Adjudication timeframe with ESD for pending claims - 1 week and still waiting
I filed for unemployment after being let go from my healthcare admin position last month. Got through the initial application process just fine, but now all my weekly claims are stuck in 'pending' status with a note saying they're in adjudication. It's been a full business week now with zero movement. No one has contacted me to ask any questions or request additional info. My employer confirmed they responded to ESD already. Is this normal? Should I be doing something proactive or literally just wait? My savings are getting thin and I'm starting to stress about upcoming bills. Anyone know how long this adjudication process typically takes in 2025?
20 comments


Morita Montoya
mine took over 5 weeks!!! the esd system is BROKEN. they dont care about us at all just sit there collecting paychecks while we struggle
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Beth Ford
•5 WEEKS?? Oh god, I can't wait that long. Did you do anything to speed it up or just had to wait it out?
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Kingston Bellamy
The adjudication timeframe varies significantly depending on the complexity of your case. Simple issues might resolve in 2-3 weeks, but many take 4-6 weeks currently. Remember that ESD is reviewing why you separated from employment, which requires information from both you and your former employer. If there are any discrepancies, the process takes longer. Make sure your contact information is accurate in your ESD account so they can reach you if needed. Also check your spam folder daily - many people miss important ESD communications this way. You should continue filing your weekly claims even while in adjudication. If approved, you'll receive back payments for all eligible weeks.
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Beth Ford
•Thanks for the detailed info. My separation was pretty straightforward (department restructuring, position eliminated), so hopefully that helps? I've been filing weekly claims diligently. Just wasn't mentally prepared for such a long wait period.
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Joy Olmedo
adjudication can take forEVER lol. my cousin waited 9 weeks last year! but my neighbor only waited 10 days so who knows really
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Kingston Bellamy
•You're right that times can vary widely. The 10-day timeframe was likely a very simple case with no conflicts between employer and employee statements. Most adjudications take at least 3-4 weeks in the current system.
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Isaiah Cross
I was in adjudication for about 3 weeks back in January. What helped me was making sure I had uploaded ALL my separation documents to my ESD account. Did you provide your termination letter or any HR documentation about the restructuring? Having everything ready speeds things up once they get to your case. Also, I found it helpful to contact my state representative's office. They have liaisons who work with ESD and can sometimes help prioritize cases where financial hardship is imminent. Worth a try if you're approaching a critical financial situation.
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Beth Ford
•I did upload my termination paperwork right away, but I didn't know about contacting my state rep. That's a great tip if this drags on much longer. I'm hoping it won't come to that, but it's good to have options.
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Kiara Greene
After waiting 2 weeks with my claim stuck in adjudication hell, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual ESD agent. They got me connected to a real person in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days with no luck. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim and what I needed to provide. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Not saying it'll speed up the actual adjudication, but at least you'll know what's going on instead of being in the dark. For me, turned out they needed one more document I didn't know about, and things moved forward after I provided it.
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Beth Ford
•This is really helpful - I had no idea this service existed. I've been trying to call ESD every day this week and keep getting the 'high call volume' message. I'm going to check out that video. Even just knowing what's happening would help my anxiety about the whole situation.
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Evelyn Kelly
One thing to be aware of is that ESD's adjudication process is currently experiencing higher than normal volumes due to the recent tech sector layoffs in the Seattle area. This is causing some delays beyond their standard timeframes. In my experience working with unemployment cases, here's what affects adjudication time: 1. Complexity of separation (quit vs. layoff vs. termination) 2. Whether employer contests the claim 3. Availability of both parties for fact-finding interviews 4. Documentation completeness 5. Current ESD workload For a straightforward reduction in force with employer confirmation, you're likely looking at 3-4 weeks right now. Continuing to call periodically is advisable as sometimes claims can get "stuck" in the system and a manual review can unstick them.
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Paloma Clark
•this exactly what happened to my husband last month! his claim got stuck and we had to call like 50 times to get someone to manually fix it. the lady was nice but said the system glitches ALL THE TIME and ppls claims just sit there
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Heather Tyson
Idk if this is helpful but I had a weird experience with adjudication last month. Was stuck for 3 weeks, then suddenly got a call from an ESD agent at like 7:30am! They just had one quick question, I answered, and my payments started processing the next day. So maybe keep your phone nearby even at odd hours?
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Beth Ford
•Thanks for the heads-up! I'll definitely keep my phone close. Did they call from an ESD number or was it unknown/blocked? Just want to make sure I don't ignore it thinking it's a spam call.
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Kingston Bellamy
Quick update on adjudication timeframes - ESD just announced they're working to reduce the current backlog and have added additional adjudicators. While their official target is still 3 weeks, many claims are taking 4-5 weeks right now. One recommendation: make sure you're completing your work search activities and documenting them correctly while you wait. I've seen cases where claims finally make it through adjudication only to be held up because of incomplete job search records.
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Beth Ford
•Good to know about the backlog. I've been documenting my 3 job search activities each week carefully. At this point, I'm mentally preparing for at least a month of waiting. Just hope my savings hold out. Thanks for the updates and advice everyone.
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Ethan Davis
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed 2 weeks ago after a layoff and my claim has been stuck in adjudication ever since. It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening or how much longer it will take. I've been checking my account obsessively and calling ESD but can never get through. Reading everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and terrifying (some of you waited months!). Has anyone had luck with the online messaging system through eServices? I sent a message last week but haven't heard back yet. Also wondering if there's any way to check if they actually received the employer response or if that's part of what's causing the delay. Stay strong everyone - sounds like we just have to ride this out but at least we'll get backpay once it's resolved!
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Honorah King
•Welcome to the waiting club! I've been stuck for about 10 days now and it's definitely nerve-wracking. From what I've read in this thread, the online messaging system seems to be pretty slow - most people are having better luck with phone calls (when they can get through) or that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I don't think there's a way for us to check if they received the employer response directly, but if your employer confirmed they responded like mine did, it should be in the system. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part - I keep refreshing my account hoping something will change! At least knowing we'll get backpay helps a little. Hang in there!
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Miguel Hernández
I'm in a similar boat - filed about 10 days ago after my position was eliminated due to budget cuts at a nonprofit. Been in adjudication for over a week now with no communication from ESD whatsoever. What's really frustrating is that I called my former HR department and they confirmed they submitted their response within 48 hours of receiving the request. I've been trying to call ESD daily but like everyone else, just get the "high call volume" recording. The uncertainty is killing me - I have rent due next week and my emergency fund is almost gone. It's reassuring to read that others are going through this same process, but scary to see some of you waited 5+ weeks! One question for those who've been through this: do they typically call/email before making a decision, or does the status just change in your account one day? I'm checking my account multiple times daily and don't want to miss any communication from them.
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Sean O'Brien
•Hey Miguel, I'm in almost the exact same situation as you - nonprofit layoff due to budget cuts and been waiting about the same amount of time. It's so stressful when rent is coming due! From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences here, it seems like the status usually just changes in your account without much warning. A few people mentioned getting surprise phone calls from ESD agents, but most seem to just wake up one day and see their payments have been approved and processed. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part. I've been setting reminders to check my account just twice a day instead of constantly refreshing - it was driving me crazy. Hang in there, and hopefully both of our cases get resolved soon!
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