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...

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.

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.

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.

While contacting the governor's office (360-902-4111) or your state representative can sometimes help, be aware that they're receiving many similar requests. For faster resolution, make sure you've exhausted the normal ESD channels first: 1. Check if your adjudication issue requires any documents from you in your eServices portal 2. Try calling ESD at different times (early morning tends to be better) 3. Make sure you're continuing to file weekly claims while waiting 4. If you have a WorkSource appointment, don't miss it as this can further delay your claim When you do contact the governor's office, have your claim ID ready, be specific about how long you've been waiting, and explain any financial hardship you're experiencing. This information helps them prioritize cases.

I've been on adjudication for 9 weeks now and feeling your frustration! I don't think the governor's office helped me much but my state senator's office definitely did. The trick is to clearly explain the financial hardship - I was about to be evicted and mentioned that specifically. Their constituent services person got back to me within 48 hours and my claim was resolved the following week. Did you receive any notification about why you're in adjudication? Mine was because of a job I quit in 2023 even though I'd worked two jobs since then! The whole system is so broken.

Wait I'm confused about something. Does being in a union automatically exempt you from job searches even when NOT on standby? I thought union members still had to do job searches when not working unless they have standby status?

I just wanted to update that we went ahead and answered 'yes' to the job search question since he meets his requirements with his exemptions. The claim was accepted without any issues! Thanks everyone for your help. Going to stick with the online filing when possible since it's less confusing, but good to know how to handle the phone system if needed again.