


Ask the community...
Update from my earlier comment - another option is to visit your local WorkSource office in person. They can't directly help with Commissioner Reviews, but they can sometimes contact ESD through internal channels to verify your appeal status. I did this last year when I was in a similar situation and the WorkSource specialist was able to confirm my appeal was in the system and gave me a rough timeframe.
I appreciate the update! There's a WorkSource office about 20 minutes from me that I could visit. Do I need to make an appointment first or can I just walk in?
I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my Commissioner's Review appeal 6 weeks ago and it's like they don't exist. Really appreciate all the suggestions here - going to try the 8am calling strategy and definitely looking into contacting my state representative. Has anyone had luck with the Governor's office constituent services? I saw they have an online form for ESD issues but wasn't sure if it's worth trying. This whole process is so stressful when you're already struggling financially.
Pro tip: bookmark the direct link to your documents section once you find it. The Washington ESD website navigation can be a maze.
I just went through this same process recently and it took me forever to find the right document! One thing that helped me was using the search function within the eServices portal - I searched for "monetary" and "determination" and that brought up the document I needed. Also, if you're still having trouble, try looking under different date ranges in case the document was filed under a different time period than you expected. The Washington ESD system can be really counterintuitive about where things are stored.
That's a great tip about using the search function! I never thought to search for specific terms like "monetary" and "determination" within the portal. The date range suggestion is really helpful too - I bet a lot of people miss documents because they're looking in the wrong time period. Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
One important point I forgot to mention: If you're experiencing severe financial hardship (like potential eviction or utility shutoff), you can request an expedited processing of your OAH decision implementation. Call the ESD claims center and specifically ask for a "hardship escalation" for your appeal implementation. You'll need to provide some proof of the hardship, but it can potentially speed things up significantly.
That's extremely helpful information! My rent is due on the 1st and I'm definitely going to be short. Would an eviction notice qualifier for hardship escalation, or do I need to be further along in the process? I'll try calling tomorrow with this specific request.
A notice from your landlord stating rent is past due and eviction proceedings will begin if not paid by a certain date should be sufficient. You can also use final notices from utility companies or even a bank statement showing critically low funds if you explain your situation. The key is to be specific about the timeline and consequences when you request the hardship escalation.
Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone else in this situation - I won my OAH appeal in February and it took exactly 12 business days for ESD to implement the decision and release my back pay. Like others mentioned, there was zero communication from ESD during the wait - no letters, no status updates in my online account, nothing. Then one Tuesday morning I logged in and boom, all my back benefits were there dating back to when I first filed. The key things that helped me: I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though my account still showed disqualified, and I had my OAH decision letter saved as a PDF on my phone in case I needed to reference the case number. The wait was stressful but it did eventually get resolved. Hang in there @Ethan Wilson - sounds like you're doing everything right!
I was in a very similar situation about 6 months ago - terminated for performance issues after struggling to meet productivity targets at a customer service job. I was really worried about filing for unemployment because I thought being fired automatically disqualified me. But after reading through Washington state's guidelines, I learned that there's a big difference between being fired for misconduct versus just not being able to meet job requirements. I filed my claim and was approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The investigator asked me to explain what happened and I was honest about struggling with the role but emphasized that I was always trying my best and following all company policies. My advice would be to file ASAP and don't let the fear of potential denial stop you - you might be pleasantly surprised like I was!
This is such a helpful perspective! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through almost the exact same situation and got approved. I think you're absolutely right about not letting fear of denial stop me from filing - what's the worst that could happen? Thank you for sharing your experience and encouraging me to be honest but also emphasize that I was following policies and trying my best.
I went through something very similar last year when I was let go from a retail management position for not meeting sales targets. Like you, I was really nervous about filing because I thought being fired meant automatic disqualification. But Washington ESD actually approved my claim after about 2 weeks of review. The key thing they look for is whether you were fired for "misconduct connected with work" - which has a very specific legal definition. Simply not being able to perform at the level your employer wanted doesn't usually qualify as misconduct. When I spoke with the adjudicator, I explained that I was always punctual, followed all company procedures, and genuinely tried to improve my performance through additional training and asking for feedback. That seemed to be enough to show I wasn't willfully violating any workplace standards. My suggestion is to file right away and gather any documentation you have that shows you were making good faith efforts to succeed in the role. Good luck!
StarGazer101
Hang in there - being laid off is stressful but you're already being proactive by asking questions and preparing. That's exactly the right approach. You'll figure this out and hopefully find an even better opportunity!
0 coins
Yuki Watanabe
•Thank you so much everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more prepared now and less anxious about the whole process.
0 coins
StarGazer101
•That's what this community is for! Feel free to come back and ask more questions as you go through the process.
0 coins
Ashley Adams
I went through a similar layoff situation about 18 months ago and wanted to share a few practical tips that really helped me. First, when you file your claim, take screenshots of every page - the system occasionally glitches and you'll want proof of what you submitted. Second, set up a dedicated email folder for all ESD communications so nothing gets lost in your inbox. Third, if you have any side income (freelance work, gig economy stuff), make sure you understand how to report it properly on your weekly claims - even small amounts need to be reported and can affect your benefits. The whole process is definitely overwhelming at first, but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes much more manageable. You've got good instincts asking questions ahead of time!
0 coins