Finally escaped ESD adjudication after 8 weeks - here's what worked
Just got my claim APPROVED after being stuck in adjudication for 8 painful weeks and wanted to share my experience. I was laid off when my company outsourced our entire department in March 2025 (15 years there - still hurts). My claim seemed straightforward but got flagged for 'employment separation verification' right away. My eServices dashboard just showed 'adjudication in progress' for weeks with zero communication. After week 5, I discovered you can check WHY you're in adjudication by going to the 'upload documents' section - mine showed they needed more info about my layoff. I immediately uploaded my termination letter and severance agreement. When week 7 hit and still nothing changed, I called the governor's office to request expediting my claim (couldn't take the financial stress anymore). Within 3 days, I got FOUR calls from ESD from different numbers (even on Saturday!). The agent verified my identity over the phone and asked a few questions about my separation. Payment hit my account 48 hours later! If you're stuck, check the upload documents section, address exactly what they're asking for, then after 6+ weeks, don't hesitate to request expediting. Good luck everyone - this system is brutal.
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Ian Armstrong
I'm in the exact same boat right now - week 7 of adjudication hell. Did you literally just call the governor's main office number? I've been trying ESD's number at least 20 times daily and it's either busy or I get disconnected. Running out of options (and money).
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Molly Chambers
•Yep, called the governor's constituent services line. I found the number on the governor's website. They took down my info and said they'd forward it to their ESD liaison. ESD called me 3 days later. Don't bother with the regular ESD number, it's useless.
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Eli Butler
Great advice about checking the 'upload documents' section! Most people don't realize this is where you can see the specific reason for adjudication. The key things ESD typically needs are: 1. Clear separation documentation (termination letter, layoff notice, etc.) 2. Identity verification (photo ID + SS card is perfect) 3. Documentation of any severance or final pay if applicable And yes, the governor's office can help expedite after a reasonable waiting period (6+ weeks). I've seen claims resolved within days after this intervention. The system works this way because ESD is chronically understaffed and cases get prioritized based on age and complexity.
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Marcus Patterson
•the uploaad documents thing worked for me to!! i was stuck for like 5 week and i saw they needed proof i was looking for jobs. uploaded my job search log and bam got paid next week
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Lydia Bailey
I've tried the governor's office route THREE TIMES in the last two months and it's done NOTHING for me. Still stuck in adjudication, still can't reach anyone at ESD, still watching my savings disappear. The whole system is designed to make people give up. Upload documents section? Mine just says "identity verification" but I've uploaded my license, SS card, AND passport multiple times. NOTHING CHANGES. So sick of this garbage system.
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Mateo Warren
•Have you tried taking a selfie WITH your ID? That's what finally worked for me. For some reason they want to see your face next to the ID in the same picture. Stupid requirement but it got me through.
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Sofia Price
Has anyone tried using Claimyr to reach ESD? After 4 weeks in adjudication and hundreds of failed call attempts, I was desperate. Found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to an actual ESD agent in under 30 minutes. There's even a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim (employer hadn't responded to their inquiry) and expedited it on the spot. Saved me weeks of waiting and probably my apartment too.
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Marcus Patterson
•does it realy work? ive been trying to call esd for 3 weeks straight and cant get thru ever
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Alice Coleman
Something important for everyone stuck in adjudication: Washington law actually gives ESD specific timeframes they must follow. They're required to make a determination within 21 days of claim filing, but they rarely meet this deadline due to volume. However, knowing this time requirement can help when you contact the governor's office or ombudsman. Always reference how many days beyond the 21-day requirement your claim has been pending. This creates urgency and shows you're aware of your rights under WAC 192-12-310.
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Lydia Bailey
•21 DAYS?!? I'm on DAY 68!!! This is completely illegal then! Where exactly is this law written so I can cite it specifically when I call tomorrow?
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Mateo Warren
congrats on finally getting approved! my sister-in-law works at esd (don't hate me lol) and she says they're dealing with a new computer system rollout that's causing tons of delays. apparently the new system flags way more claims for manual review than the old one did. not that it helps anyone waiting but just fyi why things are worse than normal right now
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Molly Chambers
•Ugh, that explains a lot. Why do government IT projects always make things worse? Thanks for the insider info - at least knowing why helps a little with the frustration.
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Sofia Price
Another tip - if you're uploading documents, make sure the file names are descriptive and include your claim ID. Something like "ClaimID_12345_Layoff_Letter.pdf" instead of just "scan1.pdf". My friend works in a similar government department (not ESD) and says this helps tremendously when they're sorting through thousands of uploaded files.
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Eli Butler
•This is excellent advice! The ESD document processing system sorts uploads both by claim number associations and by filename. Using descriptive filenames with your claim ID absolutely helps ensure your documents get routed correctly and processed faster.
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Ian Armstrong
one question - did you keep filing your weekly claims during the whole adjudication process? i've been filing every week but since nothing is getting paid i'm wondering if i should even bother?
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Alice Coleman
•You absolutely MUST continue filing weekly claims even while in adjudication. If you stop filing, your claim will be considered abandoned and you'll lose benefits for those weeks permanently. Even if it feels pointless, keep filing consistently every week. When your adjudication is resolved, you'll receive all back payments for properly filed weeks.
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