Finally got ESD call after 5 weeks in adjudication - anyone get approved after waiting this long?

A call is definitely a positive sign! They typically only call when they need to verify specific information to complete your adjudication. In my experience working with claimants, when they call to ask clarifying questions about your separation (like your restaurant hour cuts), they're trying to determine if you had good cause to leave, which would make you eligible. Since you had a substantial reduction in hours, that often qualifies as good cause.\n\nYou should see a decision within 3-5 business days of that call in most cases. Keep checking your online account daily and make sure you continue filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the decision.

Thank you for this!! That makes me feel a bit better. I'll keep filing my weekly claims for sure. Do you know if they'll backpay for all those weeks I've been filing while in adjudication if I get approved?

omg 5 weeks is actually pretty normal tbh. i waited 8 WEEKS last year and then got approved! but my friend only waited 2 weeks and got denied so idk if time means anything. good luck!!!!

Yeah I was in adjudication for nearly 7 weeks before getting approved too. The system is completely random sometimes.

I know exactly what you're going through! My claim was stuck in that horrible adjudication purgatory for almost SIX WEEKS in December. I also got a call from ESD before my decision, and I was CONVINCED they were calling to deny me. I almost didn't answer because my anxiety was through the roof!!!\n\nBut guess what? I GOT APPROVED two days after the call! They backdated everything and I received a lump sum payment for all those weeks I had been filing during the wait. The agent mostly called to confirm my last day of work since my employer had reported a different date than I put on my application.\n\nHang in there and KEEP FILING those weekly claims! If you get approved, they'll pay for all the weeks you properly certified for during this waiting period!!!

That's such a relief to hear! Did they notify you by email when the decision was made or did you just have to keep checking your account?

LOLOL the ESD system is a complete joke. Don't get your hopes up. I got a call too and then waited another 3 weeks just to get DENIED. Their stupid system said I didn't have enough work hours even though I worked full-time for 18 months. Had to file an appeal which took ANOTHER 6 weeks. The whole system is designed to make you give up.

That's unfortunate about your experience, but hour reduction cases are actually processed differently than claims with insufficient hours. A substantial reduction in hours (usually 25% or more) is considered good cause for leaving in Washington state. Each case is unique, so while the system can certainly be frustrating, there's still a good chance for approval here based on the circumstances described.

I was stuck in adjudication for about 4 weeks last quarter when I got laid off from construction work. Called ESD over 30 times trying to get an update but always got the \

I've never heard of this service but I'm definitely checking it out if I don't hear back by Monday. The not knowing is the worst part. Thanks for the tip!

does this really work? i thought it was impossible to get thru to esd!!!

My sister just went thru the same thing last month. She was in adjikation for like a month and then got a call from ESD. They asked her a bunch of stuff about why she quit her nursing job. She got approved 3 days later! So maybe your getting approved too? Fingers crossed for u!

Thanks for sharing about your sister's experience! Did they ask her a ton of questions during the call? My call was only about 10 minutes long which made me wonder if that was good or bad.

Just an FYI - make absolutely sure you keep doing your job search activities (3 per week) even while you're waiting for the adjudication decision. If you get approved but haven't been keeping up with job search requirements, they might pay you for some weeks but not others. I learned this the hard way last year.

I've definitely been doing my job search activities every week! Thankfully that part I understood from the beginning. I've been applying to practically every restaurant in my area at this point.

To answer your earlier question about notification - ESD typically sends both an email notification and updates your online account when a decision is made. The email usually just says to check your account for updates rather than giving the decision details.\n\nGood news is that in most cases when they call for clarification about reduced hours at a job, it's to determine if you had good cause to leave, which it sounds like you did. The standard is typically that a reduction of 25% or more in hours/pay can qualify as good cause for leaving employment. \n\nIf approved, you'll receive payments for all weeks you've claimed while in adjudication. The system will show those weeks moving from \

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I'll keep an eye on my email and account. My hours were cut by almost 40% so hopefully that's enough to qualify as good cause. Just trying to stay positive while I wait!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been in adjudication for 4 weeks after leaving my retail job due to schedule changes that made it impossible to keep up with my second job. Haven't gotten a call yet but this gives me hope that it might actually happen. The waiting is absolutely brutal - I check my account like 10 times a day hoping for any update. Really crossing my fingers that your 40% hour reduction gets you approved since that seems like a pretty clear case of good cause. Please update us when you hear back!