10 weeks of ESD claims still 'pending' - now homeless with no response from ESD

I'm so sorry you're going through this. This is definitely not normal - even with adjudication delays, 10 weeks is extreme. I had a 6-week delay last year, but what finally worked was contacting my state representative. Google \

Thank you for the advice. I just checked my account again and don't see any pending questionnaires or fact-finding notices, which makes their email even more infuriating. I'll try contacting my state rep right away. At this point I'm willing to try anything. Do you know how detailed I should be in my email to them?

ESD is compleatly useless!!!! I had the EXACT same thing happen last fall. They send emails saying u missed something but NEVER actualy sent the thing they claim u missed!!!! Its all excuses so they dont have to pay u. Try going to WorkSource in person, sometimes they can help get u connected to someone who can acutally DO somthing.

I was honestly thinking the same thing - that it's just an excuse to delay my payments. It's evil. I'll check out WorkSource tomorrow if I can get enough gas money together to drive there. Did they actually help with your claim when you went in?

I used a service called Claimyr when I was in a similar situation (though thankfully not as dire). They got me connected to an actual ESD agent within about 30 minutes when I had been trying for weeks on my own. It costs a fee but it was worth every penny for me. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nIf you can somehow scrape together the fee, it might be worth it given your emergency situation. Speaking directly with an agent made all the difference for me - they cleared my pending issues on the spot.

is that service really legit? seems kinda scammy to charge people who already dont have money...

It's definitely legit. I was skeptical too but it actually works. They just use a system that navigates the phone tree and holds your place in line, then calls you when they get through. Saved me days of frustration. They can't guarantee your claim will be fixed of course, but at least you get to speak to an actual human at ESD.

OK so heres whats probably happening cus it happened to me too. When they say u missed a deadline, it might be for an adjudication interview that they NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT!!! Check ur voicemails super carefully. They sometimes schedule these calls but the notification system fails. Then when u \

This is a great point. They often schedule fact-finding interviews without proper notification. They're supposed to send it three ways (mail, eServices, and sometimes phone), but the system breaks down constantly. The foodbank suggestion is excellent - many have connections with social services that can help navigate ESD obstacles.

I work in a legal aid office, and unfortunately we're seeing this situation more and more often. Here are some immediate steps you should take:\n\n1. File a formal complaint with the ESD Commissioner's Office: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployment-benefits-feedback\n\n2. Contact the Unemployment Law Project for free legal assistance: http://unemploymentlawproject.org/\n\n3. If you're in the Seattle area, the YWCA has emergency assistance programs specifically for people facing homelessness due to unemployment issues\n\n4. Check if there are administrative errors on your claim - the most common are identity verification issues or employer response delays\n\nThe system is severely backlogged, but these steps can help escalate your case. Please reach out to legal aid services immediately - you have rights even when ESD isn't responding.

Thank you so much for these resources. I didn't know about the Unemployment Law Project - just checked their site and they might be exactly what I need. I've already submitted the complaint form but will definitely reach out to legal aid. It feels like I have no rights at all right now, so it's good to hear someone say otherwise.

hey its not much but if u dm me i might be able to send u a little $ for gas or phone bill. been there myself last year.

That's incredibly kind of you. I'll send you a message. Even $20 for gas would help me get to WorkSource and back. People like you give me hope when the system is failing so badly.

I had a similar nightmare scenario last year that lasted 8 weeks. I FINALLY got it resolved by doing two things simultaneously:\n\n1) I contacted my state senator (not representative) who seemed to have more pull than the representatives\n\n2) I went to the WorkSource office in person and refused to leave until someone helped me connect with ESD. I was polite but VERY persistent. The WorkSource staff eventually made some internal calls and got someone from ESD to look at my file.\n\nWithin 3 days of doing these two things, all 8 weeks of my claims were paid at once. The ridiculous thing is they found NO ISSUES with my claim - it had just been sitting in some digital queue for two months.\n\nDon't give up. Document everything. And be the squeaky wheel.

This gives me hope. I'm going to try both approaches starting tomorrow. 8 weeks is a long time too, though not quite as long as my 10 weeks. Did they ever explain WHY your claims were stuck for so long without any actual issues?

No real explanation other than