Adjudication process triggered even though employer didn't contest my ESD claim - is this normal?

Adjudication doesn't necessarily mean your employer is fighting your claim. ESD can flag issues for adjudication for LOTS of reasons. In my case, I was put in adjudication because I had worked remotely in another state for 3 months during my base year, which triggered a multi-state wage investigation. My employer never contested anything.\n\nOther common reasons include:\n- You answered a weekly claim question in a way that raised a flag\n- Your separation reason needs verification (even if employer agrees)\n- Your work history shows gaps or multiple employers\n- You reported earnings during weekly claims\n- Your identity verification needs additional review\n\nI know the waiting is awful but adjudication doesn't automatically mean denial. Just keep filing your weekly claims while you wait!

That makes me feel a little better, thanks. I did work for two different companies last year, and I had a 3-week gap between jobs. I wonder if that's what triggered it? How long did your adjudication take to resolve?

its actualy pretty common to get stuck in adjudicaton even when nobody is fighting anything. my friend had this happen bcuz she checked the wrong box about being available for work when she had a doctors appt. took 5 weeks to fix!!!! esd is soooooo slow lol

5 WEEKS?? Omg I can't wait that long. Did she get all the backpay for those weeks at least?

ya she got all the back pay BUT it was super stressfull. she had to borrow money from her parents to pay rent. system is broken!!!!

I've been through the ESD adjudication process three times over the years (I work in seasonal construction), and no, it absolutely does NOT always mean your employer is contesting things. \n\nThe most common reason for adjudication is actually the separation reason itself. Even if your employer doesn't contest, ESD still has to verify that you qualify based on the reason you lost your job. Layoffs due to budget cuts should qualify, but they still have to investigate and confirm.\n\nAnother common adjudication trigger is if your employer simply doesn't respond by their deadline. When employers don't respond promptly, instead of automatically approving you, ESD often puts the claim into adjudication while they try to contact the employer again.\n\nKeep filing your weekly claims during this process! If approved, you'll get paid for all weeks claimed during the waiting period.

This is actually incorrect information. I worked at ESD as a claims processor for 6 years. The system DOES automatically approve claims if employers don't respond within 10 business days, UNLESS there's another issue flagged in the system. If OP is in adjudication, there's likely another issue besides simple employer non-response.

Thanks for the correction - I was going by how it was explained to me by the agent I spoke with when I went through this in 2021. Good to know the current process.

My HR department is notoriously slow with paperwork, so maybe they just missed the deadline to respond. I check my eServices account multiple times a day but there's no information about what specifically is being adjudicated. So frustrating!

I went through this exact situation last year. My claim was put in adjudication even though my employer told me directly they wouldn't contest it (also a layoff). In my case, it was because I had answered \

does that claimyr thing actually work?? seems sketchy to pay money just to make a phone call

It worked for me! After trying to call ESD myself for 3 days straight and getting hung up on due to \

I like the idea of being proactive instead of just waiting. I'm going to try calling ESD directly a few more times this week, but if I can't get through I might try that Claimyr service. Did they tell you specifically what documentation they needed when you finally reached them?

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE U GIVE UP!!!! ive been through 3 claims and EVERY TIME they put me in 'adjudication' over NOTHING!!! its because they dont want to pay people!!! they make it so complicated that people just give up and go find another job! its how they save money. trust me ive seen it happen to EVERYONE i know who filed unemployment. my last claim took 9 WEEKS to approve and they never even talked to my employer!!!!!!!

While the system certainly has flaws, adjudication is a normal part of the unemployment verification process required by federal law. All states have to verify eligibility before paying benefits. Washington actually has one of the higher approval rates in the country at around 67%.

oh great another ESD defender!!!!! if the system was working nobody would be on this forum trying to figure out why their money is held up for MONTHS!!!! wake up!!!

9 weeks?? That's terrifying. I'm really hoping mine doesn't take that long. Did you try contacting them during that waiting period?

To directly answer your original question: No, adjudication absolutely does NOT always mean your employer is contesting your claim. It simply means there's something about your claim that requires additional review before ESD can make a determination about your eligibility.\n\nIn 2025, ESD is supposed to be prioritizing adjudication cases in order of filing date, but they also prioritize based on complexity. Simple issues tend to be resolved faster.\n\nIf your claim has been in adjudication for more than 3 weeks with no updates, I recommend:\n\n1. Check your ESD online account for any messages or requested documents\n2. Look for secure messages in your eServices portal asking for additional information\n3. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in the system\n4. Try contacting ESD through their online message system AND by phone\n5. Contact your state representative if it goes beyond 4-5 weeks\n\nAnd as others have said, absolutely keep filing your weekly claims during adjudication!

Thank you for this detailed response. I just checked and there are no messages or document requests in my eServices account, which is part of what's so frustrating - I have no idea what they're actually reviewing or what's causing the delay. I'm going to try calling again tomorrow morning right when they open.

As a former ESD claims specialist (left in early 2025), I can tell you that adjudication is simply the investigation process used to resolve questions about eligibility. The most common triggers for adjudication in my experience:\n\n1. Separation reason investigation (even for layoffs, we verify)\n2. Able and available for work issues (restrictions, school, etc.)\n3. Refusal of work\n4. Voluntary quit vs. discharge clarification\n5. Identity verification (especially if your name has variations)\n6. Job search compliance review\n\nEmployer non-response actually speeds up claims most of the time, because after their deadline passes, we typically make determinations based solely on claimant information. If your claim is still in adjudication despite employer non-response, it's likely due to one of the other issues above.\n\nCurrently, the average adjudication time is running about 3-5 weeks, though simple issues can be resolved faster if you respond quickly to any information requests.

This is super helpful, thank you! I think I might fall into category #5 - I recently got married and changed my name, but some of my older employment records are still under my maiden name. I'm going to check if I can upload my marriage certificate proactively to my account.

That's exactly the kind of issue that triggers adjudication! Proactively uploading your marriage certificate is smart. You can do that through the document upload tool in your eServices account under

Just uploaded my marriage certificate and double-checked my SSN. Fingers crossed this helps speed things up! Thanks again for the insider knowledge.

im on my 3rd esd claim in 2 years and EVERY time ive been in adjudication lol. first time was bcuz i quit but had good cause (harassment), second time was bcuz my employer reported different wages than i did, third time is happening now and i have NO idea why. just how it works i guess 🤷‍♀️

Same. I think adjudication is just standard procedure these days for most claims. Everyone I know who's filed recently has gone through it.

This is actually not accurate. Only about 35% of claims go to adjudication. If it seems like

Update on my situation from a couple months ago that I mentioned earlier (also was in adjudication even though employer didn't contest):\n\nI found out later that I got flagged for adjudication because I had worked in two different states during my base year. Even though my Washington employer didn't contest anything, ESD still had to verify my out-of-state wages and make sure I wasn't claiming in multiple states.\n\nThe most frustrating part was not knowing WHY I was in adjudication. When I finally got through to an agent using Claimyr, they explained everything and told me exactly what to expect. Claim was approved a week later.\n\nBased on what you've shared about recently changing your name, that's almost certainly the issue. Identity verification is one of the most common adjudication reasons in 2025, especially with all the fraud prevention measures they've implemented.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I uploaded my marriage certificate yesterday, so hopefully that helps resolve things. Did you receive backpay for all the weeks you claimed during adjudication once you were approved?

Yes, I got backpay for all weeks I'd claimed during the adjudication period. It came as one lump sum about 3 business days after approval. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this waiting period - that's super important for getting the backpay!

That's a relief! I've been filing religiously every week, so at least I know I'll eventually get that money if I'm approved. Thanks again!