ESD adjudication stuck for 3+ months after DSHS termination - can't afford rent!

I understand how stressful this is. Unfortunately, adjudication timelines with ESD can be extremely lengthy, especially for state employee claims which often require additional review. Have you tried contacting your state representative? They can sometimes help expedite claims through a legislative inquiry. Also make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the adjudication decision - you'll need those weeks properly filed to receive backpay when approved.

omg 4 months???? thats insane!! i got let go from my retail job and only had to wait like 3 weeks. maybe its different for state employees?? have u tried emailing them instead of calling?

The same thing happened to my sister who worked for DSHS!! Her claim was in adjudication for almost 15 weeks before they finally approved it. Something about state employment claims triggers additional review processes. She tried calling literally HUNDREDS of times and could never get through to an actual person. It's absolutely ridiculous how they treat people who are already in financial distress.

I was in the EXACT same situation last year! Let go from a different state agency during probation. My supervisor also said they wouldn't contest it, but it still took forever. The problem is that state HR departments have their own internal review processes that happen before ESD even gets to the real adjudication. Did you get a fact-finding interview scheduled yet?

I had a similar issue with my adjudication taking forever. After 2 months of not being able to reach anyone, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in under 2 hours. It worked when nothing else did. They basically keep calling ESD for you and connect you when they get through. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I finally spoke with an agent, they were able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim (missing employer response) and prioritized it for review. Got my benefits about 10 days later. Might be worth trying since you're in such a tough spot with rent coming due.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE GIVE UP!!!! They DELIBERATELY make it impossible to reach anyone and drag these claims out hoping people will just find another job and stop pursuing benefits they're LEGALLY ENTITLED TO! I waited 23 weeks for my claim last year and nearly became homeless. This is EXACTLY how the system is designed to work - it's not broken, it's INTENTIONAL!!

I went through almost the exact same situation with a DSHS termination during probation in 2025. Here's what actually worked for me to get my claim unstuck: 1. Call your local WorkSource office (not ESD directly) and explain your situation - they sometimes have direct lines to ESD adjudicators 2. File a hardship request through the ESD portal specifically mentioning potential eviction - this can prioritize your claim 3. Contact your state representative's office as someone mentioned (this ultimately worked for me) 4. Make sure you've uploaded any supporting documentation to your claim - termination notices, emails from your supervisor stating they wouldn't contest it, etc. State employment claims are flagged for extra scrutiny because they involve taxpayer money, but your supervisor's statement that they won't contest it should help once someone actually reviews your claim. The system is frustratingly slow, but keep advocating for yourself through multiple channels. Once approved, you will receive backpay for all properly filed weekly claims.

Quick update: I spoke with my sister who went through this, and she said one thing that helped was repeatedly messaging through the ESD portal (not emailing) every 3-4 days with a very specific subject line: "HARDSHIP - ADJUDICATION DELAY - IMMINENT EVICTION" and keeping messages brief but desperate. Eventually she got assigned to an adjudicator who called her directly.

my friend had a similar situation and tried that claimyr thing someone mentioned and it actually worked for her! she said it was expensive tho but worth it cuz she finally got her money. good luck!!

One more thing - while you're waiting for your ESD claim to process, you should immediately apply for emergency assistance through DSHS Community Services Office for help with your rent. Since you're facing possible eviction, you may qualify for emergency assistance even while your unemployment claim is pending. You can also contact 211 for referrals to local rent assistance programs. Don't wait until you're behind - apply for these programs now.