How long does Washington ESD unemployment approval take after filing?

That's a relief to hear! I was worried it might take a month or something.

Just make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval. You can backdate them once you're approved.

How do I know if mine went into adjudication? My account just says pending.

You'd typically get a letter or see 'adjudication in progress' on your account. If it just says pending, you're probably in the normal processing queue.

Thanks for the info! I was laid off due to company downsizing so hopefully that's straightforward enough.

Mine took exactly 2 weeks when I got laid off last year, so don't panic yet.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it on here and it actually got me through to an Washington ESD agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that. Is it legit? I'm getting desperate here.

Yeah it's real. Basically helps you get through the phone system when call volumes are crazy high. Saved me hours of redialing.

That gives me hope! Did you have to do anything special during the waiting period?

Just kept filing weekly claims and made sure to respond to any requests for information immediately. Washington ESD sent me one form to verify my identity which I returned same day.

You can try checking your correspondence inbox on the Washington ESD website. Sometimes they send updates there that don't show up in your main account view.

Good tip, I'll check that now.

If you're in financial hardship, look into emergency assistance programs while waiting. 211 can connect you with local resources.

Thanks, I didn't know about that number.

Also check if your county has emergency rental assistance. Many still have pandemic-era programs running.

Different reasons for separation get handled by different units. Layoffs usually process faster than quits or terminations.

That makes sense. I was laid off so maybe that's why mine was faster once it finally went through.

The chat is only available during certain hours and gets overwhelmed quickly. Usually disappears by mid-morning.

I tried the chat once and waited 2 hours just to get disconnected. Phone is almost better.

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm afraid of! Have you tried any other ways to contact them?

3 weeks is definitely longer than normal. You might have an adjudication issue that needs to be resolved.

yeah probably, but how am i supposed to fix it if i cant talk to anyone??

That's encouraging! Did you get any notification or did it just change in your account?

Got an email and a letter in the mail. The account updated the same day.

How do I check if they need anything from me?

Log into your account and look for any alerts or messages. They should show up on your dashboard if something is needed.

Right? Other states have much better online systems. Washington feels stuck in 2010.

Exactly! How hard is it to show 'your claim is step 3 of 5' or something like that.

Wow, so it wasn't even something you did wrong? That's frustrating but good to know it got resolved.

Nope, totally their mistake. Would have sat there for weeks if I hadn't called. Sometimes you just need to get a human on the line.

wait really? how much does it cost though?

I'd rather pay something to actually talk to someone than waste more weeks trying to call myself. The peace of mind was worth it for me.

Interesting, I might look into that if my claim doesn't move forward soon.

What exactly is adjudication? I keep seeing that term but don't really understand it.

Adjudication is when Washington ESD needs to investigate your claim more thoroughly. Could be verifying your job separation reason, checking if you're able and available for work, or reviewing wage information. It adds weeks to the process.

ugh adjudication is the worst, mine took 6 weeks because of some stupid paperwork issue

Good to know! I was worried the delays would continue after approval too.

Nah, once you're in the system it runs pretty smoothly. The weekly claims process is straightforward.

Yes I've been doing my weekly claims! Glad to hear 12 days is still normal range.

wait you have to file weekly claims before you're even approved?? i had no idea

@profile9 Yes! You need to file weekly claims starting the week you become unemployed, even if your initial claim is still pending. Otherwise you could lose benefits for those weeks.

3 months?! That's insane. I really hope mine doesn't take that long.

Appeals are unfortunately much slower than initial claims. They're completely different processes with different timelines.

still doesn't excuse how awful their customer service is. literally impossible to reach anyone

Great tip! I'll make sure to check there regularly.

Same thing happened to me. Almost missed my eligibility interview because the email was in spam.

That's good advice. I was just planning to wait it out but maybe I should be more proactive.

Definitely. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, especially with government agencies.

That's encouraging! I was pretty careful with all my info so hopefully mine processes soon too.

2 weeks seems to be the sweet spot from what I've seen on here

Will do! Fingers crossed it comes through next week like some of you suggested.

Yes please update! I'm in the same boat and filed around the same time.

Good reminder! I've been doing that but wasn't sure if it mattered before approval.

It definitely matters. You can lose weeks of benefits if you don't file them on time.

Good point, I'll make sure to check that more frequently. Thanks!

yeah this happened to my sister too, she missed a request for info and it delayed everything by weeks

That's reassuring. Mine should be straightforward so I'll try to be patient a bit longer.

exactly, and don't forget you get backpay for all the weeks you were waiting once you're approved

ok this claimyr thing is starting to sound legit, might have to try it

Yeah I was skeptical too but after 2 weeks of getting nowhere on my own, it was worth trying something different. Agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding things up.

How quickly did your claim get approved after you talked to them?

Once I knew what the issue was, it got resolved within a few days. The hard part was just finding out what was wrong in the first place.

That's good to know! The waiting is stressful but at least I won't lose any benefits.

yep, got my first payment 3 weeks after filing but it included all the back weeks

I'll have to look for that page. Good to know there's some official guidance on timing.

yeah but take those estimates with a grain of salt, they're usually optimistic

Great tip! I didn't know you could set up text alerts. I'll do that right now.

same here, the text alerts definitely helped reduce my anxiety about checking constantly

Oh that's a good point! I filed on a Tuesday so that would make it about 6 business days. That makes me feel better.

exactly, and they seem to be slower at the beginning and end of the week in my experience

Thanks for sharing! It does help to know I'm not the only one waiting. Hopefully we both hear something soon.

solidarity! the waiting is the worst part but it sounds like most people do get approved eventually

Thank you, that does make me feel better! I'll try to stay patient for at least another week.

day 13 seems to be pretty common from what i've seen in these forums

Yes, I've been applying to jobs and keeping track. Good reminder though!

this is important! i forgot to do work searches my first week and had to explain it later

wait how many jobs do you have to apply to each week? i thought it was 3 but someone told me it changed

It's currently 3 job search activities per week for most people. Check the Washington ESD website for the specific requirements for your situation.

Agree 100%. Other states manage to process claims much faster with better communication.

Right? We pay into this system our whole working lives and then get treated like we're asking for charity.

Thanks for the encouragement! I am job hunting but the benefits would definitely help with the financial pressure.

Absolutely. The benefits give you breathing room to find the right job instead of just taking anything out of desperation.

I'm definitely keeping that option in mind if I don't hear anything by early next week. Thanks everyone for all the advice!

No problem! This whole process is stressful enough without having to figure it out alone.