Applied for ESD unemployment after Amazon layoff - still pending since January, how long should I expect to wait?

unfortunately its totally random. my claim took 9 weeks to process last year while my roommate got hers approved in 2 weeks. the system is broken and theres no rhyme or reason to it. i'd keep calling but good luck getting through!!!

ESD processing times vary widely but yes, unfortunately, some claims are taking 8-12 weeks right now due to high volume. Make sure your claim doesn't have any issues requiring adjudication - check your eServices account for any alerts or action items. If it says "pending adjudication," that means there's a specific issue they're investigating. The three most common delays are identity verification issues, employer response discrepancies, and work separation questions. Also make sure you're filing your weekly claims while waiting - that's critical even if you're not getting paid yet.

same boat bro, amazon laid me off on jan 5th and im still waiting too. this sucks

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!! they make it IMPOSSIBLE to get benefits when you actually need them! I waited 14 weeks last year - FOURTEEN WEEKS with zero income while they "processed" my claim. they hope people just give up and go away. AND they keep making excuses about "high volume" but this happens EVERY YEAR!!!

If your claim just says "pending" with no adjudication notice, that's actually better news than if it said "pending adjudication" - it likely means there are no specific issues they're investigating, they just haven't processed it yet due to volume. Couple things to try: 1) Check if your identity verification is complete 2) Make sure all requested documents are uploaded 3) Double-check that you've answered all questions about your separation from Amazon correctly (reason for separation is especially important). Also, were you a direct Amazon employee or a contractor? That can affect processing too.

I used Claimyr to finally get through to ESD after trying for weeks. It's this service that gets you a callback from an actual ESD agent instead of waiting on hold forever. Totally worth it. The agent told me my claim was just sitting there waiting to be reviewed and they expedited it once I talked to them. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

To directly answer your question - no, ESD doesn't provide ETAs anymore. They used to say 3-4 weeks was standard processing time, but with current volumes they've stopped giving estimates. For Amazon layoffs specifically (there have been several rounds), they should have a standard process by now since they've dealt with so many. If your separation reason is straightforward (reduction in force), that should help. One important thing to check: Did you receive severance? If so, make sure you reported it correctly on your application. Severance can delay or affect benefits and is a common reason for additional review.

i tried calling 37 times yesterday no joke

Update: I tried that Claimyr service and it actually worked! Got a call back from ESD within 2 hours. The agent said my claim was delayed because of the severance calculation, but since I've been waiting 4+ weeks already, she expedited it. Should be processed within 3-5 business days. Thanks for all the advice everyone!