How do I know if my Washington ESD unemployment claim was approved?

You'll get a determination letter in the mail once they make a decision on your claim. Usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on how busy they are. You can also check your online account - once approved it will show your weekly benefit amount and you'll be able to start filing weekly claims.

Check your account dashboard - there should be a section showing your claim status. If it says 'Active' or 'Valid' then you're approved. You should also see a monetary determination showing your weekly benefit amount.

You should check your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account online. Log into eServices for Unemployed Workers and look at your claim summary. If it's approved you'll see benefit amounts listed and your claim will show 'active' status instead of under review.

You should get a determination letter in the mail within 2-3 weeks of filing. It will either say 'monetarily eligible' or explain why you were denied. In your online account, look for a section called 'Letters' or 'Correspondence' - sometimes they post the letter there before mailing it.

You should have received a determination letter within 7-10 business days of filing your claim. Check your online account under 'Messages' or 'Correspondence' - that's where Washington ESD posts official notices. If your claim shows 'active' and you can file weekly claims, that's usually a good sign, but you won't get paid until the determination is issued.

same thing happened to me last month, my claim showed active but no payments for like 3 weeks. turned out they were doing some kind of verification process but never told me

It takes like 2-3 weeks sometimes before you see your first payment even after approval. The system is super slow to process everything.

You should have gotten a monetary determination letter in the mail within 10-14 days of filing. That letter tells you if you're approved and for how much. If you haven't gotten it yet, it might be delayed or lost in the mail.

Check your 'Claim Summary' section in your online account. If your claim was approved, you'll see your weekly benefit amount listed there and it should show 'Active' status. You should also get a determination letter in the mail within 7-10 business days.

Two weeks isn't that long honestly. Mine took almost a month last year because they had to verify my work history with my previous employer.

If your weekly claims are showing as 'processed' or 'paid' in your account, that's usually a good sign your initial claim was approved. If there were issues with eligibility, your weekly claims would typically show as 'held' or you'd see adjudication flags.

Check your account on the Washington ESD website - there should be a section that shows your claim status. If it says 'Active' or 'Payable' you're approved. You should also get a monetary determination letter either by mail or in your online account that tells you your weekly benefit amount.

You should definitely get some kind of paperwork. I got my determination letter about a week after filing. It shows your benefit amount and how long you can collect. Keep filing those weekly claims though!

I had the same problem trying to figure out my status. I couldn't get through on the phone either - spent hours calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected. Finally found out about claimyr.com which actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Super helpful for getting claim status updates when you can't reach them directly.

The typical timeline is: file claim → wait 7-10 days → receive monetary determination letter → if approved, continue filing weekly claims → first payment usually comes 2-3 weeks after approval. If there are no issues with your claim, you should know your status within 2 weeks.

If you're getting anxious about it and want to actually talk to someone, I discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents on the phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Way easier than trying to call yourself and getting busy signals all day.

You should receive a monetary determination letter either by mail or in your online account inbox. This will show your weekly benefit amount and tell you if your claim was approved. If you don't see it after 2 weeks, there might be an issue that needs to be resolved.

If you can successfully file weekly claims, your initial claim was likely approved. The issue might be that your first payment is being held for the waiting week or there's a wage verification delay. Check your 'Payment History' section - it should show pending payments if they're processing.

I had the same frustration trying to reach Washington ESD about my claim status. After weeks of busy signals and dropped calls, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. They have this system that calls Washington ESD for you and connects you when someone picks up. Here's their site: claimyr.com - they even have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Finally got to talk to someone who explained exactly what was happening with my claim.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been waiting 6 WEEKS for my claim to be processed and Washington ESD won't even tell me what the holdup is. They just keep saying 'your claim is under review' - WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!

You should get a letter called 'Notice of Application for Unemployment Benefits' first, then if approved you'll get the 'Monetary Determination' letter. The monetary one tells you your weekly amount and how many weeks you can collect.

