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One thing to be aware of - make sure you can document why you missed those filings. When I went through adjudication for missed weeks, they asked for evidence of why I missed filing. I had medical documentation which helped my case. Do you have anything from a doctor about your ADHD? That might help if they ask for proof of 'good cause' for missing the filings. Just something to have ready.
That's really good advice. I do have documentation from my psychiatrist about my ADHD diagnosis and treatment plan. I'll make sure I have it ready if they request it. Did you have to upload the documentation somewhere or just have it ready when they called?
I know waiting for adjudication is stressful but theres som good news in your situation. If youre still able to file and get paid for current weeks, that means your claim is active and in good standing overall. The adjudication is just for those specific missed weeks. In my experience with a similar situation, it took about 25 days for the adjudication to complete. Just keep filing on time while you wait!
Update for anyone finding this thread: Current ESD adjudication is taking 4-7 weeks on average as of March 2025, according to their latest performance metrics. The backlog is worse for claims involving employer disputes or employment separations that aren't straightforward layoffs. For the original poster - make sure you're documenting all your job search activities (minimum of 3 per week) while waiting. If your claim is eventually approved, you'll need those records to receive backpay for the weeks you've been waiting. Also, if you're truly facing eviction due to the delay, mention that specifically when you do reach an agent - they have a hardship escalation process for people at risk of losing housing.
My adjudication took 5 weeks and when I finally got through to someone, they told me the issue was that my previous employer hadn't responded to their request for information. Have you tried contacting your previous employer's HR department? Sometimes they're sitting on paperwork and don't realize they're holding up your benefits.
Wait do we still have to do job search for holiday weeks? I didn't think stores were hiring between xmas and new years so I didnt do anything that week...
Yes, you absolutely need to do your job search activities EVERY week you claim benefits, including holiday weeks. The requirement is 3 job search activities per week in Washington. If you didn't complete them for the 12/24 or 12/31 weeks, that could be causing your delay - or worse, might lead to a disqualification. I'd recommend completing some activities immediately and updating your job search log if possible.
Holiday processing delays happen every year. Here's a quick breakdown of what to expect with ESD payments: 1. Normal weeks: Processing takes 1-2 business days after you file 2. Holiday weeks: Processing takes 3-5 business days 3. End-of-year weeks: Can take up to a week As long as your claim shows "processing" and not "pending" or "disqualified," you're in good shape. The money will come through, just a bit later than usual. The new 2025 budget year transition also adds some extra processing time.
The legal distinction here is important. Under Washington unemployment law, if you were terminated for "misconduct" you can be disqualified from benefits, even if the initial separation was a layoff. The key for your appeal will be proving either: 1) You didn't violate any known company policy by doing side work during layoff, OR 2) Even if there was a policy, your violation wasn't serious enough to constitute "misconduct" under unemployment law Misconduct has a specific legal definition for unemployment purposes that's often more narrow than what employers think. Simple poor judgment or minor policy violations often don't rise to the level of disqualifying misconduct.
I just checked all my paperwork and found something interesting. My layoff letter specifically says "temporary layoff due to seasonal work shortage" and mentions an expected recall date in April. It doesn't say anything about restrictions during the layoff period. Would this help my case? I'm definitely going to appeal now.
Yes! That letter is extremely valuable evidence for your appeal. It establishes that you were legitimately laid off initially and given no restrictions about other work. Be sure to bring a copy to your hearing and reference it specifically. This significantly strengthens your case, especially if there's no clear written policy prohibiting side work during layoffs.
Maya Diaz
The SAME EXACT THING happened to me last year!!! I was literally just on vacation in Mexico for 2 weeks and they flagged my account and put me in adjudication for like 7 weeks! It was a NIGHTMARE!!! I finally got through on the phone after calling 63 times (not exaggerating) and the agent was able to see that my case just needed a simple review. She escalated it and I got paid for all my weeks 3 days later. So my advice is KEEP CALLING no matter how frustrating.
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Julia Hall
•That's both encouraging and discouraging to hear. I'm glad you eventually got it resolved! Did you try calling at any particular time of day that seemed to work better?
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Maya Diaz
•I finally got through on a Tuesday around 2:30pm. I think it's mostly luck honestly. But definitely keep trying!
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Arjun Patel
Just a quick update on my earlier comment - when contacting your state representative, be sure to include: 1. Your full name as it appears in eServices 2. Your claim ID number 3. The date your claim went into adjudication 4. A brief (2-3 sentence) explanation of your situation 5. Permission for them to inquire about your claim on your behalf This helps them take action more quickly. Their staff are used to helping with ESD issues and often have dedicated contacts who can look into your case. Also, while you wait, make sure you're meeting the job search requirements each week and documenting everything properly. If your adjudication resolves favorably, you'll want those weeks to be payable immediately.
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Julia Hall
•Thank you for the additional information! I just sent an email to my representative with all the details you suggested. Fingers crossed this helps move things along. And yes, I'm keeping careful records of all my job search activities each week.
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