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

Check your 'Claim Summary' section in your online account. If approved, you'll see your weekly benefit amount listed there, usually something like $XXX per week. Also look for any correspondence in your online inbox - they send approval letters through the secure messaging system.

You should receive a monetary determination letter in the mail within 1-2 weeks of filing. This will show your weekly benefit amount if approved. You can also check your eServices account - look for a 'Weekly Claims' tab to appear once your claim is processed.

You also need to file weekly claims to actually get paid. Having an approved claim doesn't automatically send you money - you have to certify every week that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

You should get a determination letter in the mail within 2-3 weeks of filing your initial claim. Check your online account too - under 'Letters' there should be a monetary determination if your claim was approved. It will show your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for.

same boat here, filed 10 days ago and still waiting. the suspense is killing me because i need to know if i should keep looking for work or focus on the job search requirements

I was in the same boat last month - so confusing! If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to confirm everything, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Way better than calling 800 times a day and getting busy signals.

You should receive a determination letter in the mail within 10-14 business days after filing. The letter will clearly state if your claim was approved or denied. You can also check your account online - if it shows a weekly benefit amount and allows you to file weekly claims, that's usually a good sign your claim was approved.

Check your claim status online - if it shows 'monetarily eligible' that usually means you're approved. If it says 'adjudication in progress' then they're still reviewing something about your claim.

same boat here, filed last week and still waiting. this is stressful

If your claim gets approved, you'll definitely know because Washington ESD will send you a determination letter with your weekly benefit amount. You'll also be able to file weekly claims online. If there are any issues with your claim, it might go to adjudication which can take several weeks to resolve.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when my claim was stuck. Tried calling for weeks with no luck. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Turned out my claim was approved but there was a small issue they needed to clarify.

Active claim status usually means approved, but watch out for any 'pending' or 'under review' flags. Those typically indicate there might be an issue that needs to be resolved before payments start. Also check if there are any 'To Do' items in your account that need attention.

UGH the Washington ESD system is SO CONFUSING! Why can't they just send a simple email saying 'yes you're approved' or 'no you're not'? Instead we get these cryptic status messages that don't tell us anything!

ugh this whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it clear whether youre approved or not instead of making us guess

The official timeline is 21 days for a determination. If you filed 2 weeks ago, you should hear something within the next week. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even if you haven't gotten approval yet - you can't get paid for weeks you don't claim.

The Washington ESD system is SO confusing. Why can't they just send a simple email saying approved or denied??

same boat here, filed 2 weeks ago and still waiting for something official. the online portal is confusing as hell

Update: Just checked my account again and now I see a 'File Weekly Claim' button! I think that means it was approved?

When you do get approved make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't found work yet. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits permanently.

Also remember you need to do job search activities and keep a log. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

You should also receive a monetary determination letter either by mail or in your online inbox. This will officially confirm your approval and show your benefit amount, how long benefits will last, etc.

I remember when I got my determination letter it came in this official looking envelope from Washington ESD. Had my weekly benefit amount and everything. But the online status updated first before the letter arrived.

update: just checked and mine now shows a weekly benefit amount! guess that means i'm approved even though i haven't gotten the letter yet

The whole system gives me anxiety. Filed two weeks ago and nothing yet. Should I be worried?

I was in the exact same situation last month - filed my claim and then spent weeks wondering if it actually went through. The waiting is brutal! What helped me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent who could check my claim status over the phone. The service connects you directly to agents without having to wait on hold for hours. You can check it out at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way easier than trying to decode the online portal.

Just remember you need to keep track of your job search activities too. Washington ESD requires you to apply for jobs and keep records of your search efforts.

when i filed mine it took like 2 weeks before i saw any money even after approval. dont panic if payments dont show up immediately

Make sure you're checking the right section of the website. I was looking in the wrong place for weeks thinking my claim wasn't approved when it actually was. The navigation on that site is terrible.

For anyone still waiting and getting anxious about it, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier (claimyr.com) can help you get through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status directly with an agent. Sometimes they can see things in the system that don't show up online yet.

Pro tip: create an account on WorkSourceWA too if you haven't already. You'll need it for the job search requirements once your claim is approved.

Pro tip: if you're approved, you'll see your 'Claim Balance' show up in your account. That's the total amount you're eligible for over the benefit year. If that appears, you're definitely approved.

The Washington ESD system is deliberately confusing I swear. They make it so hard to get straight answers about your claim status. I've been calling for weeks and can never get through to a human being!

UPDATE: Finally got my determination letter in the mail today! Approved for $547/week. Such a relief.

been through this process 3 times over the years (thanks economy) and honestly the waiting is the worst part. Once you see that weekly benefit amount appear in your account you're golden

If you're still confused about your status, definitely try to speak with someone at Washington ESD. I know it's hard to get through on the phone but sometimes that's the only way to get a clear answer about your specific situation.

Make sure to read that determination letter carefully. It will tell you exactly how much you can earn per week without affecting your benefits.

Here are the specific things to look for to know if your claim was approved: 1) You receive a monetary determination letter showing your weekly benefit amount, 2) Your online account shows an active claim with a benefit year, 3) You can successfully file weekly claims, 4) If there are any issues, you'll get a fact-finding questionnaire or notice about adjudication. No news is usually good news in this case.

update: just got my determination letter today! claim was approved and it shows my weekly benefit amount. feels like a huge weight off my shoulders

Also double-check that you're eligible for the full benefit amount. Sometimes they approve you but at a reduced rate if there are issues with your work history or earnings.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Even if you're approved, your first week might not be payable depending on when you filed.