I had the same confusion when I first filed. Here's what helped me - I used claimyr.com to actually get through to a Washington ESD agent who could check my claim status in real time. Way better than guessing from the website. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your status, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get connected to an actual agent instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I had the hardest time getting through to anyone at Washington ESD to check on my claim status when I was waiting. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just send a simple email saying YES YOU'RE APPROVED or NO YOU'RE DENIED instead of making us guess from cryptic status messages

Check your email too - sometimes the determination letters get sent there instead of just being posted online. Also make sure you're logging into the right system. Some people accidentally use the old site instead of SecureAccess Washington.

UPDATE: I found the letters section! There was a determination letter there from 3 days ago saying I'm approved for $487 per week. No idea why I didn't get an email notification about it.

The 'under review' status is normal. They're probably just verifying your employment and wage info. As long as you provided accurate information when you filed, you should be fine.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been waiting 3 WEEKS just to find out if my claim is approved and nobody can give me a straight answer!

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. If your claim status shows 'active' but you're not seeing payments, it usually means one of three things: 1) You're still in your waiting week, 2) Your wages are being verified, or 3) There's an adjudication issue that needs to be resolved. The determination letter will spell out exactly what's happening.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your status, I had luck using Claimyr.com recently. They help you get connected to an actual agent without waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

For anyone else wondering - once you're approved you should also see your 'weekly benefit amount' displayed in your account dashboard. If you don't see that number anywhere, your claim probably hasn't been fully processed yet.

The key things to look for: 1) Monetary determination letter showing your weekly benefit amount, 2) Claim status showing as active or payable, 3) No pending issues in your account. If you see any 'adjudication' or 'pending' statuses, that means they need more information before approving.

UGH the Washington ESD system is so confusing! I filed weeks ago and I STILL don't know if I'm approved. Every time I log in it shows different information and I can never get anyone on the phone. This whole process is a nightmare!

been there! my claim showed active for 2 weeks before I got my first payment. washington esd is just slow with everything. keep filing your weekly claims tho - you'll get back pay once they sort it out

Also check if your claim is in adjudication. That's when they need to review something before approving. Common reasons include: quit vs fired discrepancy with employer, availability issues, or job search requirement questions. Adjudication can add several weeks to the process.

I was in the same boat and finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The agent told me my employer hadn't responded to the wage verification request, which was holding everything up. At least now I know what's happening instead of just wondering. Would definitely recommend if you need answers quickly.

Ugh the waiting is the worst part! I remember refreshing my account like 20 times a day when I first filed. Try to be patient, it'll happen when it happens.

Also make sure you're checking both your online account AND your mail regularly. Sometimes the determination letter arrives before the online status updates, sometimes it's the other way around.

The whole system is so confusing for first time filers. They really need better notifications when important stuff happens with your claim.

For anyone still confused about claim status, here's what the different statuses mean: 'Active' or 'Valid' = approved, 'Pending' = still being processed, 'Denied' = not approved, 'Adjudication' = they need more information from you or your employer.

also make sure you keep filing those weekly claims even if you haven't been paid yet. if you stop filing you could lose your benefits

I'm in the same boat, filed about a week ago and trying to figure out what's happening. The whole website is so hard to navigate and nothing is clearly labeled.

If you're really worried, you might want to try that claimyr service someone mentioned. I used it last month when I was freaking out about my claim status and it was worth it just for peace of mind. Got through to Washington ESD same day and found out my claim was actually approved but there was a delay in the letter being sent.

10 days isn't that long actually. My claim took almost 3 weeks before I got the approval letter. If there are no issues with your application, it should go through automatically. Just keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't been paid yet.

One thing to watch for - if you see any 'issues' or 'pending items' in your account, that usually means they need additional information before they can approve your claim. Don't ignore those!

Same situation here - filed and now playing the waiting game. The anxiety is killing me because I need to know if I can count on this income or if I need to panic about money.

