First week unemployment claim stuck in pending status - approved but need more info?

This is actually pretty normal for first-time claims. The approval letter means your claim itself is approved, but they still need to verify details for each specific week. The first week often has extra verification steps. It might be related to the waiting week, but they still need to verify your eligibility for that specific period.\n\nLog into your eServices account and check if there's a questionnaire or alert that needs your attention. Sometimes they need additional info about your job search activities or availability for that week specifically. If you don't see anything in your online account requesting action, then yes, it's probably just processing time for the first payment.

Thank you! I checked my eServices account again and you're right - there was actually a questionnaire buried in the alerts section asking about possible part-time hours during that week (which I didn't have, but I guess they need to verify). I totally missed it before. Will fill it out right away!

ya this happened 2 me 2. first week always takes forever, its super annoying. they aproved my claim but made me wait like 3 weeks for $$. keep filing ur weekly claims tho!

It's definitely frustrating! One important clarification though - the first week is usually the waiting week in Washington (where no benefits are paid), so most people actually receive their first payment after filing their second weekly claim. That might explain part of the confusion the original poster is experiencing.

THE SAME EXACT THING happened to me in February!!! Got the approval letter but then first week said \

I had a similar experience but discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me actually get through to an ESD agent. Instead of spending days calling and getting disconnected, I was connected within about 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It was honestly worth it because the agent was able to immediately tell me what was holding up my claim (in my case it was a discrepancy in reported wages). Their website is claimyr.com if anyone else is dealing with the impossible task of reaching ESD.

Wait im confused about the waiting week thing. Does that mean you dont get paid for the first week at all? Or it just takes longer? I'm about to apply and need to budget :/

The waiting week means you don't get paid for the first week you're eligible for benefits. It's essentially a one-week deductible. You still need to file a claim for that week and meet all eligibility requirements, but you won't receive payment for it. Your first actual payment would come after you file your second weekly claim (assuming everything is approved).

Everyone keeps talking about the

You're right - I checked those tabs and didn't see anything, but I did find a questionnaire in my alerts that I somehow missed before. They were asking about part-time work during that week. I've submitted the info now, so hopefully that resolves it. The ESD system really does hide important stuff in strange places!

Just to clarify some of the confusion in this thread:\n\n1. The waiting week is statutory - you don't receive benefits for your first eligible week. This is different from your claim being approved.\n\n2. When your claim shows \

Thank you for breaking this down so clearly! I found and submitted the questionnaire they were waiting for. One more question - do you know roughly how long it typically takes for them to process my response and release the pending status? I'm trying to plan my budget for the next couple weeks.

Once you've submitted the additional information they requested, it typically takes 3-5 business days for them to process it and update your claim status. However, if they determine they need even more information, it could take longer. \n\nIf you don't see movement on your claim after a week, I'd recommend trying to contact them directly. When I was in a similar situation last month, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent after trying unsuccessfully for days on my own. They got me connected in about 30 minutes, and the agent was able to resolve my issue on the spot. Their video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 shows exactly how it works.\n\nHope your claim gets sorted quickly!

Thank you! I'll give it until next Friday and then try contacting them if it's still pending. Good to know there's a service that can help if I keep getting the busy signal. Appreciate all the help everyone!

I went through this exact same situation last year! The disconnect between getting your approval letter and having the first week stuck in pending is super common and really confusing. What helped me was understanding that the approval letter just means your overall claim qualifies, but each individual week still gets reviewed separately. In my case, it turned out they needed verification of my last day worked because there was a slight discrepancy in the dates. Check your eServices account thoroughly - sometimes the requests for info are buried in weird places. Also make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while the first one is pending, because if you miss filing deadlines it can mess up your whole claim. The waiting period for that first week approval can feel eternal when you're counting on the money, but hang in there!