How do you know your approved for unemployment Washington ESD
I filed my unemployment claim with Washington ESD about 2 weeks ago and I'm getting super confused about the whole process. I keep checking my account but I'm not sure what I'm looking for exactly. How do you actually know if your claim got approved? Is there supposed to be a letter or email or something? My claim status just says 'under review' but I don't know if that's good or bad. I tried calling but the phone lines are always busy. Really need to know because my savings are running out fast.
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Fiona Gallagher
You should get a determination letter from Washington ESD within 2-3 weeks of filing. Check your SecureAccess Washington account for any messages or documents. If approved, you'll see your weekly benefit amount listed and be able to file weekly claims.
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Xan Dae
•Where exactly in the account do I look for this? I've been checking but there's so many different sections.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Go to 'My Account' then 'View and Maintain Account Information' and look for any correspondence or determination letters.
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Thais Soares
honestly the whole system is confusing as hell. took me forever to figure out where everything was when i first applied
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Xan Dae
•Right?? Why can't they just send a simple email saying yes or no
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Nalani Liu
•They do send emails but sometimes they go to spam. Check your junk folder too.
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Axel Bourke
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, I had success using Claimyr recently. It's a service that helps you get connected to an actual agent without sitting on hold forever. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get answers about my claim status when I couldn't reach anyone the normal way.
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Xan Dae
•Never heard of this before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point.
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Axel Bourke
•Yeah it's legitimate. They basically automate the calling process and connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of trying to call manually.
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Aidan Percy
•Interesting, might have to try this myself. The Washington ESD phone system is basically impossible to get through to.
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Fernanda Marquez
Usually if your claim is approved you'll see your weekly benefit amount displayed somewhere in your account. Mine showed up under 'Claim Summary' with the dollar amount I'm eligible for each week. If it's denied you'll get a determination letter explaining why and how to appeal.
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Xan Dae
•What if it just says 'under review' still? Does that mean they're still deciding?
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Fernanda Marquez
•Yeah that usually means they're still processing your claim. Could be waiting on employer response or verifying your work history.
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Norman Fraser
•Mine said under review for like 3 weeks before I got approved. The waiting is the worst part.
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Nalani Liu
Check your mail too! Sometimes Washington ESD sends physical letters before updating the online account. I got my approval letter in the mail before anything showed up online.
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Xan Dae
•Good point, I'll keep checking my mailbox. Mail has been spotty lately too.
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Fiona Gallagher
•The determination letter is the official document. Online status can lag behind sometimes.
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Aidan Percy
What's your reason for unemployment? If you were laid off vs fired vs quit can affect how long it takes to process. Layoffs are usually pretty straightforward.
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Xan Dae
•I got laid off when my company downsized. So hopefully that helps my case.
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Aidan Percy
•Yeah layoffs are usually approved pretty quick unless there's some issue with your work history or wage records.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Layoffs are definitely the easiest type of claim to get approved. Just need to verify your earnings and employment dates.
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Norman Fraser
I was in the same boat last month. Kept checking obsessively every day lol. Eventually got an email saying my claim was approved and I could start filing weekly claims. The waiting is torture when you need the money.
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Xan Dae
•How long did it take total from when you filed to when you got approved?
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Norman Fraser
•About 18 days total. Felt like forever though. Make sure you keep track of your job search activities while you wait.
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Thais Soares
the job search requirement is annoying but you gotta do it even while waiting for approval. 3 contacts per week minimum
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Xan Dae
•Wait I have to do job searches even before I'm approved? Nobody told me that.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Yes, you need to start job search activities right away. Keep a log of everything you do. Washington ESD can ask for it anytime.
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Nalani Liu
•Use WorkSourceWA to track your job searches. Makes it easier when you have to file weekly claims.
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Kendrick Webb
Pro tip: set up email notifications in your account so you get alerts when anything changes. Saved me from missing important updates.
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Xan Dae
•How do I set that up? I don't want to miss anything important.
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Kendrick Webb
•Go to account settings and look for notification preferences. You can choose what types of updates to get emailed about.
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Hattie Carson
Sometimes there's adjudication issues that can delay approval. Did you have any gaps in employment or work for multiple employers recently?
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Xan Dae
•I had a small gap between jobs earlier this year. Could that be causing problems?
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Hattie Carson
•Possibly. They might need to verify your work history during that gap. That's when calling or using a service like Claimyr might help get clarification.
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Destiny Bryant
THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS SUCH A NIGHTMARE. I've been waiting 3 weeks and still nothing. How are people supposed to survive without income while they take forever to process claims?
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Xan Dae
•I feel your pain. My rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic.
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Norman Fraser
•Hang in there. Once it's approved you'll get back pay for all the weeks you were waiting.
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Destiny Bryant
•That's if it gets approved. I've heard horror stories of people getting denied for stupid reasons.
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Dyllan Nantx
lol same situation here. checking my account like 5 times a day hoping something changes
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Xan Dae
•Glad I'm not the only one obsessively checking
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Nalani Liu
•We've all been there. The uncertainty is the worst part.
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TillyCombatwarrior
I actually got through to someone at Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim and when I could expect a decision. Way better than guessing from the online portal.
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Xan Dae
•Really? What did they say was holding up your claim?
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TillyCombatwarrior
•They were waiting for my previous employer to respond to their request for information. Agent said it should be resolved within a few days, and it was.
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Aidan Percy
•That's exactly the kind of info you can't get from the website. Might be worth trying.
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Anna Xian
Once you're approved, you'll be able to file your first weekly claim. That's when you'll really know for sure everything went through properly.
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Xan Dae
•How soon after approval can you file the first weekly claim?
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Anna Xian
•Usually right away. The system will show you which weeks you can claim for, including any waiting weeks.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
Make sure your contact info is updated in your account. Friend of mine missed his approval notice because his email was wrong.
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Xan Dae
•Good tip. I should double check all my contact info is correct.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Definitely verify your mailing address too. Some important documents still come by mail.
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Rajan Walker
If you're really worried, you can also check with WorkSourceWA. Sometimes they have info about claim status that can help.
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Xan Dae
•I haven't registered with WorkSourceWA yet. Is that required?
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Rajan Walker
•Not required initially but you'll need to eventually for the job search requirements. Might as well get it set up now.
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Nadia Zaldivar
Two weeks isn't that long honestly. Mine took almost a month but I had some complications with my employer info.
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Xan Dae
•A month?? I can't wait that long, I'll be homeless.
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Nadia Zaldivar
•I know it's scary but you'll get back pay for all the weeks. Look into food banks and assistance programs while you wait.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
The key thing is don't panic. Most claims get approved eventually, especially for layoffs. The system is just slow and overloaded.
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Xan Dae
•Thanks for the reassurance. I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard when money is tight.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•Totally understand. Just keep checking and following up. It will come through.
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Ev Luca
when you do get approved make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose benefits for those weeks
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Xan Dae
•Good to know. What day of the week do you file?
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Ev Luca
•sundays are usually the best day to file. system is less busy then
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Fiona Gallagher
•You can file any day of the week but Sunday-Tuesday tends to have fewer technical issues.
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Avery Davis
Bottom line: look for determination letter, weekly benefit amount showing in your account, and ability to file weekly claims. Those are the main signs you're approved. If you're still unsure after 3 weeks, definitely try calling or using one of those services to get through to an agent.
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Xan Dae
•Perfect summary, thank you! I'll keep watching for those signs and try Claimyr if I don't hear anything soon.
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Axel Bourke
•That's exactly what I'd recommend. The Claimyr service really does work well for getting quick answers when you can't wait anymore.
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