Make sure you're meeting all the requirements while you wait! You still need to do your job search activities and be available for work even if you haven't been paid yet. Keep track of everything in case they ask for documentation later.

If your claim gets approved, you'll see your weekly benefit amount listed in your account and you'll be able to start filing weekly claims. If it gets denied, the letter will explain why and how to appeal.

I was in the same boat last month. Kept checking my account obsessively! The determination letter really is the definitive answer - either approved with your weekly amount listed, or denied with an explanation of why.

Just to add - make sure you're checking both your online account AND your mail/email. Sometimes the determination letter comes by mail even if you signed up for electronic communications.

If your claim got approved you should see your weekly benefit amount somewhere in your account. Mine showed up under 'Payment Information' or something like that.

Another thing to check - make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time even if you haven't heard about approval yet. If you miss weeks you might lose benefits for those periods.

Look for these specific things in your online account: 1) Weekly benefit amount showing up in monetary determination, 2) Claim status showing as 'Valid' or 'Active', 3) No pending issues listed. If any of those are missing, your claim might need more processing time.

I had the same worry when I first applied. Turns out I was approved but it took almost a month to get my first payment because of some identity verification thing they had to do.

Pro tip: If you're approved, you should also be able to see future payment dates in your account. That's usually a good sign everything went through.

This whole thread is making me anxious about my own claim. I filed last week and haven't heard anything yet. Should I be worried already?

The waiting is the worst part. I remember checking my account like 10 times a day when I first filed. Eventually you'll either get a determination letter or your first payment will show up - that's when you know for sure you're approved.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Payments come faster than waiting for a check in the mail. You can do this in your eServices account under payment options.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed 12 days ago and still nothing. At least I know I'm not alone in this limbo

If it helps, I just got my approval letter yesterday after waiting 16 days. So even if you're past the 2 week mark don't panic yet. Sometimes it just takes longer than expected.

One more option - you can try using claimyr to get through to Washington ESD if you really need to know your status. I was skeptical but it actually worked for me when I needed to check on an adjudication issue. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

The Washington ESD system is so slow and outdated. I swear they make you wait on purpose just to discourage people from filing claims.

Just went through this myself last month. Got my determination letter exactly 3 weeks after filing. Was approved and got my first payment the following week after I filed my first weekly claim.

Pro tip: even after you're approved, keep filing your weekly claims on time. Some people think they can skip weeks if they don't need the money right away, but that can mess up your claim status.

Check if you got any mail from Washington ESD too. Sometimes they send important notices that way instead of just putting it online.

The waiting is the worst part honestly. I remember checking my account multiple times a day when I first filed. Just be patient and keep filing your weekly claims. The system works, it's just slow.

Honestly the Washington ESD website is pretty confusing. I had to call them just to understand what I was looking at. Took me like 45 minutes on hold but the agent walked me through where to find everything.

You should also check if you have any 'pending issues' section in your account. Sometimes they need additional information before they can approve your claim and it will show up there.

The determination letter is really the official confirmation. Everything else is just preliminary. Don't stress too much until you've given it at least 2-3 weeks total.

Make sure you're checking both your online account AND your mail. Sometimes there's a delay between when things show up online vs when you get the physical letters.

If your claim gets approved, you should see payment show up within a few days of filing your weekly claim. The first payment might take a little longer though.

Just went through this myself last month. The online account will show 'Claim Established' first, then after a few days it will show your weekly benefit amount. That's when you know it's officially approved.

Don't forget you can also sign up for text notifications in your account. They'll send you updates when there are changes to your claim status.

Update on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - just used it again this week to ask about a payment delay and got through to someone in like 5 minutes. Way better than the regular phone system if you need to talk to an actual person about your claim status.

Been on unemployment twice in the past few years. The approval process is pretty straightforward if you don't have any red flags. Just be patient and keep filing those weekly claims.

One more thing - if your claim does get denied for any reason, you'll get a letter explaining why and how to appeal. Don't panic if that happens, lots of denials get overturned on appeal.

