ESD adjudication pending for 5 weeks despite approval letter - what's happening?

Same thing happened to me! got approved then stuck in limbo for WEEKS. adjudication means they're still investigating some part of ur claim even tho they approved u technically. could be employer disputing something, identity verification, work history, or even just random selection for review. super frustrating!!!

'Adjudication pending' means there's an issue with your claim that requires additional investigation by an ESD claims specialist. This happens even after receiving an initial approval letter because the letter only confirms your monetary eligibility (that you worked enough hours/earned enough), but doesn't address all potential issues. Common reasons for adjudication include: - Your employer contesting your claim - Questions about your availability for work - Job separation issues needing clarification - Identity verification problems DEFINITELY keep filing your weekly claims while waiting. Once resolved, you'll receive all back payments for weeks properly claimed, assuming the adjudication resolves in your favor. The 5-week wait is unfortunately not unusual in 2025, though it is excessive. ESD is legally required to make a determination within 21 days, but they're frequently missing this target due to volume.

not to make u more stressed but my claim was stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks!! then suddenly got denied because my old boss said i quit (i was laid off). had to appeal and wait ANOTHER 6 weeks. esd is the worst

I went through this exact situation in January. The key is actually getting through to an ESD representative who can tell you what's causing the adjudication hold and potentially expedite it. After weeks of calling the main number and getting nowhere, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to ESD agents without the endless busy signals and disconnections. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I got through to an actual person, I found out my adjudication was due to a simple discrepancy in my work history dates that took them 2 minutes to fix. My claim was processed the next day and I received all my backpay three days later.

It worked for me. The ESD rep told me they're currently prioritizing claims that have been in adjudication over 30 days (which yours has), but you have to actually connect with someone to get into that queue.

The ESD system is DELIBERATELY designed to be confusing and difficult to navigate. They WANT people to give up so they don't have to pay!!! I spent 8 weeks in "adjudication" before discovering they were waiting for documentation they NEVER TOLD ME THEY NEEDED!!! The entire time an alert was supposedly in my account that I couldn't see!!! Triple check your notices tab AND your letters tab in eServices - sometimes they hide important requests there without sending emails or texts!!!

One thing to try is checking your spam folder for emails from ESD. Sometimes their communications get filtered out. Also, in the eServices portal, click on "Decisions" and see if there's anything there. Sometimes issues are logged in unexpected places. If your claim has truly been in adjudication for 5+ weeks with an approval letter, you may qualify for an expedited review. Per WAC 192-130-065, ESD is required to make determinations promptly. You can specifically request this when you reach an agent. Keep documenting everything - dates you've called, what you're told, etc. This will be helpful if you need to escalate.

my sister had her claim stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks and then she called her state representative's office and they helped push it through! might be worth a try if you cant get anywhere with esd directly

Im in the exact same boat but 8 weeks now... this is my first time on unemployment and im so confused. did you figure out why yours is stuck?

Just to add one more important point: make absolutely sure you're meeting the job search requirements while waiting. With the 2025 requirements, you need to complete and document 3 job search activities each week. If you miss documenting these properly, it can add another layer of issues to your claim. The Work Source workshops count as activities too, and they're easy to document.