I've been documenting everything meticulously since day one - spreadsheet with dates, company names, positions, application methods, and follow-up notes. Even screenshot confirmations when I can. Reading about all these audits makes me glad I took it seriously from the start. One thing I'm curious about though - has anyone been audited more than once? Is it completely random or do they focus on certain types of claims?

From my experience, Washington ESD definitely checks work search activities, but it's not as scary as some make it sound if you're being honest and keeping good records. I was audited about 8 months into my claim period and they requested documentation for 10 weeks of work search activities. The key is being thorough - I kept a simple spreadsheet with company name, position title, date applied, method (online, email, phone), and any follow-up. They accepted everything without issues and the whole process took about 2 weeks. The auditor was actually pretty helpful and explained exactly what they look for. My advice: don't stress about it, just document everything as you go and you'll be fine if selected.

Another thing - if they deny your waiver or only approve a partial waiver, you have the right to APPEAL! Don't just accept their decision. You have 30 days from the date on the determination letter to file an appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). My first waiver request was completely denied, but I appealed and got 50% waived after the hearing. The judge was actually reasonable unlike the ESD bureaucrats. Make sure you have all your financial hardship evidence organized if you need to go this route.

I'm in a very similar situation - filed my overpayment waiver in March for $18,400 and still waiting for a decision. The stress is absolutely overwhelming, especially when you're already struggling financially. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like 3-4 months is pretty typical right now, so you're not alone in the long wait. I've been trying some of the suggestions from this thread: - Called that Collections number (855-829-9243) that Andre mentioned and actually got through! They confirmed my waiver is "under review" but couldn't give a timeline - Been checking my online ESD account weekly for any messages - Continuing to make small payments when I can ($50-75/month) even though it's tight The waiting is the worst part because you can't plan anything or move forward with your life. Hang in there - from what others are saying, it sounds like most people do get at least some relief, even if it's not 100%. And definitely keep that appeal option in mind if the initial decision isn't favorable. Sending you good vibes that you hear something soon! 🤞

Thanks for all the info everyone! I'm setting up my bank alerts now and will keep track of the Tuesday morning pattern. Hopefully this helps reduce my weekly payment anxiety lol.

I've been on unemployment for about 6 months now and can confirm the Tuesday morning pattern everyone's describing. My payments with US Bank typically show up between 5-7 AM on Tuesdays, but I've noticed it can be as late as 9 AM during busy periods. One thing I'd add is that if you have multiple pending issues on your claim, it can delay the whole batch of payments, so make sure to resolve any adjudication issues quickly. The ESD mobile app also sends push notifications when payments are processed, which is helpful for tracking.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Washington ESD also has a waiting week, which means your first week of unemployment won't be paid even if you're approved. So when you're calculating your finances, factor in that you'll get your first payment in week 2, not week 1. Also, if you end up needing to appeal any decision or if there are issues with your claim, it can add weeks to the process. I'd recommend having some emergency savings set aside just in case there are delays. With your $1,000/week earnings for 14 months though, you should qualify without any major issues - that's a solid work history that ESD likes to see.

Anna, I went through this exact calculation when I was making similar wages. With your $1,000/week for 14 months, you're actually in a pretty good spot. Washington will look at your highest earning quarter from your base year - so if you've been consistent, that's around $13,000 quarterly. The formula they use typically results in about 50-60% of your weekly wage, so you're probably looking at $600-700 per week in benefits. The fact that you have 14 months of steady earnings means you'll have solid quarters in your base year, which is exactly what their system needs. Don't stress too much about the website being confusing - the actual application process walks you through everything step by step, and with your work history you should qualify without major issues.

I've been on unemployment for about 3 months now and I'm still learning the payment schedule! One thing I discovered is that if you have any issues with your claim - like identity verification or work search requirements - it can delay your payment even if you file on time. My payment got held up for almost two weeks because I needed to verify some employment dates. The key is to stay on top of any notifications in your account and respond quickly to requests for additional information. Also, I noticed that during holiday weeks the payment can sometimes come a day later than usual, so don't panic if your Wednesday payment doesn't show up until Thursday during those times!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding Washington ESD's payment schedule! As someone who just started filing for unemployment benefits last month, I was constantly anxious about when my payments would arrive. Now I know to file by Sunday evening and expect my direct deposit to hit Wednesday morning. One thing I'd add for other newcomers - make sure to set up account alerts through your bank's mobile app. It's such a relief to get that notification when your payment arrives instead of obsessively checking your balance every few hours on Wednesday morning!