After my appeal, I had to wait nearly 3 weeks for payment, but a friend of mine got hers in just 8 days, so it really varies. I think it depends on: 1. How complicated your case was 2. Whether your employer contests the judge's decision 3. Current ESD workload 4. If you have any other issues on your claim The most frustrating part is there's no good way to check the status during this waiting period. The online system just shows your original disqualification until suddenly it updates all at once when they process it.

Hey Malik! I just went through this exact same process about 2 months ago. Had my hearing on a Tuesday and was super nervous about the timeline too since my rent was due soon. Here's what happened in my case: Got the decision letter exactly 14 days after the hearing (it was favorable!), and then ESD took another 6 days to actually update my claim and release the payments. So total time from hearing to money in my account was 20 days. The backpay was automatic for all the weeks I had filed during the appeal - didn't have to do anything special for that. Just make sure you keep filing every single week like others have said! One tip: I set up text alerts on my bank account so I'd know immediately when the deposit hit. The ESD website updated the same day but I saw the money first. Good luck, sounds like your hearing went really well!

One more important thing: even if you have to report the full UI amount, make sure you're claiming all possible deductions on your DSHS application. Housing costs, utilities, childcare expenses, and medical expenses can all help you qualify for more benefits even with higher income. Don't leave any deductions on the table!

I went through a similar situation with ESD overpayment recovery a few months ago. Just wanted to add that when you call ESD to request a hardship reduction, be prepared with specific documentation of your monthly expenses - rent, utilities, food costs, etc. They'll likely ask for proof that the current recovery rate is causing genuine financial hardship. Also, if you qualify for reduced recovery, make sure to get the new rate in writing through your eServices account. The process took about 3 weeks for me, but I was able to get my recovery rate reduced from 25% to 15%, which made a huge difference in my ability to cover basic expenses while still paying back the overpayment.

I'm going through something similar right now - filed 3 weeks ago after my restaurant closed permanently and I'm also stuck with "disqualified" status during adjudication. Reading all these responses is really helpful because I was starting to panic that I'd been denied already. It's such poor system design to use "disqualified" when they mean "under review." I'm going to try uploading proof of the business closure like Effie suggested and maybe look into that Claimyr service if I can't get through by calling myself. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is normal even though it's incredibly stressful when you're behind on bills.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I know how anxiety-inducing it is to see "disqualified" when you know you should qualify! I went through almost the exact same situation 6 months ago when my company suddenly shut down. Like others have said, that status is just a terrible default while they review your case. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - screenshots of my claim status each week, copies of all the paperwork from my employer about the closure, and a log of every time I tried calling ESD. When I finally got through (took about 3 weeks of trying), having all that documentation ready made the call go much smoother. The agent was able to see exactly what was happening and got my case resolved that same day. Also, don't stop filing your weekly claims even though it feels pointless - you'll get backpay for all those weeks once it's approved. The waiting is awful but you will get through this!

This thread has been really helpful. I was also confused about where to apply and this cleared everything up. Sometimes the simple questions are the hardest to get straight answers for.

Just a heads up - make sure you have your Social Security number and driver's license ready when you apply. The SAW system will need those for identity verification. Also, if you've moved recently, use your current address but be prepared to explain any address changes from your last job. The system can flag mismatched addresses and cause delays.

Also wanted to mention that there are different types of unemployment benefits - regular UI, standby, and others. Most people qualify for regular UI but if you're in a union or certain industries, you might have different options. The application will help determine what you're eligible for.

One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you have your bank account information ready for direct deposit setup. Washington ESD strongly encourages direct deposit over paper checks, and it's much faster (usually 1-2 business days vs up to a week for checks). You'll need your routing number and account number. Also, don't be discouraged if the website is slow or crashes sometimes - it gets heavy traffic, especially on Sundays when people are filing their weekly claims. Just be patient and try again later if you run into technical issues.