ESD adjudication stuck for over a month with pending payments - what now?

OMG same boat!!! My claim's been stuck in adjudication for 6 WEEKS now. From what I've heard they're super backlogged since that new system update happened in January. Something about identity verification issues? But nobody tells us anything!!

6 weeks?! That's terrifying. Did they at least tell you what the adjudication is for? I have literally nothing in my portal explaining why I'm being held up.

Adjudication usually happens when there's a question about your eligibility. Since you mentioned quitting your job, that's almost certainly the reason. Voluntary quits require additional review to determine if you had \

Thank you for this info. I had no idea the voluntary quit could trigger this. I've definitely been filing my weekly claims religiously, but I'll double check my correspondence tab again - maybe I missed something. And I never thought about contacting my state rep... that's a good idea!

this happened to me too back in nov. turns out i had an identity verification issue that nobody told me about until i finally got thru on the phone!!! check ur notices tab AND ur spam email just in case. they expect u to know theres an issue somehow without telling u lol

I checked my spam folder - nothing there. And my notices tab just shows the confirmation that I filed. This system is so frustrating!

After being stuck in adjudication for FIVE WEEKS, I finally got through to an ESD agent using Claimyr (claimyr.com). Totally worth it because they got me connected to an actual person at ESD in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks with no success. The agent was able to see exactly what was causing my adjudication (it was an employer response issue) and expedited my case.\n\nIf you're desperate like I was, check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nSeriously, my claim was resolved within 3 days after that call. The adjudicator told me they often just need someone to push the right buttons, but getting to that person is the hard part.

does this actually work??? i'm so tired of calling and getting hung up on

Yes, it worked for me and two others in my apartment building who were having similar issues. Much better than wasting hours redialing.

Adjudication for voluntary quits is taking longer than usual in 2025 due to the new verification procedures ESD implemented. Since you quit due to unsafe working conditions, you'll need to provide documentation supporting this claim. \n\nImportant steps to take right now:\n\n1. Document specifically how conditions became unsafe (dates, incidents, etc)\n2. Gather any evidence of reporting these issues to management\n3. If you have any communication showing you tried to resolve the issue before quitting, make copies\n4. Prepare names and contact information of witnesses if possible\n5. Continue filing weekly claims without fail\n\nWhen you do reach an adjudicator, being prepared with this information will help expedite your case. And yes, voluntary quits for safety reasons CAN qualify for benefits, but they need evidence to support your claim.

Thank you! I have some emails where I raised concerns about safety issues to my manager. I'll gather those along with the incident reports I filed. Do you know if they typically do these interviews by phone or if I'll need to submit documents somewhere?

ESD IS COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL!!! I was stuck in adjudication for THREE MONTHS last year! When I finally got through, turns out they had all the info they needed THE ENTIRE TIME but nobody bothered to review my file!!!! The whole system is designed to wear people down so they give up. Keep calling and documenting EVERYTHING. The moment you get someone on the phone, get their ID number and write down the date/time of the call. These people need to be held accountable!!!

This is my fear too! That my file is just sitting in some digital pile and nobody's even looked at it yet. THREE MONTHS is criminal when people are trying to pay bills!

One important thing to know: if your adjudication is eventually approved, you'll receive all back payments for the weeks you've been claiming. Make sure you're answering all the weekly claim questions accurately, especially the job search activities. You need to be completing and documenting 3 job search activities each week.\n\nAlso, if you're facing immediate financial hardship, contact your local WorkSource office. They sometimes have emergency assistance programs or can connect you with community resources while you wait for your unemployment to resolve.

This is really helpful - thank you. I've been documenting my job search activities carefully. I'll definitely check with WorkSource about emergency assistance options. It's getting pretty dire with rent coming up.

my cousin works for esd (not in claims tho) and she says they r WAY behind bcuz of that new system + tons of new claims after the january layoffs. shes says adjudication timelines basically doubled in 2025. so sorry ur dealing with this!!! its so unfair. def try calling right at 7am sharp.

Just to follow up - I noticed you mentioned unsafe working conditions. In Washington state, this can qualify as

I did report the safety issues multiple times to management over a two-month period before quitting. I didn't file with OSHA though - I didn't even think about that at the time. I just wanted out of the dangerous situation. Will this hurt my case?

Having documentation of your reports to management will definitely help your case. For future reference, yes, an OSHA complaint would strengthen your position, but many claimants are approved without having filed formal external complaints if they can show they attempted to resolve the issue internally first.\n\nWhen you do speak with an adjudicator, emphasize the specific unsafe conditions, how they affected workplace safety, your attempts to resolve them through proper channels, and why you felt you had no choice but to leave. Be factual and specific rather than emotional in your explanation.

Update: I finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! I followed the advice to call right at 7am and got through after only being on hold for 45 minutes. The agent confirmed I'm in adjudication because of the voluntary quit and said an adjudicator should contact me within the next 7-10 days for an interview. She added a note to my file about the urgency due to financial hardship.\n\nI'm gathering all my documentation about the safety issues now. Thank you all for your help and suggestions. It's a relief to at least know what's happening and have a timeline.

That's great news! Make sure to have your phone nearby during business hours so you don't miss their call. Adjudicators typically only make 1-2 attempts to reach you before making a determination based on the information they have. If you miss their call, they should leave a voicemail with a direct callback number.

Thank you - I'll keep my phone with me at all times. I really appreciate everyone's help here!