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my freind waited 2 weeks than called and got aproved right away!! but my other freind waited 8 weeks and never called and was fine too. i think it depends on ur luck tbh
One important thing to remember is that regardless of how long your initial claim takes to process, you must continue filing your weekly claims on time. Even if the initial claim is still pending, those weekly certifications are essential. If you miss filing them, you could lose benefits for those weeks even after your claim is approved.
UPDATE: Just checked my account again and it now shows 'processing-paid'! So I guess it does go through that middle stage after all. Thanks everyone for your help and explanations. Hoping it changes to 'paid' soon and the deposit hits my account by tomorrow.
Something I've noticed that might be helpful - if your payment status changes to "paid" on a Friday after about 2pm, it usually won't hit your bank until Tuesday due to the weekend delay plus processing time. The ESD website doesn't explain this anywhere, but it's been consistent in my experience. Different banks also have different processing times for incoming ACH transfers.
Just to clarify something important: there's a difference between "processed" and "paid" in the ESD system. "Processed" means your payment has been approved and is queued for payment. "Paid" means the funds have been released to your bank or debit card. Once it shows "paid," it typically takes 1-2 business days for the money to actually appear in your account, depending on your bank's processing times. Since your adjudication was just resolved Thursday, and it's showing as "processed" now, you'll likely see it change to "paid" on Monday, with funds arriving Tuesday or Wednesday.
UPDATE: The money just hit my account this morning! So it took exactly 3 business days after the determination letter. Such a relief after 7+ weeks of waiting and stressing. Thanks everyone for your help and insights!
my cousin had the same thing happen and the judge threw out the employers case cause they didnt have anyone show up who actually witnessed what happened. do u know if ur manager is planning to testify?
One thing that helped me when I was in a similar position was joining industry-specific groups on LinkedIn and networking events through the local chamber of commerce. I made a connection that led to an interview that wasn't even posted publicly. Also, have you considered working with a career counselor at WorkSource? They have free services that can review your resume and interview techniques. Sometimes there are small things we're doing that are sending the wrong signals to employers.
That's a good idea about networking - I've been relying too much on job boards. I'll check out some LinkedIn groups in my field. And no, I didn't know WorkSource offered career counseling! Will definitely look into that. At this point I'm willing to try anything to find work before my benefits run out.
I had this exact same situation in 2023. What I did was call ESD and explain my situation. They connected me with a program called Dislocated Worker through WorkSource that gave me training funds to learn new skills while still receiving some financial support. You might qualify for something similar. Also, don't give up hope on the job front. The market goes through weird cycles. I applied to 200+ jobs with nothing, then suddenly got 3 interviews in one week and a job offer. It's frustrating and sometimes feels random, but persistence eventually pays off. One last thing - have you had someone review your resume and cover letters? Sometimes small tweaks can make a huge difference in getting through the initial screening systems. WorkSource offers this service for free.
The Dislocated Worker program sounds exactly like what I need! I'll definitely call ESD about this - really appreciate the tip. And you're right about the job market being unpredictable. Just need to hang in there. I haven't had my resume professionally reviewed yet, so I'll take advantage of that WorkSource service too.
Yes, there is a way to potentially expedite the process. When you call ESD, specifically request that they mark your ReliaCard for "expedited delivery" due to financial hardship. They don't advertise this option, but they can do it in certain circumstances. Also, once your card has been mailed, you can actually register for the ReliaCard mobile app before you physically receive the card. Sometimes the funds appear in the app account before the physical card arrives, and you can use virtual card details for certain online payments. Definitely mention the urgency of your situation when you call. The representatives do have some flexibility to help with true hardship cases.
UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD today! For anyone with a similar issue in the future: They confirmed my payment was returned to them yesterday. The agent was actually really helpful (surprised me after reading horror stories). They're reissuing the payment to a ReliaCard which should arrive in 7-10 business days. They said they can't expedite the card delivery (contrary to what someone suggested above), but once the card arrives, the payment should be on it right away. I also updated the name format to exactly match my bank account just in case I want to switch back to direct deposit later. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
Not trying to be negative but my cousin went through all this last year and still lost at the Commissioner level too. Just prepare yourself that you might need to look for other income options. The whole system is designed to deny people benefits its so frustrating!!!
While some cases are unfortunately denied at multiple levels, I want to emphasize that the Commissioner Review is a completely fresh look at your case. They're not just rubber-stamping the OAH decision. For the best chance of success, focus on: 1. Legal errors (incorrect application of RCW or WAC provisions) 2. Factual findings not supported by substantial evidence 3. Procedural errors during your hearing 4. Clear contradictions in testimony that the judge ignored I've seen many cases overturned at Commissioner level when the appeal was well-crafted and focused on specific legal/factual errors rather than general complaints about fairness.
While you're working on your appeal, don't forget to keep applying for jobs and doing your job search activities. If you win the appeal, you'll need to show you were meeting the job search requirements for all those weeks to get paid for them. The system is definitely frustrating, but staying on top of all the requirements will help if you eventually win.
make sure ur bank account info is correct in the system!! my friend had his payment approved but the money went nowhere cuz he had an old account listed
Just to give you some additional peace of mind - the fact that the adjudication status is completely gone (rather than showing 'completed' or 'denied') is the best possible outcome. It means they found nothing that would prevent payment. Your claim has essentially moved to standard processing now. For future reference for anyone reading this thread: the average adjudication period in Washington state is currently running 3-5 weeks for regular UI claims. PUA and PEUC claims are no longer active in 2025.
Dmitry Volkov
Just to follow up, if your claim is heading into week 4 of processing with no movement, I'd recommend trying to speak with an agent. While delays are common, something that takes longer than 4 weeks often has a specific issue that needs addressing.\n\nSometimes claims get flagged for manual review due to your employment history, earnings pattern, or other factors that aren't visible to you in the online system. An agent can see these notes and tell you if there's something specific holding things up.\n\nKeep filing your weekly claims, and remember that you must complete and document your 3 job search activities each week, even while your initial claim is processing. When your claim is approved, you'll only get paid for weeks where you properly completed and submitted your weekly claims with job search activities.
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CosmicCommander
I'm definitely keeping up with my weekly claims and job search activities. Tomorrow will mark 3 weeks exactly. If I don't see any movement by the end of next week, I'll try harder to reach an agent. Thanks for the advice!
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