Must be nice. Still waiting here after 3+ months with ZERO movement despite uploading MULTIPLE hardship statements. System still completely broken for most of us.

Congratulations Javier! Your success story gives me hope as someone who's currently at week 5 of adjudication. I'm definitely going to upload a hardship statement today after reading about your experience. For others still waiting - it sounds like the weekend processing is real but limited, so don't give up hope. The fact that they're prioritizing 8+ week claims and hardship cases means there is some method to the madness, even if it doesn't feel like it when you're stuck waiting. Thanks for sharing your outcome and keeping the rest of us informed!

I went through a similar situation last year when my employer appealed my unemployment claim after a restructuring layoff. It turned out they were automatically appealing all claims as part of their cost-cutting strategy, even though they knew the layoffs were legitimate. The most important thing is to gather all your documentation - layoff notices, emails about the restructuring, anything that shows it wasn't your fault. I also reached out to former coworkers who were laid off at the same time to see if they'd be willing to be witnesses if needed. The hearing itself was pretty straightforward - the judge asked questions about the circumstances and I just told the truth. I won and got my benefits reinstated with back pay for the weeks I missed during the appeal. Don't let them intimidate you - if you were truly laid off due to budget cuts, you have a strong case.

I'm dealing with a similar appeal situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My employer also appealed after what was clearly a layoff due to company downsizing. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like many companies do this automatically to try to reduce their unemployment tax burden, even when they know the layoff was legitimate. I've been stressed about the hearing but seeing all these success stories where people won with proper documentation gives me hope. I've saved all my emails about the layoff announcement and my termination letter, so I think I should be in good shape. It's frustrating that we have to go through this extra step when we're already dealing with being unemployed, but at least the process seems fair if you have your facts straight.

I've been helping people navigate Washington ESD disputes for years and your situation sounds very winnable. Medical absences with proper documentation are one of the weakest grounds for employer protests. The key is showing you followed their policies for requesting time off and had legitimate medical reasons. Make sure to emphasize in your fact-finding response that you provided advance notice when possible and had doctor's notes. Also highlight that you received no progressive discipline - verbal mentions during health crises don't constitute formal warnings. Washington ESD sees right through employers who try to rewrite history after layoffs. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you into giving up benefits you rightfully earned!

I went through a similar employer protest situation last year and want to share what I learned. The most important thing is that Washington ESD requires employers to prove misconduct was both "willful" and "substantial" - just having attendance issues, even without medical documentation, often doesn't meet that standard if there's no pattern of defiance or repeated violations after formal warnings. In your case, having medical documentation makes their argument even weaker. One thing that really helped me was creating a detailed timeline of events with dates, showing exactly when I provided medical notes and how I followed company procedures. Also, don't forget to mention if you were a good employee overall - length of service, positive reviews, no prior disciplinary actions all work in your favor. The adjudicator will look at the totality of circumstances, not just the employer's cherry-picked complaints. Washington ESD sees these weak protests all the time and knows the difference between legitimate misconduct and employers trying to avoid paying unemployment taxes.

This whole situation is ridiculous. ESD is a complete mess since COVID. My claim from 2024 is still "under review" and I call every month only to be told "it's in process" whatever that means. Now I'm scared they'll hit me with some random overpayment too. Good luck with your case!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what a bureaucratic nightmare! As someone new to this community, I'm shocked reading about how common these vague overpayment notices seem to be. A few thoughts that might help: 1. Document EVERYTHING - it sounds like you're already doing this, but make sure you have timestamped screenshots of any online interactions with ESD, printed copies of all emails, and photos of any physical mail with postmarks clearly visible. 2. Have you considered reaching out to local news stations? Sometimes media attention on these kinds of bureaucratic failures can pressure agencies to resolve cases more quickly. 3. For your Superior Court case, you might want to include a Freedom of Information Act request for any internal ESD communications about your case - sometimes these reveal procedural errors or show that staff knew they made mistakes. The combination of the GI Bill confusion that @Declan Ramirez mentioned plus the timing issues around your move could definitely explain this mess. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a strong case with all the procedural violations!

One last tip - if you do get laid off and have trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone for any reason, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I used it when my claim got stuck and needed to speak with someone urgently. Saved me days of calling.

I went through a layoff situation about 6 months ago and want to add that you should also be prepared for the emotional side of this process. Even though layoffs qualify for benefits and the system is generally supportive, losing your job is still stressful. Don't be afraid to reach out to the WorkSource career counselors - they offer free services beyond just job search requirements. They helped me update my resume and practice interviewing, which made me feel more confident during the job hunt. Also, consider joining some local networking groups or LinkedIn communities for your industry. Sometimes the connections you make there are just as valuable as the unemployment benefits themselves.