How long does Washington ESD unemployment take to process - been waiting 2 weeks

Thanks, that's somewhat reassuring. I just wasn't sure what to expect since I've never filed before.

yeah mine took 3 weeks last year, just be patient

I haven't gotten any letters yet. Should I be getting something in the mail even if my claim is still pending?

Yes, you should receive the monetary determination within the first week or two. If you haven't gotten it, there might be an issue with your address or the claim processing.

Same thing happened to me! Turns out they had my old address on file and all my letters were being sent there.

That sounds helpful! Did they charge you for that service?

Yes there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD instead of wasting entire days trying to call.

Never heard of that before but the phone situation with Washington ESD is definitely frustrating.

What's adjudication? Is that different from regular processing?

Adjudication happens when there's a question about your eligibility - like if you quit, were fired, or there's conflicting information. It takes longer because they have to investigate.

Exactly! And they don't communicate AT ALL during the process. It's infuriating.

This is really helpful! I guess I'm still in step 1 or 2 then. Should I be filing weekly claims even though I haven't been approved yet?

Yes, absolutely file your weekly claims starting the week after you applied. You won't get paid until approved, but you need to maintain your claim to avoid losing weeks.

I made that mistake and lost my first two weeks of benefits because I didn't file the weekly claims.

Yeah I've been checking daily probably more than I should lol

lol same, it becomes obsessive

Oh no, that's my worst fear. How do you know if your employer is disputing it?

You'll get a notice in the mail if they contest your claim. Then it goes into adjudication and you might need a fact-finding interview.

The good news is if you ultimately win the appeal, you get back pay for all the weeks you were waiting.

I'm skeptical of paying for something like that but I might be desperate enough to try it soon.

I was skeptical too but after weeks of not being able to get through on my own, it was a relief to actually talk to someone.

That's exactly what I'm doing! Good to know I'm not the only one.

It's totally normal to be anxious about it, especially when you need the money.

Is there a way to check what information they're still waiting for?

Your online account should show if there are any outstanding items, but it's not always clear. Sometimes calling is the only way to get specifics.

Good luck actually getting through on the phone though!

Interesting, I'll pay attention to what day updates happen.

mine updated on a friday so idk if there's really a pattern

Yeah someone else mentioned that too. I've been filing them just in case.

Good! That's the smart thing to do.

I guess I'm just impatient because I need the money for rent next week.

I totally understand that pressure, it's really stressful when you're waiting for benefits you need.

I didn't know WorkSource could help with that. I'll look into my local office.

They can't process claims but they often have better access to information than what you can see online.

That's good to know, I might try that if I don't hear something by next week.

20 minutes sounds way better than the hours I've wasted trying to call.

Easier said than done when you're worried about paying bills!

true, the stress is real

Okay, so I'm at 2 weeks now, I'll give it one more week and then try calling or maybe that Claimyr service.

That sounds like a reasonable plan. Most claims do process within the normal timeframe.

Agreed, the communication during processing is terrible.

At least forums like this help people understand what's normal vs what's a problem.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information and reassurance. I feel much better about the timeline now.

Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

You're welcome! Feel free to update us when you hear something.

And remember that Claimyr option if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD!