


Ask the community...
If your second week was your waiting week, then assuming you continue to be eligible, you would receive payment for your third week. Payments typically arrive 2-3 business days after you submit your weekly claim (if you have direct deposit set up).
Just curiosity but how many hours can you work in a week and still get benefits? I might need to file soon and I'm picking up gig work to try to make ends meet.
It depends on your weekly benefit amount (WBA). You can typically work part-time and still receive partial benefits as long as you earn less than 75% of your WBA. Once you file, ESD will tell you your WBA and you can calculate from there. Make sure you report ALL earnings when you file weekly claims, even small gig amounts.
i had almost the same issue back in february!! i got laid off on a wednesday and had to report my monday+tuesday hours. the dumb part was they made me wait ANOTHER full week for the "waiting week" even tho i already waited partially. ESD system makes no sense sometimes...
EXACTLY!! The waiting week thing is so confusing. It's like they deliberately make the system complicated so people give up trying to get benefits they're entitled to. 🙄
Just to follow up on what others have said: I experienced this same issue a few months ago. To summarize what you need to do: 1. File the weekly claim for 4/21-4/27 and accurately report your work hours 2. Continue filing weekly claims every week after that, even for your waiting week 3. Complete and document 3 job search activities EVERY week 4. If your claim goes into adjudication (which happens randomly), be prepared to wait The system is frustrating, but as long as you're honest and keep filing on time, you'll get through it. Don't skip any weekly claims, even if you think you won't get paid for that week.
Here's something that might help - contact your state representative's office. I was getting NOWHERE with my claim for weeks, then I reached out to my rep's constituent services person. They contacted ESD directly and suddenly my claim was processed within 48 hours. They have special liaisons who can cut through the red tape. Worth a try!
This is excellent advice. Legislative offices often have direct channels to agency leadership. Be sure to provide your claim ID, contact information, and a brief summary of the issue when you reach out to them.
UPDATE: Got the new form from my doctor (his office manager was actually super helpful once I explained the situation). Uploaded it yesterday afternoon and - surprise! - got an approval email this morning! Money should be deposited by the end of the week. Thanks everyone for the advice and support. This system is still ridiculous, but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel. For anyone else dealing with this, be SUPER specific about date requirements when talking to your doctor's office - apparently this is a common issue but nobody warns you about it!
Wait, I think you might have meant to post this under your own thread! This is my post and I haven't gotten the new form from my doctor yet... But I'm glad your situation worked out! Gives me hope.
Omg I'm so embarrassed! You're right - I thought this was my thread from last week. Sorry for the confusion! Hope your situation gets resolved just as quickly!
Just to clarify a few things about ESD's processing times: 1. Weekly claims filed by phone or web are typically processed in overnight batches 2. Phone claims enter directly into the mainframe system with fewer validation steps 3. Web claims go through additional security and validation protocols 4. Bank transfer times vary by financial institution (ACH vs. direct deposit systems) 5. Claims filed early Sunday generally process faster than those filed late Sunday And yes, Monday (February 17) is President's Day, so all payments will be delayed by one business day since banks don't process transfers on federal holidays.
Thanks for breaking this down so clearly! This explains why my phone claims are processing faster. Do you work for ESD or just have experience with their systems?
I don't work for ESD, but I've been through the system multiple times over the years and have spent a lot of time researching how their processing works when my own claims had issues. The phone system actually uses their older but more streamlined mainframe technology, which is why it can be faster but also more error-prone.
tried calling today instead of using the website, the system kept asking me weird questions about my job search that i never get online??? got confused and hung up lol guess ill stick to the website even if it takes longer
The phone system asks questions in a different order and sometimes uses slightly different wording, but it's collecting the same information. If you're required to do job searches, both systems will ask about them - though the web interface might be easier to navigate for that specific requirement.
Isabella Costa
I had a similar issue back in December. My claim was stuck in adjudication for almost a month. What finally worked for me wasn't the phone, it was sending a detailed message through eServices AND sending an email to the ESD Commissioner's Office simultaneously. I think the two-pronged approach got someone's attention because I got a call back within 48 hours. The email address I used was commissioner@esd.wa.gov. Worth a try if you're desperate!
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Oliver Becker
•This is a very good suggestion. The Commissioner's Office email can indeed help escalate urgent issues, though I would emphasize that it should be used sparingly and only for truly stuck claims, not routine questions. Always include your claim ID number, full name, and best contact phone number in any communication with this office.
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Paolo Longo
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone!! I tried the Claimyr service after multiple failed attempts this morning using the other methods. Got connected to an ESD agent in about 30 minutes. The agent was super helpful and discovered that my claim was stuck because of a simple error in my employment history dates (I was off by one day on my last job's end date). They fixed it immediately and said my payments should process within 48 hours! Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. This community is amazing!
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Malik Jackson
•That's excellent news! It's quite common for adjudication holds to be due to small discrepancies that can be quickly resolved once you actually speak with someone. Glad to hear you got it sorted out and should be receiving your payments soon. This is a good reminder for everyone that persistence pays off with ESD issues.
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Emma Thompson
•NICE!!! always satisfying when you FINALLY break through their ridiculous system!!! hope you get your $$ ASAP!!!
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