How do I tell if my Washington ESD unemployment claim got approved?

Check your 'Claim Summary' section in your online account. If you're approved, you'll see your weekly benefit amount listed there along with your claim balance. 'Processed' usually means they've made a decision on your claim.

You should also get a determination letter in the mail within a few days explaining your approval and benefit amount. Sometimes the online system updates before the letter arrives.

If you're having trouble figuring out your claim status or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Make sure you file your weekly claims even if you're not 100% sure about your approval status. You can't get retroactive payments for weeks you don't file, and it's better to file and get denied than miss out on benefits you're entitled to.

the online system is confusing as hell tbh. took me forever to figure out where everything was

If your claim shows 'processed' and you see a benefit amount, you're good. The determination letter will have all the details about your approval including how long your benefits last and what your job search requirements are.

Sometimes there's a delay between approval and when you actually receive your first payment. Don't panic if it takes a few days after filing your first weekly claim.

Check if you have any 'pending issues' listed in your account. Even if you're approved, sometimes there are additional requirements or verifications needed before payments start.

Just went through this same confusion last month. If you see your weekly benefit amount listed, you're approved. The determination letter is just the official paperwork confirming what's already in your online account.

One thing to watch out for - make sure your direct deposit info is correct if you set that up. I had to wait an extra week for my first payment because my bank routing number was wrong.

For what it's worth, I had to call Washington ESD to confirm my approval status because I was getting mixed signals from the website. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and actually got through to a real person who walked me through everything. Made me feel a lot better about the whole process.

The determination letter will also tell you if you qualify for any additional programs or if there are any restrictions on your benefits. It's worth reading through the whole thing when it arrives.

been waiting 3 weeks for my determination letter but my online account shows I'm approved with a benefit amount so I just started filing my weekly claims anyway. got my first payment already so I guess that confirms it

Don't forget that even after approval, you need to keep certifying your eligibility every week. Miss too many weekly claims and they might close your claim entirely.

The Washington ESD website has a FAQ section that explains all the different claim statuses if you want to understand what everything means. Helped me figure out my situation when I was confused.