6 weeks of claims stuck in 'processing' after SEAP training approval - normal wait time?

same boat here! been in processing for 5 weeks after i switched careers and got training approval. ESD is SUPER backed up this year its ridiculous. i tried calling like 35 times last week and couldn't get through once. gave up after that.

The processing delays are definitely longer than usual this year, especially for claims that have any changes like training programs or returning after a break. What's happening is that your claim likely got flagged for manual review when you restarted after being approved for SEAP. This is actually a common issue - the automated system sometimes doesn't properly connect the SEAP approval to the weekly claims processing. Two things you should do immediately: 1. Make sure your training attendance verification is being submitted weekly 2. Call the SEAP specialist line directly (not the regular ESD line) to ask them to expedite your claims For what it's worth, I've been seeing 4-8 week processing times for SEAP-related claims recently, but they DO eventually process and pay retroactively.

lol "processing" at ESD can mean literally anything. could be someone actually looking at it or could be sitting in a digital pile nobody's touched in weeks 🙄 who knows!! the system is such garbage

Have you tried calling the claims center? You absolutely need to get through to someone about this. ESD systems sometimes have these glitches where SEAP-approved claims get stuck in limbo. I had a similar issue last year and it turned out my claims needed to be manually reviewed because the system wasn't recognizing my training program properly. I know calling is a nightmare, but I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to ESD without waiting hours. It's at claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Seriously saved me weeks of frustration - I got through to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. Once I talked to someone, they were able to release all my backed-up payments within 48 hours. Worth a try if you're hitting week 7 with no movement.

There's actually a specific issue affecting SEAP claims that started in January 2025. The ESD computer system update they implemented is causing training program claims to require additional manual verification. Here's what you should know: 1. The standard processing time right now for SEAP claims is 4-6 weeks (unfortunately) 2. You should continue filing weekly claims as normal 3. If you reach 8 weeks without processing, you qualify for hardship escalation For the hardship escalation, you'll need to call and specifically mention "financial hardship due to SEAP processing delay" and reference the January 2025 system update. This is important because it routes your call differently. Also, make sure you're submitting your training attendance verification through both your educational institution AND manually entering it in your weekly claim. Double verification helps speed things up sometimes.

I went through this EXACT situation in February! It took 7 weeks for my SEAP claims to process, then suddenly ALL payments appeared in my account on the same day. The most frustrating part was that nobody at ESD could tell me what was happening or when I'd get paid. I maxed out two credit cards waiting. When I finally got through to someone (after 40+ calls), they just said "it's in processing" which told me absolutely nothing I didn't already know. The ESD website should just have a banner that says "¯\_(ツ)_/¯" because that's basically their answer to everything.

anybody else notice how the ESD website says processing times are "1-2 weeks" but NOBODY gets processed that fast anymore?? like why even post that if its a total lie??

Quick update on this issue: I just learned from a contact at WorkSource that ESD is currently working through a backlog of SEAP claims from January-March. They're prioritizing by filing date, so if you've been waiting 6 weeks, you should be in the upcoming batch for review. One important tip: if you can document any financial hardship (late payment notices, etc.), you can submit those through your eServices account under "Upload Documents" with the title "SEAP Hardship Documentation." This sometimes helps get your claim pulled from the general queue for expedited processing.

Just wanted to check in - any updates on your situation? Were you able to get through to ESD?