending the paystubs work? I'm still dealing with my mess and wondering if I should try something different.
Still denied! I've been calling every day but can't get through. I'm going to try getting a letter from my temp agency as several people suggested, and I'm considering using that Claimyr service someone mentioned just to talk to a human. The most frustrating part is that I KNOW I qualify based on the 7x rule - I just need someone to actually look at my documentation!
GalaxyGuardian
This happened to me last year!! It was actually a good thing - in my case I was being switched to a different tier of benefits that required less frequent filing. Still got paid every week but only had to report once a month. Saved me a lot of hassle honestly. But definitely check with ESD to make sure that's what's happening in your case.
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Ava Garcia
•That would actually be great if that's what's happening! Less paperwork but still getting benefits would be ideal. I'll definitely confirm with ESD. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Miguel Silva
After reading through everyone's responses, it sounds most likely that you've been placed in a Training Benefits program following your WorkSource meeting. This is generally positive as it allows you to focus on gaining new skills while still receiving benefits. Here's what you should do: 1. Check your correspondence tab for any notifications about Training Benefits approval 2. Contact your WorkSource counselor directly to confirm your enrollment status 3. Verify if your job search requirements have changed (typically reduced or eliminated during approved training) 4. Make note of any new reporting requirements that replace weekly claims Training Benefits can last up to 52 weeks in Washington state and often provide more stable support while you upskill. The Excel certification courses you mentioned would qualify as approved training for an accounting professional.
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Ava Garcia
•Update: You were right! I finally got through to ESD this morning (using that Claimyr service someone recommended - worked great), and they confirmed I was approved for Training Benefits after my WorkSource meeting. I'll be receiving an official letter in a few days. Instead of weekly claims, I just need to verify my training attendance monthly. And my benefits will continue at the same amount! Such a relief. Thank you everyone for your help!
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