ESD adjudication suddenly started 3 weeks after filing - normal wait time?
I filed my unemployment claim on 10/1, and everything seemed normal until 10/25 when my status changed to 'adjudication in progress' without any explanation. It's been nearly two weeks in adjudication now, and I'm starting to get really anxious because my savings are almost gone. The ESD website doesn't give any timeline estimates, and I can't get through on the phone. Is this normal? How long does adjudication typically take? I reported everything accurately on my application, so I'm confused why they're suddenly investigating my claim after 3 weeks of processing. Anyone else experience this timeline or have insight on how much longer I might be waiting?
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Fiona Sand
Adjudication timelines vary widely but they're usually running 3-6 weeks right now. It doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong - ESD routinely puts claims in adjudication to verify details like your reason for separation from employment, wages, or work availability. Did you receive any questionnaires or notices in your eServices account? Sometimes they need additional info but don't clearly communicate what they're waiting for.
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Ellie Kim
•Thanks for the info! That's longer than I was hoping... I checked my eServices account again and found a questionnaire about my last employer that I somehow missed. Just completed it, hopefully that speeds things up. Do you know if they'll backpay for the weeks I've been filing while in adjudication?
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Mohammad Khaled
mine was in adjudication for 8 WEEKS last year!! total nightmare. nobody could tell me why or when it would be resolved. keep filing your weekly claims tho
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Ellie Kim
•8 weeks?! That's terrifying. Did they eventually approve your claim and pay for all those weeks? I'm getting really worried about making rent next month.
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Mohammad Khaled
•yeah they did pay everything but it was super stressful. i had to borrow $ from family. the worst part was never knowing when it would end
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Alina Rosenthal
They put my claim in adjudication because my former employer contested it, saying I quit when I was actually laid off. TOOK FOREVER to resolve!!! The ESD phone system is IMPOSSIBLE - I tried calling 37 times in one day and either got disconnected or was on hold for 2+ hours before getting hung up on!!! The whole system is designed to MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!!! 😡😡😡
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Finnegan Gunn
•After spending weeks trying to reach ESD like you described, I found a service called Claimyr that actually worked for me. They connect you to an ESD agent by holding your place in the phone queue. I was skeptical but desperate, so I tried it and got through to an agent in about 45 minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 or just go to claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly why my claim was in adjudication and gave me an estimated timeline.
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Alina Rosenthal
•I've never heard of that but I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the tip!! Does it actually work with Washington ESD specifically? Their phone system is the WORST I've ever dealt with!!!
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Finnegan Gunn
•Yes, it works specifically for Washington ESD. That's how I finally got information about my claim after weeks of frustration. The agent I reached was able to see notes on my claim that weren't visible in my online account.
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Miguel Harvey
my neighbor just went thru this last month. took about 4 weeks for adjudication. he said make sure u answer any letters they send super fast cause that slows it down if u dont
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Ellie Kim
•Thanks for sharing that. I just found and answered a questionnaire I missed, so hopefully that helps. Did your neighbor get paid for all the weeks during adjudication once it was approved?
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Ashley Simian
Here's what might be happening: During the initial application processing, their automated system may have flagged something in your work history, earnings, or separation reason that requires manual review. This is completely normal and doesn't mean your claim won't be approved. Adjudication typically takes 4-7 weeks in 2025, though it can be shorter or longer depending on their current backlog and the complexity of your case. Some important tips: 1. Continue filing your weekly claims on time 2. Check your eServices account daily for new questionnaires or document requests 3. Respond to any requests immediately 4. Make sure you're completing your required 3 job search activities each week If approved, you'll receive all back payments for weeks you properly filed. If you have an immediate financial hardship, mention this when you eventually speak with an agent as there are sometimes ways to expedite claims in crisis situations.
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Ellie Kim
•Thank you for the detailed explanation. I missed a questionnaire that I just completed, so at least that's done now. I've been doing my job search activities and documenting everything carefully. I'll just have to be patient and keep filing weekly. Really hoping it won't take the full 7 weeks though...
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Oliver Cheng
When I was on unemployment last year I got put in adjudication because I accidentally reported my gross income instead of net on my application. Totally my fault but it took forever to fix! The most frustrating part was not knowing why or how long it would take. I had the same confusion where everything seemed fine for weeks and then suddenly changed to adjudication.
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Ellie Kim
•Did you eventually figure out what triggered the adjudication? And how long did yours take to resolve?
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Oliver Cheng
•It took about 5 weeks total. I only found out what caused it when an adjudicator finally called me. Apparently my employer reported different wages than what I had put on my application. Simple mistake but took forever to sort out. They did eventually backpay everything though.
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Fiona Sand
Just wanted to follow up - since you found and completed that missed questionnaire, that's good news! That was likely what triggered the adjudication in the first place. When they don't receive responses to their questions, the system automatically puts claims on hold. Now that you've responded, call attention to it by trying to reach an agent who might be able to expedite the review now that they have the information they needed.
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Ellie Kim
•That makes sense. I feel really stupid for missing it! I've been checking my regular email but didn't realize I needed to log into eServices directly to see the questionnaires. I'll try calling again tomorrow morning right when they open. Thanks for your help!
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