5 weeks in ESD adjudication with zero updates - employer confirmed their part is done
I'm at my wit's end with this adjudication process. My claim has been stuck in 'pending adjudication' for 5 full weeks now with absolutely zero updates or communication from ESD. I've checked my eServices account daily, and there's nothing new. My previous employer told me they've already submitted everything ESD requested from them over 3 weeks ago. I've uploaded all the documentation they asked for on my end too. Bills are piling up fast, and I'm about to miss my rent payment if this isn't resolved soon. I've called the ESD number about 20 times, but either get disconnected or sit on hold until the office closes. Has anyone had their claim stuck this long and actually managed to get it resolved? I'm desperate for any advice on how to actually reach a human who can tell me what's going on or expedite this process.
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Mateo Rodriguez
I went thru the EXACT same thing but mine was 7 weeks!!! Its ridiculous how they just leave us hanging without any info. I finally got through to someone after sending a message through the eServices portal every single day (like literally every day) asking for an update. They finally called me back but only after I mentioned I was going to contact my state rep because I was facing eviction. Maybe try the messaging system if you haven't already?
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Nia Thompson
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've sent two messages through the portal so far (one last week and one yesterday) but haven't gotten any response. I'll try sending daily messages like you did. Did you write the same thing each time or did you vary your messages? And did you specifically mention contacting your state rep in every message or just the last one?
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GalaxyGuardian
mine took 6 weeks back in november. so frustrating!! what finally worked was calling right when they opened at 8am sharp. still waited 45 mins but finally got someone. turns out they were waiting on some info they never even asked me for?? so dumb
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Nia Thompson
•That's what I'm worried about - that they're waiting on something and just never told me. I'll try the 8am call tomorrow. Thanks!
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Aisha Abdullah
Adjudication delays are unfortunately common right now, but 5 weeks is definitely on the longer end. A few things to try: 1. Check your spam/junk folder for emails from ESD - they sometimes get filtered there 2. Look under "Decisions and Alerts" in eServices, not just the main dashboard 3. Verify if you have any "Upload Documents" tasks that might be incomplete 4. Try calling at exactly 8:00 AM when their phone lines open 5. If your financial situation is dire, mention that you're facing eviction or utility shutoff when you do reach someone Another important note: adjudication can sometimes be delayed because of discrepancies between your application and your employer's response. Even though your employer submitted everything, there might be conflicting information that's causing the holdup. Hang in there - it's frustrating but they do eventually process everything.
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Nia Thompson
•Thank you for such a detailed response! I've checked all my folders (including spam) daily and there's nothing new. Under Decisions and Alerts, it just shows my initial monetary determination from 5 weeks ago. There are no pending document upload tasks either. I'll definitely try calling right at 8 AM and mention my financial situation. It's helpful to know that conflicting information could be the issue. My separation was a bit complicated (reduced hours then layoff), so maybe that's causing confusion. I just wish they'd tell me what the holdup is instead of complete silence.
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Ethan Wilson
I used Claimyr when my claim was stuck in adjudication for nearly a month. It's a service that helps you get through to an actual ESD agent instead of being on hold forever or getting disconnected. Took me about 10 minutes to get through to a real person after trying for weeks on my own. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website is claimyr.com. The agent I finally reached was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim and moved it forward that same day. Worth looking into if you're desperate like I was.
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Yuki Tanaka
•isnt that the service that costs money just to talk to unemployment?? seems crazy that we have to PAY just to get basic service from a govt agency we already pay taxes for!! the whole system is broken!!!
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Nia Thompson
•Thanks for this suggestion. I hadn't heard of this service before. At this point, I'm willing to try just about anything to get this resolved. I'll check out the video and site. Did you have to provide any additional information to ESD once you finally got through, or were they able to resolve it just by looking at your existing claim?
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Carmen Diaz
My claim was stuck forever too. ESD is so overwhelmed right now its crazy. When i finally got throufh they told me it was cuz my former boss said i quit but i put laid off. Had to do a phone interview to clear it up. Maybe thats whats happening with yours?
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Nia Thompson
•That could definitely be it. I was technically on reduced hours first, then officially laid off. I marked it as a layoff on my application, but maybe my employer classified it differently. Did they send you a notice about the phone interview, or did they just tell you when you called?
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Aisha Abdullah
Just wanted to add something important: if your claim has been in adjudication for more than 3 weeks, you can actually request an escalation. This isn't widely advertised, but ESD has internal guidelines about adjudication timeframes. When you do reach someone (either through regular calling, the 8am approach, or a service like others mentioned), specifically ask for your claim to be escalated due to the extended timeframe and financial hardship. Use those exact words: "I'd like to request an escalation due to the extended adjudication period and financial hardship." Also, document every contact attempt you make with ESD - dates, times, and any reference numbers. This can be helpful if you eventually need to file a complaint or contact your state representative.
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Nia Thompson
•This is extremely helpful! I had no idea about requesting an escalation. I'll definitely use those exact words when I finally reach someone. Thank you for the tip about documenting everything too - I'll start keeping a detailed log of all my contact attempts.
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Andre Laurent
Last summer my claim was stuck for TWO MONTHS! I know exactly how you feel. The anxiety and stress is unbearable. I ended up emailing my state representative (found their contact info on leg.wa.gov) and explained my situation. Their office contacted ESD on my behalf and suddenly my claim was processed within 48 hours. Might be worth trying if nothing else works.
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Nia Thompson
•Two months?! That's insane. I'm glad the state rep route worked for you. If I don't get anywhere with the other suggestions by the end of this week, I'll definitely try contacting my representative. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Mateo Rodriguez
Have you tried the technical support line instead of the regular ESD number? Sometimes they can see what's happening with your claim even tho they're supposed to be just for technical issues. The number is different and sometimes has shorter wait times. Worth a shot!
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Nia Thompson
•I haven't tried that - that's a clever idea! Do you happen to know the technical support number? I'll try looking it up on the ESD website too.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•I think it's 855-682-0785. They'll try to tell you they only handle login issues etc. but if you're nice sometimes they'll peek at your claim status and might give you some info. Good luck!!!
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Yuki Tanaka
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE PPL GIVE UP!!!! They WANT us to get frustrated and stop trying to get OUR MONEY that WE EARNED! I've been fighting with ESD for MONTHS and finally got paid last week. DON'T GIVE UP! Keep calling, keep messaging, be the most annoying person they've ever dealt with until they fix your claim just to get rid of you!!!!
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Nia Thompson
•It definitely feels that way sometimes! I'm trying to stay positive but it's getting harder each day. Congrats on finally getting your payment! I'm definitely going to be persistent - I have no choice at this point.
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AstroAce
heyy just wonderin if u ever got this resolved? im in same boat (6 weeks now) and freaking out
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Nia Thompson
•Yes! I actually did get it resolved last week. What finally worked was (1) calling at exactly 8:00 AM and waiting on hold for about an hour, then (2) specifically asking for an escalation due to financial hardship as someone suggested in this thread. They pushed my claim through and I got my determination two days later. Then payments came through about 3 days after that. Keep trying - use the 8 AM trick and specifically request escalation when you get through. Good luck!
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