How long after you apply for unemployment do you get paid Washington ESD?

The waiting week was eliminated in Washington so you don't have to worry about that anymore. Once your claim is approved, you'll get paid for all eligible weeks. But first your claim has to go through the adjudication process which can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks depending on complexity.

ugh been waiting 3 weeks for my claim to get approved, this is ridiculous. called washington esd like 50 times and cant get through to anyone

If your claim gets approved without issues, payments usually start 2-3 weeks after you file. You have to file your weekly claims every week even while waiting for approval. Once approved, you'll get back pay for all the weeks you were eligible. Make sure you're doing your job search activities too - Washington ESD requires 3 job contacts per week.

My claim took 5 weeks to get approved because I quit my job (had to quit due to unsafe working conditions) and they had to investigate. Even with a valid reason, quit claims take longer than layoff claims. If you were laid off or fired through no fault of your own, it should be faster.

HONESTLY the washington esd system is so slow and outdated!! I filed 4 weeks ago and still no payment. They say my claim is 'under review' but won't tell me what they're reviewing. This is my rent money we're talking about!

just a heads up - make sure you set up direct deposit if you haven't already. The debit card they send takes forever and has fees. Direct deposit is way faster once payments start

Mine took exactly 2 weeks from filing to first payment but that was before COVID when things moved faster. Now with the backlog it seems like everything takes longer. Just keep filing your weekly claims even if nothing's happening - you don't want to miss out on benefits.

UPDATE: finally got through to washington esd after using that claimyr thing someone mentioned. agent said my claim was held up because they needed additional wage information from one of my previous employers. wish they had told me that 3 weeks ago instead of just saying 'under review

For what it's worth, I got my first payment exactly 3 weeks after filing. No issues with my claim but it still took that long for processing. Make sure you have your banking info ready for direct deposit setup once you get approved.

The timeline really depends on your specific situation. Simple layoffs usually process in 2-3 weeks. If there are any complications (job separation disputes, identity verification issues, wage discrepancies) it can take much longer. Washington ESD is required to make a determination within a reasonable time but they don't define what 'reasonable' means.

been there - the waiting is the worst part especially when you need the money NOW. Just remember to keep filing weekly and doing job searches. Once it gets approved the back pay makes up for the wait. hang in there!

Another thing to watch for - if your claim is taking longer than 4 weeks, you might want to check if Washington ESD sent you any letters or notices. Sometimes they mail requests for additional information but people miss them. Check your secure messages in your ESD account too.

honestly if I had known about claimyr when I first applied I would have saved myself weeks of stress. spent so many hours trying to call washington esd and getting nowhere. finally used the service and got through same day. highly recommend for anyone stuck waiting

just to add to what others said - even after your claim is approved, the first payment can take a few extra days to actually hit your account. so if you get approved on a friday, don't expect money until the following week. learned that the hard way lol

The whole process is frustrating but unfortunately necessary. Washington ESD has to verify everything to prevent fraud. My advice is to be patient but also proactive - if it's been more than 3 weeks with no updates, try to get through to someone to check on status. Don't just wait indefinitely.

One more tip - make sure your address is correct in your ESD account. If they try to mail you anything and it gets returned, it can delay your claim. Also keep your phone number updated in case they need to call you.

The silver lining is that once you get approved and start receiving payments, the weekly process is pretty smooth. Filing weekly claims only takes a few minutes each week and payments are usually direct deposited within 2-3 days.

Bottom line - 2-4 weeks is typical for straightforward claims, longer if there are complications. Keep filing weekly, keep looking for work, and be ready to provide additional information if they ask. The system is slow but it works eventually. Good luck!