Claim stuck on 'pending' for 3+ weeks - completed job logs each week - what's wrong?

The same thing happened to me back in November. My claim was stuck on pending for almost 5 weeks with no explanation. turns out there was an identity verification issue they never bothered to tell me about! check your secure message center - sometimes they send notices there but don't email you about them.

What you're experiencing is actually quite common right now. ESD is dealing with a backlog of claims, especially mass layoff situations which often trigger automatic reviews. When multiple claims come in from the same employer, their system flags them for manual review. There are a few things you should check: 1. Look at your "Notices" tab in eServices, not just the messages 2. Check if your claim shows "adjudication" anywhere - this means they're reviewing some aspect of your eligibility 3. Make sure your identity verification is complete (they use a system called ID.me) 4. Verify your work search activities are being properly recorded Keep filing your weekly claims on time even while it's pending. When they do approve you, you'll get paid for all those weeks at once as long as you've completed your weekly filings correctly.

my claim was pending for six MONTHS last year lol the system is completely broken

When my claim was stuck in "pending" for weeks, I finally got through to ESD using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It basically holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of redial hell. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Turns out my claim was stuck because my employer had reported a different reason for separation than what I stated. The agent was able to clear it up in about 10 minutes once I actually got to talk to someone. Worth it just to get an actual explanation about what was going on.

When you see "adjudication" on your claim, it means there's a specific issue ESD needs to resolve before they can approve your benefits. This is very common with mass layoffs because they need to verify the details with the employer. Typically, adjudication can take 3-6 weeks, but it's been taking longer recently due to high claim volume. Here's what you should do: 1. Continue filing your weekly claims without fail 2. Check your online account daily for any new notices 3. Make sure your phone number and email are up-to-date in the system 4. Be prepared to answer your phone even if you don't recognize the number (ESD often calls from blocked numbers) 5. If it goes beyond 6 weeks, contact your state representative's office - they can sometimes help expedite cases The good news is that mass layoffs are generally straightforward cases once they get to them. Since your employer has confirmed they won't contest it, you should eventually be approved and receive backpay for all weeks claimed.

sorry ur dealing with this!! i got laid off in October and my claim was pending for 4 weeks then suddenly changed to paid without any notification. keep doing ur job searches and maybe try calling right when they open? i heard thats the best time

This is absolutely INFURIATING!!! The ESD system is DESIGNED to be difficult so people give up. I went through the EXACT same thing last year and had to call 47 TIMES before getting through!!! When I finally spoke to someone, they said there was a "flag" on my account that could have been resolved in 5 MINUTES if they had just TOLD ME ABOUT IT!!! The thing that makes me the MOST ANGRY is that they expect us to meet all these deadlines and requirements perfectly, but then THEY can take WEEKS or MONTHS to do their part with ZERO consequences!!! It's a rigged system!!! DON'T GIVE UP!!! Keep calling every day, multiple times. Try at 7:58am right before they open. That's how I finally got through.

One thing to check: did you create and activate your SAW (SecureAccess Washington) account? Sometimes claims get stuck in pending because claimants haven't completed the full account setup process. You need both an ESD eServices account AND a linked SAW account. Also, make sure you've completed the ID.me verification if prompted. This is a relatively new security measure that many claimants miss, and it can silently hold up your claim without clear notification.

wait are u supposed to do 3 job search activities every week?? i thought it was just 1 per week oh no

has ur previous employer confirmed they received the notice from esd? sometimes the holdup is that they never responded to esds request for information. my hr department forgot to respond and that caused a huge delay for me

Update for anyone following this thread: The OP reached out to me via PM and I suggested they contact their former employer's HR department. Turns out the employer had received paperwork from ESD but hadn't submitted their response yet. After the OP spoke with HR, they expedited their response and the claim was approved within 48 hours. This is a common issue with mass layoffs - the employer verification process can create bottlenecks in the system. The OP received all backdated payments for the weeks that had been pending. The key takeaway here is that proactively following up with your former employer can sometimes help move things along.