Pro tip: take screenshots of your online account showing your claim info and benefit amount once it's approved. Good to have for your records.

The Washington ESD system has gotten better over the years but it's still not the most user-friendly. Don't feel bad if you're confused - lots of people have the same questions.

Quick update for OP - if you see a dollar amount listed under 'Weekly Benefit Amount' in your claim summary, that means you're approved. That's the clearest indicator to look for.

Hope it all works out for you! The waiting and uncertainty is always stressful but most claims do get approved if you meet the basic requirements.

Glad we could help! And remember, if you do need to talk to Washington ESD directly about anything, Claimyr is there as an option to skip the phone hassles. Good luck with your claim!

Another thing to watch for - if your claim gets sent to adjudication for any reason, you'll see that status in your account and everything gets delayed. Common reasons are issues with your last employer or questions about why you're unemployed.

The payment timeline is usually: determination letter → file weekly claim → payment processes → money hits your account 1-2 days later. If any step gets stuck, that's where the delays happen.

Don't forget you can also check the 'Payment History' section of your account once payments start. It'll show you exactly what you were paid for which weeks and any deductions.

If you're really anxious about it like I was, you can also call the main ESD number and use the automated system to check your claim status. It's not as detailed as talking to a person but gives you basic info.

One more thing - if you were denied and want to appeal, you only have 30 days from the determination letter date. Don't wait if you think the decision was wrong.

The Washington ESD website really could use better status indicators. Like a simple green checkmark when your claim is approved instead of making people hunt for letters.

For future reference, if you ever have to reopen a claim or file a new one, the process is basically the same. Always check that letters section first for your determination.

Just want to add that if you have direct deposit set up, payments usually hit your account on Tuesday or Wednesday after you file your weekly claim on Sunday. If you're getting a debit card, it takes a bit longer.

Glad you got it figured out OP! This thread will probably help a lot of other people in the same situation.

One last tip - if you ever move or change your contact info, make sure to update it in your ESD account ASAP. Missing important letters because of old addresses can cause problems.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info in this thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference.

The system definitely has room for improvement but at least once you know what to look for, it's manageable. Good luck with your claim OP!

Just wanted to mention that I used Claimyr when I was having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about my claim status. They got me connected to an agent who was able to confirm my approval status right away. Much easier than trying to decode the website.

honestly the whole system is a mess, took me forever to figure out what was going on with my claim too

One more thing - if you're approved but not seeing payments, make sure you don't have a waiting week. Washington has a one-week waiting period before benefits start for most claims.

Update us when you figure it out! I'm sure other people are wondering the same thing.

I was in this same situation last month and ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got connected to a Washington ESD rep who walked me through exactly where to find my approval status in the system. Honestly wish I'd done it sooner instead of worrying for weeks.

Just remember to keep filing those weekly claims no matter what! Even if you're not sure about approval status, you don't want to miss any weeks.

Hope you get it sorted out soon! The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part of the whole process.

Another thing to check - make sure your job search requirements are clear if you're approved. You'll need to start doing those right away.

The whole approval process is way more confusing than it needs to be. At least you're asking the right questions though!

Good luck with everything! The unemployment process is tough but this community is pretty helpful for navigating it.

Quick question - when you say your claim shows 'active', where exactly are you seeing that? I want to make sure I'm looking in the right place for my own claim status.

Something to consider - if you quit your job or were fired, that could be why there's a delay. Washington ESD has to investigate those situations more thoroughly than layoffs. The adjudication process can add several weeks to your claim.

I hate to be that person, but are you sure you're eligible for unemployment? Sometimes people think they qualify but don't meet all the requirements. Did you work enough hours and earn enough wages in your base period?

Try calling the Washington ESD customer service line early in the morning, like right when they open at 8 AM. That's when you have the best chance of getting through. Although even then it's hit or miss.

Look for a 'Determination' or 'Decision' section in your online account. That's where the approval/denial notice will show up. If you don't see that section yet, the decision hasn't been made.