Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm going to call Washington ESD tomorrow morning to set up a payment plan. Feel much better knowing I have options and that 30-day deadline to work with.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. I found the lines are usually less busy first thing in the morning. Also, have all your information ready including your Social Security number, the overpayment notice, and a rough idea of what you might be able to afford monthly for a payment plan. This will help speed up the process once you do get connected with an agent.

One last thing - if you ever need to appeal your unemployment tax rate, you have to do it within 30 days of getting the rate notice. Don't wait if you think there's an error.

As someone who just went through this process last year, I'd recommend setting up a simple spreadsheet to track your quarterly payments and deadlines. It really helps stay organized, especially when you're juggling multiple state requirements. Also, if you're planning to grow your team, keep in mind that your experience rating will start kicking in after year three, so maintaining good employee relations and documentation becomes even more important for keeping those rates low long-term.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now - approved claim but no payments for over a month. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially hearing that hidden holds and system issues are common. I think I'm going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned since the regular phone lines seem impossible to get through. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this frustrating experience. The lack of transparency from Washington ESD about what's actually happening with our claims is really the worst part.

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed 7 weeks ago, claim shows approved, but zero payments received. It's incredibly frustrating not knowing what's actually wrong when everything looks fine on our end. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like there are often hidden holds or processing issues that only agents can see. The lack of communication from Washington ESD is really unacceptable when people are depending on these benefits for basic necessities. I'm definitely going to try some of the suggestions here, especially the Claimyr service since so many people have had success with it. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - at least we know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system.

I've been claiming for about 2 months now and can confirm the 2-3 day timeline is pretty reliable. One thing I'd add is that if you're ever unsure about your payment status, you can also check the "Payment Information" section in your Washington ESD online account - it shows if your payment is "Paid" or "Pending" which helps you know if it's processing normally or if there might be an issue that needs attention.

I've been on unemployment for about 3 months and the timing has been pretty consistent - usually Tuesday morning for me with Wells Fargo. One tip I'd add is to make sure you complete your weekly claim submission before noon on Sunday if possible. I noticed when I filed later in the day, sometimes it would push my deposit to Wednesday instead of Tuesday. Also, if you ever have questions about a specific payment, the automated phone system (1-800-318-6022) can actually give you payment status without having to talk to an agent - just have your Social Security number ready.

Thank you for laying out the escalation options. I really hope it doesn't take that long, but I'll bookmark these suggestions just in case. This whole process has been way more complicated than I expected.

I went through a similar adjudication nightmare last year and understand your frustration completely. One thing that helped me was creating a daily call log with timestamps - not just for my own sanity, but because when I eventually got through (took about 4 weeks), the representative was able to see in their system how many times I'd attempted to call. She mentioned that multiple call attempts can sometimes flag an account for priority review, though I'm not sure if that's official policy or just her being helpful. Also, if you're really desperate to talk to someone, try calling the Paid Family Medical Leave line instead - they're separate but sometimes can transfer you or at least confirm what department your case is sitting with. The number is 1-833-717-2273. It's not guaranteed to work, but worth a shot when you're at your wit's end. Hang in there - the backpay will come once this clears!