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Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to try calling the main number tomorrow morning at 8am sharp, and if that doesn't work I'll look into the Claimyr option. Really appreciate all the suggestions.
Let us know how it goes! Always helpful to hear about people's experiences with getting through to ESD.
I will definitely update this thread once I get it sorted out. You all have been so helpful!
I've been dealing with the same exact problem! Spent weeks trying different numbers I found online and most of them were either disconnected or led to automated systems that hung up on me. The 833-572-8400 number that others mentioned is definitely the correct one - I finally got through last week after calling at exactly 8:02 AM. Still took about an hour and a half on hold but at least I didn't get disconnected. Make sure you have your SSN, claim number, and any correspondence from ESD ready before you call. The agents move pretty quickly once you get connected and you don't want to waste time searching for documents. Good luck!
This is really encouraging! I've been trying at exactly 8:00 AM like everyone suggested but keep getting busy signals or disconnected after hours of waiting. I never thought about calling a few minutes after 8 - that's such a smart tip! I'm going to try 8:02 or 8:03 AM tomorrow and see if that helps me get through. Having all the documents ready is great advice too since I definitely don't want to fumble around once I finally get an agent on the line. Thanks for sharing what actually worked for you!
That's a really smart strategy about calling a few minutes after 8! I've been one of those people calling right at 8:00 AM and getting nowhere. It makes total sense that there's probably a huge rush right when they open and calling just slightly later might help avoid that initial flood of calls. I'm definitely going to try this approach - maybe 8:03 or 8:05 AM to see if I can get better results. Thanks for the practical tip that actually worked for someone!
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Congratulations on winning your appeal! As someone new to this community but familiar with the ESD process, I can confirm that "Reversed" in your case is definitely good news since you were the appellant. One thing I'd suggest is checking if your employer has any further appeal rights - sometimes they have 30 days to appeal to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals if they disagree with the reversal. You should see this information in your decision letter. Also, make sure you're prepared to restart your weekly claim filing immediately if you haven't been doing so during the appeal process. The system sometimes gets confused after reversals, so don't panic if your first few weekly claims show as "pending" - that's normal while they update everything on their end.
That's a really good point about the employer potentially having appeal rights! I didn't even think about that possibility. I'll definitely look through the decision letter more carefully to see if there's any mention of a 30-day window for them to appeal further. Hopefully they won't, but it's good to be prepared. I actually have been filing my weekly claims throughout the appeal process since I wasn't sure how long it would take, so that should help avoid any gaps. Thanks for the heads up about claims potentially showing as "pending" - I would have definitely panicked if I saw that without knowing it was normal during the system update process!
Hey Oliver! I'm new to this community but went through a similar appeal process last year. "Reversed" is definitely good news for you! Since you were the one appealing the disqualification, this means ESD has overturned their original decision and you should now be eligible for benefits. A few things to expect: Your online account should update within a week showing your claim is now valid, and you'll likely receive back pay for the weeks you were wrongfully denied. Keep filing your weekly claims if you haven't been already. Also, don't be surprised if there's a slight delay in payments while their system processes the reversal - mine took about 10 days after the decision letter arrived. Make sure to read through the full decision letter when you have a chance, especially the "Conclusions of Law" section that others mentioned. It'll give you the specific legal reasoning for why they reversed the decision. Congrats on winning your appeal - I know how stressful the whole process can be!
Thank you so much Ezra! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through this exact situation. I've been so anxious about the whole process and honestly didn't know what to expect after getting that letter. The 10-day timeframe you mentioned is helpful to know - I was worried it might take months for anything to happen. I'll definitely keep filing my weekly claims and be patient with the system updates. It's such a relief to finally have some clarity after weeks of uncertainty. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and congratulations advice!
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Just wanted to add that if you do run into any issues with your claim - like if it gets stuck in adjudication or you need to appeal a decision - Claimyr can also help with those situations. They're not just for initial questions but can help throughout the whole process.
Good to know there are options if things get complicated. Hopefully I won't need it, but it's reassuring to know it's there.
As a fellow union member (IBEW Local 46), I can confirm everything that's been said here is accurate. I've collected unemployment benefits multiple times over the years during slow periods, and being union has never been an issue. One additional tip I'd add - keep good records of all your job search activities, including dates you checked in with your hall, jobs you applied for, and any networking you do with other tradespeople. Washington ESD can audit your work search activities, and having detailed records makes that process much smoother if it ever happens. Also, don't forget that attending union meetings or training classes can sometimes count toward your work search requirements too. Good luck with your claim!
