ESD adjudication after DV-related resignation - facing eviction - how long to wait?
I had to leave my job last month due to domestic violence situation (had to move cities for safety). Filed for unemployment right away but my claim keeps bouncing around in the system. I'm now on my 3rd week and just got pushed back into 'adjudication status' again after thinking it was moving forward. Meanwhile, I just received an eviction notice yesterday and my utility bills are piling up fast. I have maybe 2 weeks before I'm completely out of options financially. I've called ESD about 30 times over the past week but never get through. Is there a specific time when the lines aren't so busy? Should I keep trying or should I contact the governor's office instead? Has anyone had success getting their DV-related claim expedited? I provided all the documentation they asked for including the protection order. Just feeling desperate at this point.
19 comments


Zoe Papadakis
So sorry you're dealing with this. DV-related claims sometimes get flagged for extra verification, which is why you're in adjudication. The system can be really slow with sensitive cases. When I was helping my sister with her claim (different reason), we found that calling right when they open at 8:00 AM gives the best chance of getting through, but even then it's tough. I'd recommend doing both - keep calling ESD daily AND reach out to the governor's office. Also contact your local state representative - they often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with unemployment issues. When contacting them, make sure to emphasize the eviction notice and immediate financial hardship.
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Andre Rousseau
•Thank you. I didn't even think about contacting my state rep. Do you know if I need a specific case number or something when I call them? And should I expect them to actually be able to do anything? I'm running out of time fast.
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Jamal Carter
im so sorry ur going thru this! the same thing happened to me last year but not for DV reasons. my claim was stuck in adjudication for like 5 WEEKS and nobody would answer the phones. it was a nightmare. i almost got evicted too. have u tried contacting legal aid? they might be able to help with the eviction part at least while ur waiting for ESD to get their act together
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Andre Rousseau
•5 WEEKS? That's absolutely terrifying to hear. I don't think I can survive that long financially. I'll look into legal aid today, thanks for the suggestion.
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AstroAdventurer
ESD IS THE WORST!!! They don't care that people are literally becoming homeless while they take their sweet time with these claims. I waited 7 weeks last year and almost lost everything. The system is DESIGNED to make people give up. And don't expect them to backpay you quickly either even when they finally approve your claim!!! Governor's office just sends a form response that basically says "we'll look into it" and nothing happens. STATE REPS are actually your best bet, they can sometimes light a fire under ESD.
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Mei Liu
•This isn't entirely fair. The ESD employees are just overwhelmed with cases. When I worked there briefly, most people were genuinely trying to help but the system and processes are outdated and inefficient. The DV cases require special handling to protect the claimant.
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Liam O'Sullivan
I work with DV survivors and help with unemployment claims regularly. Here's what you need to know: 1. DV-related voluntary quit claims ARE covered under WA law, but they require special handling and verification which can extend processing time. 2. You need to specifically request an expedited hardship review due to imminent eviction. This is an actual process at ESD, but you need to speak to a claims specialist to request it. 3. Keep calling, but also immediately send a message through your eServices account documenting your hardship situation. Use the term "financial hardship review request" specifically. 4. Contact your local WorkSource office directly - sometimes they can intervene with ESD when there's an emergency situation. 5. If you have a DV advocate, have them write a letter supporting your need for expedited processing. While waiting, contact 211 for emergency rental assistance programs in your area.
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Andre Rousseau
•Thank you so much for this detailed advice. I didn't know about the hardship review option. I've been working with a DV advocate who helped me relocate, but I didn't think to ask them to write a letter for ESD. I'll do that today. I've been sending messages through eServices but will make sure to use that specific language.
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Amara Chukwu
When I was stuck in adjudication, I tried Claimyr.com to get through to ESD. It actually worked - got me past the endless busy signals and connected with a real agent in about 15 minutes. Cost money but was worth it in my desperate situation. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I reached was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim and put notes in my file to expedite it. Might be worth it in your situation with the eviction notice.
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Jamal Carter
•i used this too!!! it was the only way i got thru after trying for weeks. the regular phone line is impossible
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Andre Rousseau
•I'm willing to try anything at this point. Did they need any special information from you when they connected you? I'll check out that video, thanks for sharing the resource.
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Giovanni Conti
have you called the special investigations unit? sometimes they can help when theres a claim thats stuck. my neighbor had to do this when his claim was in adjudiction for a long time. i think the number is on the esd website somewhere
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Zoe Papadakis
•That's not quite right - the investigations unit handles fraud cases. You're probably thinking of the Technical Customer Support line, which is different from the regular claims line. That can sometimes help with stuck claims, but they still have long wait times unfortunately.
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Mei Liu
Just to clarify some misinformation in this thread: domestic violence is indeed a qualifying reason to voluntarily quit a job in Washington and still receive unemployment benefits. However, these claims require verification and often go through a more thorough adjudication process to protect both the claimant and the integrity of the system. Regarding your situation specifically: 1. Continue calling ESD daily, but also email your state legislator immediately. Include your claim ID number, contact information, and a brief explanation of your hardship situation with the eviction notice mentioned specifically. 2. Submit a hardship request through your eServices account messages. Explicitly state that you're facing eviction and include the date you need to vacate if no payment is received. 3. For the eviction specifically, contact the Eviction Defense Screening Line at 1-855-657-8387 right away. They may be able to help delay the eviction while your benefits are processed. Many claims are being resolved within 3-4 weeks, but legislative inquiries can sometimes expedite the process in hardship cases.
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Andre Rousseau
•Thank you for the clarity. I've submitted messages through eServices but didn't specifically request a hardship review - I'll do that immediately. The eviction defense line is really helpful too, I hadn't heard of that resource before.
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Jamal Carter
wait r u getting the paper mail from ESD too? sometimes they send important stuff that's not on the website and if u miss responding to one of those letters the whole claim gets messed up. happened to my roommate
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Andre Rousseau
•Yes, I've been checking my mail obsessively and responding to everything they send. I got a letter requesting the protection order documentation, which I sent in right away with a return receipt. Still waiting to see if that's what's holding things up.
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Zoe Papadakis
One more thing that might help - if you're able to get through to ESD (either directly or through a service), ask them specifically if there are any "fact-finding questionnaires" that need to be completed. Sometimes these aren't obvious in your online account but can be holding up your claim. Also, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while in adjudication. If you miss filing for any week, it creates even more complications. Lastly, document EVERYTHING - dates/times you called, names of people you spoke with, letters you sent, etc. This documentation can be helpful if you need to appeal or escalate your case.
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Andre Rousseau
•Thank you for this. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously, but I hadn't thought about asking about questionnaires specifically. I've started keeping a log of all my attempts to contact them. I'm going to try calling again at 8am tomorrow morning and will specifically ask about this.
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