UPDATE: I finally found the document upload section! For anyone else having this problem, you need to:\n1. Log into SecureAccess Washington (SAW)\n2. Click on your ESD services\n3. Look for 'More Services' in the left sidebar\n4. 'Document Upload' is listed there\n\nI've successfully uploaded my driver's license and social security card. Now waiting for verification. Thanks everyone for your help! Will update when my verification goes through.

Great! Make sure to keep checking your claim status daily. Sometimes the system updates without sending notifications. Hope your verification goes through quickly!

my sister just went on leave last month and she said her benefits hit the reliacard every wednesday like clockwork. maybe they do different days for different people?? idk the system is weird

Waiting week is required for all new PFML claims in 2025. Glad to hear your second week is approved! My experience with PFML last summer was that I got my ReliaCard about 10 days after filing my first claim, but they didn't tell me they'd mailed it so it just showed up randomly. The payment hit the card about 3 days after approved status. Oh and dont forget u still gotta file weekly even on PFML!

To answer your question about prioritization - ESD generally processes claims in the order received, but certain factors can affect prioritization: 1. Hardship cases (imminent eviction, utilities shutoff) may be expedited if you've submitted a hardship request 2. Simple issues are often resolved faster than complex ones 3. Employer response times can significantly impact resolution speed 4. Certain industries or claim types may be grouped together for efficiency Since you've been waiting since January, I'd actually recommend trying to reach them directly. At this point, a quick call could potentially identify if there's a specific issue holding up your claim that could be easily resolved.

UPDATE: You guys were right! I just checked my account this morning and my status has changed from "Adjudication" to "Paid"!!! All my weeks that were pending are now processing for payment. The date change DID mean something was happening. Thank you all for your help and suggestions. For anyone else stuck in adjudication - hang in there and watch for these system changes, they might be good signs!

One more thing to consider - if your severance is paid as a lump sum, ESD typically treats it as being allocated to the weeks immediately following your separation. This means you may not be eligible for UI payments during the period covered by severance. For example, if you received 6 weeks of severance pay in a lump sum, ESD might deny benefits for those 6 weeks but approve them afterward. Make sure you understand how your severance affects the timing of your benefits.

That's correct. Your 4 weeks of severance would be allocated to the first 4 weeks after separation, so UI benefits wouldn't begin until after that period - assuming your claim is approved. But you absolutely need to file weekly claims during those 4 weeks anyway, even though you won't receive payment for them. You'll report your severance and ESD will allocate it accordingly. As others have mentioned, the email documentation you have is very important. If your claim does go to adjudication and you have trouble reaching someone at ESD (which is unfortunately common), don't give up. Keep calling early in the morning when the queue is shorter. Use the online message center in your eServices account as backup. Document all your attempts to contact them.

After you try reaching ESD, if you still don't have an answer, you might want to contact your state representative's office. They often have liaisons who work directly with ESD and can sometimes get answers when individuals can't. Just search for "[your district] state representative" and call their office. I've seen this work for several people with stubborn claims.

Just following up - did you get any resolution to your claim? I was thinking about your situation and remembered that sometimes the first payment can be delayed if your former employer contests your unemployment claim. Did you leave your job under any questionable circumstances? If your employer disputed your eligibility, that would definitely cause delays while ESD investigates.

To clarify some confusion in this thread: The key issue is whether refusing work due to a failed THC test constitutes 'refusing suitable work without good cause.' Under RCW 50.20.080, ESD can disqualify you if you refuse suitable work without good cause. However, 'suitable work' and 'good cause' are defined terms. If an employer rejects you solely for THC in a non-safety-sensitive position, this would likely constitute good cause since the employer would be violating state law. However, proving this was the sole reason for rejection can be difficult. I recommend: 1. Continue applying to positions that don't test 2. Document ALL job search activities meticulously 3. Maintain at least 3 job search activities per week 4. If applying to positions that test, document everything including any communications about why you weren't selected And yes, getting an official answer from ESD is your best option.

one more thing - dont tell ESD ur using weed even if they ask!! washington state says its legal but esd can still use it against u. just saying u hav to be careful what u admit

Just wanted to share that after my recent Amazon layoff, I received a generic auto-response email from ESD saying "we are experiencing higher than normal claim volumes" and that processing could take 4-6 weeks. This was AFTER I'd already been waiting 3 weeks. The lack of transparency is maddening! I finally got through to someone who told me they were waiting for "employer verification of separation" - apparently Amazon was taking the full 10 business days they're allowed to respond. Your husband should specifically ask if that's what's happening in his case.

One important thing I forgot to mention in my first response: if your husband's claim has been pending for over 4 weeks, he can request his state representative's office to help. This often speeds things up significantly. To do this: 1. Find your district representative at leg.wa.gov 2. Call their office and ask for help with an ESD claim delay 3. Fill out their permission form allowing them to inquire about your case 4. They'll contact ESD's legislative liaison directly I've seen this resolve long-pending claims within days when normal channels failed. The key is clearly explaining the hardship the delay is causing (like your COBRA payments and health condition).

Wait I'm confused... if your employer didn't report wages doesn't that mean you were working under the table? Or are you saying they just messed up the paperwork? Because if you were getting paid legally you should have pay stubs and a W-2 and that's all you need to prove income, right?

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD today! They said my employer DID actually report wages but there was a mismatch with my SSN in their system (they had a digit wrong). The agent corrected it on the spot and said my claim will update in 24-48 hours with the correct wage information. So for anyone with a similar issue, definitely keep trying to reach them by phone because sometimes it's just a simple error that can be fixed quickly!

This is EXACTLY why the ESD system is so frustrating!! They make it impossible to get basic information that any normal payroll system would provide automatically. I spent THREE HOURS last year trying to reconcile my payment records because I needed the info for a mortgage application. The system is designed to be confusing on purpose I swear.

Just something to be aware of - make sure you're setting aside additional money for taxes if needed. The 10% withholding might not cover your full tax liability depending on your tax bracket and other income. I got caught by surprise last year when I still owed additional taxes even though I had withholding on all my UI payments.

To answer your original question more specifically: after a disqualification is removed, the standard processing time is 48-72 hours for the status to change in the system and then payments typically follow the normal payment schedule. However, if you're in a financial hardship situation (like potentially missing rent), mention this specifically when you contact ESD. In cases of hardship, they have procedures to expedite payments, sometimes processing them in 24 hours rather than waiting for the regular payment cycle. Not everyone at ESD knows about or offers this option unless you specifically mention the hardship. I also recommend documenting everything. Note the date, time, and name of any agent you speak with, along with what they told you was fixed. This can be invaluable if there are further delays or issues.

One last thing to check - make sure you filed your weekly claims for those disqualified weeks, even if they were showing as disqualified at the time. If you didn't file because you saw the disqualification, you'll need to request a backdate for those weeks, which is a separate process that can take longer.