Great question about informal networking! In my experience, those coffee shop conversations with other tradespeople can absolutely count as work search activities, but you need to document them properly. I usually log them as "Networking with industry contacts" and include the date, who I talked to (just first name or "fellow electrician"), and what job leads or information was discussed. The key is showing that it was a genuine work-related conversation, not just casual chat. For example, if another electrician mentions that XYZ Company is hiring or that there might be openings on a project they heard about, that's definitely worth documenting. Even general discussions about industry conditions or which contractors are busy can count since it's market intelligence that helps your job search. Just be honest about the nature of the conversation and how it relates to finding work. The ESD understands that in the trades, a lot of job information comes through informal networks, so they recognize this type of activity. The more specific you can be about what information was shared, the better your documentation will be.
This is such valuable information! As a union electrician who's been putting off filing for unemployment after my recent layoff, I really appreciate the detailed breakdown from someone with actual IBEW experience. The record-keeping advice is particularly helpful - I had no idea that keeping detailed documentation was so important for potential audits. I'm definitely going to start a proper log right away. One question about the union meeting documentation - when you mention that meetings where work opportunities are discussed count toward work search requirements, does this include just being present at the meeting, or do I need to actively participate in the discussion? Our monthly meetings usually have a segment where the business agent talks about upcoming projects and job prospects, and members sometimes share information about contractors who are hiring. I want to make sure I'm documenting this correctly in my work search log.
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I'm new to unemployment benefits and just got my first payment, but I'm seeing a small "intercept" deduction too. Reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were so many different types of old debts that could cause this! I'm definitely going to check the Department of Revenue website first since it sounds like vehicle registration fees and tax issues are pretty common causes. It's kind of scary how easy it is to forget about these small government fees over the years, especially if you've moved around. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the specific resources to check - this community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing situations!
Welcome to the unemployment world - it's definitely confusing at first! I just went through the same thing and it turned out to be an old vehicle registration fee I'd completely forgotten about. The Department of Revenue website is definitely a good first stop - you can search by your name or license plate number to see if there are any outstanding fees. Also don't panic if you find something small like I did - sometimes it's easier to just let them take it rather than fight it if it's not a huge amount. The main thing is figuring out what it is so you're not left wondering! Good luck and definitely update us on what you discover.
This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm dealing with my own intercept issue right now and was really worried it might be some major problem with my claim. It's actually reassuring to see that most of these turn out to be small forgotten debts rather than anything serious. I'm going to start by checking the Department of Revenue website like several people suggested, and then try the secure messaging through eServices if I can't figure it out on my own. The fact that they're legally required to send a notice explaining the intercept is good to know too - I'll keep an eye out for that in the mail. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice, especially the original poster for updating us with their resolution!
I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you too! It's really comforting to see how many people have gone through similar situations and that most of these intercepts end up being relatively minor issues. The Department of Revenue website is definitely a great starting point - I wish I had known about that resource earlier. It's also worth noting that even if the intercept notice takes a while to arrive in the mail, at least you'll have some peace of mind knowing what to expect based on everyone's experiences here. The secure messaging through eServices seems like a solid backup plan too. Hoping your intercept turns out to be something small and easily resolved like most of the cases shared here!
Amara Eze
One final tip: When you restart your UI claim, in the "reason for separation" section, select "Not working - still attached to employer" and then in the details mention you were on PFML and are now able to work again. This helps prevent the system from thinking you have a new job separation issue that needs adjudication. You've already been approved based on your original job separation (the potentially illegal termination due to pregnancy), so you want to make it clear you're just continuing that same claim.
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QuantumQuasar
•That's super helpful, thank you! I definitely don't want to trigger another adjudication process. The first one took forever.
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Ethan Campbell
Just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer reported your termination correctly to ESD. Since you mentioned it might have been illegal termination due to pregnancy, make sure they didn't report it as "quit" or something that could affect your benefits. You can check this in your eServices account under claim details. If they reported it wrong, you'll want to contact ESD to correct it before any issues come up when you restart your claim. Also, keep any documentation about the pregnancy-related termination - you might need it later if there are any questions about your eligibility. Good luck with everything! 🍀
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