Good news is that even if there is a delay in processing, you'll still receive all the benefits you're entitled to, including for the weeks when your claim was processing. As long as you keep filing your weekly claims on time (even while the first one is still processing), you won't lose any eligible benefits.\n\nAnd just to set expectations - your first payment will likely be delayed compared to future payments. Once your claim is fully established in the system, weekly claims typically process much faster. Many people see their weekly claims move from submission to paid status within 48-72 hours after the initial claim is fully processed.

Update: My claim status finally changed to \

Update: I filed the police report this morning and contacted my state representative's office. The police were actually pretty helpful - they took all the information about my car and belongings and said they would send an officer to the property. The state rep's office took all my claim info and said they'd submit an inquiry to their ESD liaison today. Still haven't been able to reach Northwest Justice Project (their line is busy), but I'll keep trying. I'm still sleeping in my car but at least feel like I'm taking steps forward. Thanks everyone for the guidance - will update when I hear anything.

im so sorry ur going thru this!!! i had to wait 6 weeks for my claim and it was horrible but at least i had a place to stay. have you tried any of the shelters? some of them have special programs for people who just lost jobs. also do you have your ID and social security card? you might need those for the housing assistance stuff

Try calling early in the morning like 7:55am right before they open. That's the only way I ever got through when my claim went pending for no reason. Waited on hold for 2 hours but at least got answers. They told me mine went pending because my employer submitted something late but they never bothered telling me!

UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD this morning! Turns out it WAS a quarterly review thing. The agent told me they're doing extra verification on claims that cross into Q2 2025. My claim should be back to paid status by next Wednesday. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions!

I'm dealing with something similar right now. The waiver paperwork is pretty extensive - took me nearly a week to gather everything they asked for (bank statements, bills, pay stubs, etc). Whatever you decide, start collecting all your financial documents NOW so you're ready. Also important: if you withdraw your appeal to apply for a waiver, get confirmation IN WRITING that your waiver application will be processed. I've heard horror stories of people withdrawing appeals based on verbal promises that weren't kept.

After reading through all these comments, I'd suggest one more thing: check if you qualify for free legal help through the Unemployment Law Project (unemploymentlawproject.org). They can give you personalized advice about your specific situation and might be able to help navigate this appeal vs. waiver dilemma. Also, document EVERYTHING. Keep records of all communications with ESD, take screenshots of your eServices account, and save copies of all documents you submit. If you speak with someone on the phone, write down their name, ID number, date, time, and what they told you. The system is complex and contradictory at times, so having detailed records can make a huge difference if there are disputes later.

One thing to watch for - if they do call you after the governor's office escalation, it will likely come from a blocked or private number. Make sure you're answering all calls right now, even unknown ones. I missed their first call and it delayed things by another week.

I work with unemployment cases (not for ESD), and I can tell you the governor's office escalation does help, but there's another factor that affects timing: the specific issue your claim is stuck on. Some adjudication issues are quicker to resolve than others. If it's a simple employer verification, that might be resolved quickly after escalation. If it's something more complex like availability for work, voluntary quit determination, or earnings verification across multiple quarters, those take longer even with escalation. Did they give you any indication what the adjudication issue is about?