If you're really worried something went wrong, you can also check with your last employer to see if Washington ESD contacted them for wage verification. Sometimes there are delays if employers don't respond quickly.

The determination letter will also tell you if you need to register with WorkSource and start doing job searches. Don't wait for the letter though - go ahead and register now so you're ready.

The Washington ESD website has a whole FAQ section about claim status if anyone needs more detailed info. Just search for 'claim status' on their site.

Sometimes they'll approve your claim but put a hold on payments if they need additional information. So you might be approved but still not able to get paid right away. Just FYI so you don't panic if that happens.

I've found that if I call Washington ESD super early in the morning like right at 8am I sometimes get through. But honestly most of the time I just get a busy signal or get disconnected after waiting on hold forever.

Check your email too - sometimes Washington ESD sends notifications there before the website updates or the letter arrives. Make sure it's not going to spam.

If you haven't heard anything after 3 weeks definitely call or use one of those services to reach them. Sometimes claims get stuck in the system and need a nudge.

Once you do get approved, make sure you understand the job search requirements! You'll need to keep a log of where you apply and they can audit it. Don't want to lose benefits because you didn't know the rules.

Hope you hear something soon! The waiting is really the hardest part but most people do get approved if they qualify. Keep filing those weekly claims in the meantime.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much more confident now about what to expect. This community is great.

One more thing - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you have 30 days to appeal. Don't miss that deadline if it happens.

I had to call Washington ESD about my claim status last month. Took forever to get through but the agent was actually helpful once I reached someone.

For anyone still waiting, try checking your account at different times of day. Sometimes the system updates overnight.

The waiting is definitely the worst part. Once everything gets going it's pretty straightforward to manage.

Final reminder for the OP and anyone else getting approved - set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Much faster than waiting for checks in the mail.

This thread has been super helpful. I'm in the same situation and now know what to look for. Thanks all!

One thing to keep in mind is that even if your claim is approved, you might still have to go through additional verification steps. Washington ESD has been doing more identity verification lately, so don't panic if you get additional requests for documents. Just respond quickly to keep your claim moving.

been waiting 3 weeks now and still nothing. starting to think something went wrong with my application

the whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with being unemployed. wish they made it clearer what's happening at each step

For anyone still waiting, here's what typically happens: Initial claim filed → Processing (5-10 business days) → Determination letter mailed → Weekly claims begin → First payment (if eligible). If you don't hear anything within 14 business days, definitely follow up.

just wanted to add that even after you get approved, keep filing those weekly claims on time every week. missing a week can cause delays in payments

UPDATE: Finally got through to someone using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Turns out my claim was approved but there was a small issue with my work history that was holding up the determination letter. Agent was able to fix it right away and said I should get the letter within a few days. Would have saved me weeks of stress if I'd known about this sooner!

For what it's worth, I got my approval letter exactly 10 business days after filing. The online portal updated the same day the letter was mailed, so check both places regularly.

One last tip: If your claim gets stuck in adjudication for any reason, don't just wait it out. Contact Washington ESD proactively to see what additional information they need. The sooner you provide it, the sooner your claim can be resolved.

honestly the washington esd customer service is hit or miss. some agents are super helpful and others act like they're doing you a favor by answering questions about your own claim

quick question - if you get approved but then have to do additional verification, do you still get paid for the weeks you filed while waiting?

FINAL UPDATE: Got my determination letter today! Claim was approved and I should get my first payment next week. Thanks everyone for the advice and for letting me know about Claimyr - definitely bookmarking that for future reference. This community is amazing!

this thread should be pinned somewhere, covers all the basic questions about claim approval status

just filed my claim yesterday and already feeling anxious about the waiting period. at least now I know what to expect thanks to this discussion

side note but has anyone noticed the washington esd website being extra slow lately? takes forever to load pages

The whole approval process is such a black box. I wish they would just send a simple email saying 'Your claim is approved, here's what happens next' instead of making us piece it together from different parts of the website.

If your claim shows active with a benefit amount, you should be good. The real test is when you file your first weekly claim - that's when you'll know for sure if payments will go through.

Just went through this same process last month. One thing to watch for is if your claim gets flagged for adjudication - that can delay everything even if it initially looks approved. But if you see no red flags or pending issues, you should be fine.

I just went through this exact same situation! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and was constantly refreshing my account trying to figure out if I was approved. What finally clued me in was when I logged in one morning and suddenly saw a "File Weekly Claim" button that wasn't there before, plus my weekly benefit amount showed up under the claim summary section. That's basically Washington ESD's way of telling you you're approved without actually saying it directly. The determination letter came in the mail about 3 days later confirming everything. If you can see your weekly benefit amount ($421 sounds right for approval!) and can file weekly claims, you're definitely good to go. Just make sure to file those weekly claims every Sunday - that's when the money actually starts flowing!

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about a week ago and have been anxiously checking my account multiple times a day! This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding what to look for. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like the key indicators are: 1) seeing your weekly benefit amount appear in the claim summary, 2) being able to file weekly claims, and 3) getting that official determination letter in the mail. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment, but it's reassuring to know that most straightforward claims get approved within 2-3 weeks. I'm going to stop obsessively checking my account and just be patient - though I'll definitely keep an eye out for that "File Weekly Claim" button to appear!