One more thing to consider - even if your claim isn't in full adjudication, there might be a mandatory waiting week. In Washington, the first week you're eligible is usually a waiting week where you don't get paid. But you still need to file a claim for that week! This is separate from adjudication issues.

Update on your "pending issue" status - that definitely means something is flagged in your claim that needs resolution. It could be anything from identity verification to employer response issues. Unfortunately, these can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to resolve, depending on the complexity and current ESD workload. Your best option is to speak directly with an ESD representative to find out what specifically is causing the pending issue and if there's anything you can do to help resolve it faster. Keep filing those weekly claims in the meantime!

For anyone else waiting on adjudication: Keep detailed records of all your interactions with ESD. Write down the date and time of any calls, the name of the person you spoke with, and what was discussed. This information can be invaluable if there are any discrepancies later. Also, make sure that your contact information is up-to-date in your eServices account. Adjudicators often try the phone number listed there first, and if it's outdated, they may move on to another claim after failed contact attempts. You can update your profile information by logging into your account and selecting "Update Contact Information" from the menu options. In my experience working with unemployment claimants, those who maintain organized records tend to have smoother experiences resolving claim issues.

Did the adjudicator talk to you about why your claim was held up for so long? I'm going crazy trying to figure out why mine is taking forever when I submitted everything correctly!

Update for everyone: I just spoke with someone at ESD yesterday about a different issue, and they mentioned that starting in 2025, they'll be implementing a new "edit claim" feature that will allow for corrections within 24 hours of submission. That won't help the original poster now, but it's good to know they're finally addressing this common problem for future claims.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get this resolved? It would be helpful for others to know what worked (or didn't work) in your situation.

my cousin works for the worksource office (not same as esd but they work w/ them) and she says they r SUPER understaffed right now. like half the ppl they need. so thats why everything takes 4ever

UPDATE: Finally got through! The Claimyr thing actually worked after about 90 minutes of waiting. ESD agent told me my claim had been flagged because I worked for two different employers in my base year and one of them hadn't responded to their wage verification request. She manually overrode something and said my claim should move to processing in 24-48 hours. So relieved!

Just checking back - did your claim status update yet? Sometimes completing those additional questionnaires can trigger the system to move forward with processing right away.

Yes! About 3 hours after completing that missing questionnaire, my status changed from \

omg dont freak out!! its good theyre calling u!! when i got a call after governors office helped me they just wanted to check if i was actually me (birthday, address) and then asked about my last job and why i left. make sure u answer ANY call today, even unknown numbers!!! they fixed my claim right after the call and i got $$$ the next week!

Good news - the call after a Governor's office request is usually from a higher-level adjudicator who has the authority to resolve your claim on the spot! This means you're being fast-tracked. In my experience, prepare the following: 1. Have your claim ID number ready (from your eServices account) 2. Know the exact dates of employment and separation for jobs in the last 18 months 3. Be prepared to explain your availability for work and any limitations 4. If your issue is about job separation, have a clear explanation of why you left (layoff, fired, quit, etc.) They typically review your file before calling, so they're usually looking for specific information to clear up whatever is causing the adjudication delay. The call usually takes 15-20 minutes, and they often make a decision right away. Good luck! This should resolve your claim much faster than waiting in the regular queue.

When I had trouble reaching someone at ESD about my standby status, I tried for DAYS with no luck. Then I found out about Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me through to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have this demo video: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 showing how it works. The agent I spoke with helped me add job search activities retroactively and explained exactly what I needed to do. Definitely worth it instead of stressing for weeks.

Update: I finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! They explained that I need to go back and add job search activities for the weeks I was denied standby, but they're giving me until the end of the month to complete them all. They also confirmed I'll still get benefits for this final week before my job starts as long as I report the job acceptance and start date correctly. Thanks everyone for your help - this was so stressful!

My friend just went thru this! She said u have to wait till the claim is approved then the payment method option shows up. Also if its been 2 years the system might make u reverify ur identity before u can update bank stuff. Good luck!!

Just to follow up: once your claim goes from 'processing' to 'active', you'll get a notice in your eServices inbox. After that, the payment method options become available. If you need to change your bank information quickly, I recommend calling right at 8:00 AM when the lines open - that's usually the best time to get through without excessive wait times.

I had a disastrous WorkSource experience last month! I arrived 5 minutes late (traffic) and they CANCELLED my appointment and reported to ESD that I was a no-show! Had to fight for WEEKS to get my benefits reinstated. Make sure you're early and bring EVERYTHING - job search logs, resume, ID, the email with the appointment details, EVERYTHING. And get the name of who you meet with. Document everything. The system is designed to find any reason to deny benefits.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'll make sure to arrive early, bring my job search documentation, and prepare some questions about training opportunities. I'm feeling much better about this now. Will update after my appointment next week!

While everyone here is giving good advice about contacting various officials, I want to address the more urgent issue - your housing situation. If you're facing eviction, there are resources available that can help while you continue fighting the ESD battle: 1. Apply for emergency rental assistance through your county's housing department 2. Contact 211 for referrals to emergency housing funds 3. Look into the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program which can mediate with your landlord 4. File for a hardship stay with the court if an eviction is filed As for the Governor's office, I have the direct number for the constituent services team that handles ESD issues: 360-902-4111, then ask for the constituent services specialist for employment issues. Be prepared with your claim ID, contact history with ESD, and be very clear about the imminent housing crisis this is causing. I worked in constituent services (not for WA state) and can tell you these cases DO get attention, but they move faster when there's a legitimate emergency (like eviction) and when you have thorough documentation of your attempts to resolve it through normal channels.

not to be negative but i called the governors office twice about my claim last year and both times they just took my info and said someone would call back. still waiting for that call lol. maybe you'll have better luck tho