Adjudication timeframe for ESD claims - anyone know the normal wait time?

mine was in adjudication for like 6 weeks before they finally approved it. ESD is super backed up right now 😩

SIX WEEKS?! Omg I can't wait that long. Did they at least pay you for all the weeks you claimed once it was approved?

Adjudication means they're investigating something about your claim that needs clarification. It could be related to your job separation, availability for work, or something your former employer disputed. The standard timeframe is 2-4 weeks, but it can take longer depending on your specific situation and current ESD workload.\n\nMake sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this time! If your claim is approved, you'll receive all back payments for eligible weeks claimed. If you have an immediate financial hardship, you can contact ESD and request an expedited review, though these aren't always granted.

This is right. My cousin works at ESD and says they're trying to clear adjudications faster now, but there's still a huge backlog. The key thing is to keep submitting those weekly claims no matter what!

I'm going through something similar! My claim has been in adjudication for 3 weeks now and I'm seriously freaking out about bills. Did they tell you what they're investigating? Mine is something about my 'job separation' even though I was clearly laid off and have documentation. I've called ESD like 15 times and can't get through to an actual person to explain anything. This system is BROKEN.

They didn't tell me anything specific - just that

The adjudication process is when an ESD claims specialist reviews specific issues with your claim. The official goal is to complete these within 21 days, but realistically, it's taking 3-6 weeks for many claims right now.\n\nImportant things to know:\n1. Continue filing weekly claims while in adjudication\n2. Check your eServices account and secure message center daily\n3. Answer any phone calls, even from unknown numbers (ESD often calls from blocked numbers)\n4. Respond to any requests for information immediately\n\nIf you need to speak with ESD urgently about your adjudication status, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to ESD much faster than calling directly. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It saved me hours of frustration when my claim was stuck in adjudication last year.

has anyone actually used this claimyr thing? seems kinda sketch to pay money just to talk to unemployment when they should be answering their phones in the first place

I tried Claimyr when I was desperate after 3 weeks of adjudication with no updates. Got through to ESD in about 20 minutes instead of getting hung up on repeatedly. The agent was able to see that they were missing a document from my employer and expedited the review. Claim was approved 4 days later. Sometimes it's worth paying to skip the broken phone system if you're about to miss important bills.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to try calling a few more times this week, and if I still can't get through, might try that Claimyr service. Just feels wrong having to pay to talk to a government agency, but I also can't afford to wait 6 weeks with no income.

btw if ur really in a bad spot financially while waiting for esd you should look into crisis assistance programs. most counties have emergency rent assistance and food banks that can help

That's good to know, thank you. Hopefully it won't come to that, but I'll definitely look into those resources if this drags on much longer.

While we're all sharing adjudication times... mine was actually really quick! Only took 11 days from when it went into adjudication until approval. This was back in January 2025 though, so maybe they weren't as backed up then? Definitely seems to vary a lot.

11 DAYS?! That's insanely fast compared to what most people are experiencing. Was there anything special about your case or did you do something to speed it up?

Nothing special I know of! My situation was pretty straightforward - company downsizing, clear layoff, and I had all my documentation ready when I filed. Maybe that helped? I also responded to their fact-finding questionnaire within hours of receiving it.

This highlights an important point - responding quickly to any ESD requests can significantly speed up adjudication. Their system automatically flags and prioritizes claims where all requested documentation has been received. If they're waiting on information from you or your employer, it can add weeks to the process.

I don't think they've requested anything from me, but I'm going to double-check all my messages and mail just to make sure I haven't missed something. Thanks!

does anyone know if having a union rep helps speed up adjudication? my coworker said it made her claim go faster

Union representation can sometimes help if there's a dispute about your job separation that triggered the adjudication. The union rep can provide supporting documentation about layoffs or work conditions. However, for routine adjudications, it typically doesn't change the processing timeframe.

Quick update on current adjudication timeframes: I spoke with an ESD supervisor last week about another matter, and they mentioned they're currently averaging 22-28 days for standard adjudications. Cases involving employer disputes or availability issues are taking closer to 35-40 days. These timeframes have improved from late 2024 when they were seeing 6-8 week delays.

That's really helpful information, thank you! Sounds like I should expect at least another 2-3 weeks then. I appreciate everyone's advice and support here.