ESD adjudication hell - 9 weeks with no payments, contacting governor's office

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I was in a similar situation last year and finally got my claim resolved after contacting my state representative. The governor's office can help, but I found working with my local rep more effective. They have staff dedicated to helping constituents with state agency issues.\n\nWhen you contact them, be sure to include:\n- Your full name and contact info\n- Your ESD claim ID number\n- The exact date you filed\n- A brief timeline of your attempts to resolve the issue\n- Documentation of your calls/messages to ESD\n- Mention the financial hardship specifically\n\nKeep it factual and concise, but do mention the impact this delay is having on your ability to pay for necessities. They typically respond within a few days and can often expedite the review process.

Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I didn't even think about contacting my state rep instead. Do you remember how long it took for your claim to get resolved after they stepped in? I'll start putting together all those details tonight.

I actually had success with the governor's office approach! I was stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks last year and was getting absolutely nowhere with regular ESD channels. When I contacted the governor's office, I made sure to:\n\n1. Use a clear subject line like \

This gives me hope! I'll definitely use your template when I write to them. Did you email or send physical mail? And did you include any documentation with your message?

ugh ESD IS THE WORST! Ive been dealing with them since january and still nothing. they keep saying different things everytime i call. first its identity verification then its employer response then its adjudication then who knows what. contacting the governor probly wont even help tbh cuz its all the same system. good luck tho

That's so frustrating! Have you tried any other routes to get help? It's scary that you've been waiting even longer than me!

I recommend trying Claimyr before going the governor route. I was in adjudication for 5 weeks and couldn't get through on the phone no matter what time I called. A friend told me about their service (claimyr.com) and it actually worked - they got me connected with an ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of hours of waiting or getting disconnected. The agent was able to see that my claim just needed one piece of documentation and I was able to upload it right away. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nOnce I actually spoke with a real person, my claim was processed within a week. Sometimes the problem is just getting to the right person who can help you.

is this legit?? seems sketchy to me. how do they get u through when nobody else can?

Yes, it's legitimate. They use technology to navigate the phone system and secure a spot in line for you, then call you when they've reached an agent. I was skeptical too but desperate enough to try it. Worked much better than the 30+ calls I made on my own that got me nowhere.

When my claim was stuck I sent messages through the eServices portal EVERY SINGLE DAY. Like, I became annoyingly persistent. I would reference my previous messages and ask for status updates. Eventually someone must have gotten tired of my messages because I suddenly got a call from an adjudicator who resolved my issue in one conversation.\n\nPersistence is key. Document everything. Call, message, email, repeat. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

I've sent about 8 messages through eServices so far, but I haven't been doing it daily. Maybe I need to step up my persistence game! Did you keep your messages short or write detailed ones?

I kept them fairly short but SPECIFIC. Each one referenced my claim ID and had a clear question. Something like \

If your claim has been stuck for 9 weeks, it's well past the normal processing time even for adjudication, which typically takes 3-6 weeks. Here's what I recommend as a step-by-step approach:\n\n1. First try calling ESD at 8:00 AM exactly when they open. Monday and Tuesday mornings are usually the worst, try Wednesday or Thursday.\n\n2. If you still can't get through by phone, contact your state representative AND senator simultaneously (not just one). You can find them here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/\n\n3. Submit a formal request for an adjudication interview. This can sometimes restart the process if your claim has fallen through the cracks.\n\n4. If those steps don't yield results within 7 days, then escalate to the governor's office.\n\nWhen contacting representatives or the governor, make it clear this is affecting your ability to meet basic needs. Mention specifically what bills you can't pay and any notices you've received (eviction warnings, utility shutoff notices, etc).\n\nAlso important: continue filing your weekly claims even while waiting! Many people stop filing thinking it doesn't matter since they're not getting paid, but this can cause even more problems.

Thank you for this comprehensive plan! I didn't know I could request an adjudication interview specifically - where do I submit that request? And yes, I've been diligently filing my weekly claims hoping all the backpay will come through eventually.

You can request an adjudication interview by sending a message through your eServices account. Go to your dashboard, click on

same thing happened to me but i waited 11 weeks!! its so messed up. the governer office actually did help me tho. they contacted esd and suddenly my claim got approved the next day. weird how that works right??? just tell them ur about to be homeless and cant feed ur kids even if u dont have kids lol desperate times ya know

I wouldn't recommend lying about having children - that could potentially create problems. But definitely be clear and honest about your actual financial hardship situation. The governor's office takes these matters seriously, especially when basic needs like housing are at risk.

my neighbor works for esd and says theyre super backloged right now cuz of layofes in tech and construction. she said peepole who fax stuff get looked at faster lol so outdated!!

I'll share what finally worked for me after 8 weeks in adjudication hell last year. I created what I called my

This is brilliant! I love the idea of creating a comprehensive package instead of just sending a basic email. Going to start putting this together right away. Do you happen to remember the email address for the ESD Commissioner's Office?

okay but has anyone thought about the fact that maybe the system is DESIGNED to be this difficult?? they make it so hard to get benefits that people just give up. i gave up after 5 weeks and took a job i hate making way less than before because i couldn't keep fighting the system. it's all part of the plan to keep us desperate and willing to take any job no matter how bad the pay. just saying.

THIS!!! 💯 💯 💯

Update: I want to thank everyone for the amazing advice! I took a combined approach - sent daily messages through eServices, created the comprehensive documentation package, and contacted both my state rep and senator yesterday. This morning I actually got a call from someone at ESD who said they were assigned to review my claim after receiving an inquiry from my representative's office! She said there was a simple issue with my job separation that needed verification, which she was able to clear up during our call. My claim should be processed within 72 hours, and I'll receive all my backpay. I'm still in shock that after 9 weeks of nothing, one day of focused effort following your advice made all the difference. I'll post another update when the money actually arrives.