How long does Washington ESD unemployment take to process new claims?

What kind of issues trigger adjudication? I was laid off due to company downsizing, so I thought it would be pretty straightforward.

Layoffs are usually straightforward, but sometimes they need to verify the details with your former employer. Did you receive any separation paperwork or notice about the layoff?

Same here! I've been trying to call for over a week and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, you might want to check out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help people get through to unemployment agents without all the waiting and busy signals. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that service before. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about my claim status.

That's terrifying. How are people supposed to survive waiting that long?

Exactly! The system is broken. People are losing their homes while waiting for benefits they're entitled to.

I haven't been filing weekly claims yet because I thought I had to wait for approval first. Should I start now?

Yes, definitely start filing your weekly claims immediately! You can do this through your SecureAccess Washington account. Even if your initial claim is still pending, you need to establish the weeks you're claiming.

That gives me hope! Did you have to do anything special or just wait it out?

just waited and filed weekly claims like someone else mentioned. made sure all my info was accurate when i first applied

What did they tell you about the delay? I'm in a similar situation and getting really worried.

In my case, they needed additional verification from my employer about my separation date. The agent was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim and gave me specific steps to resolve it.

Have you looked into emergency financial assistance programs while you wait? Some counties have programs to help with rent and utilities.

I hadn't thought of that. Do you know where to find information about those programs?

Try calling 211 or visiting 211.org - they can connect you with local assistance programs in your area.

I think I did that but I'm not 100% sure. How can I check if it's completed properly?

Log into your WorkSourceWA account and make sure your profile is complete with work history and skills. You should also see confirmation that you've met the registration requirement.

Self-employment situations can be more complex and may require additional documentation, which could extend processing time. You'll need to provide proof of your earnings and work history.

That makes sense. I provided tax returns and 1099s when I applied, so hopefully that's sufficient.

That's great news! I'm definitely going to look into using Claimyr if I don't hear something soon.

What kind of identity verification did they need? I'm worried mine might be stuck for the same reason.

They needed me to upload a copy of my driver's license and social security card through the secure portal. Pretty straightforward once I knew what they wanted.

That's awful. Have you tried reaching out to your state representative's office? Sometimes they can help with Washington ESD issues.

I didn't know that was an option. I'll try anything at this point.

That's easy to say when you're not facing eviction while waiting for benefits you've paid into for years.

I understand the frustration completely. I'm just trying to provide context about why these delays happen.

Congratulations! That gives me hope that mine will come through soon too.

How much backpay did you get? I'm curious about how that works.

I got backpay for all the weeks I filed claims, so about 3 weeks worth. It was definitely worth filing those weekly claims while waiting.

I'm getting desperate enough to try it. The regular phone system is absolutely useless.

I felt the same way. The service really saved me a lot of stress and time. You can see how it works in their demo video before deciding.

What kind of job search questions did they have? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right.

they wanted proof that i was actively looking for work. had to submit documentation of job applications and interviews. make sure you keep records of your job search activities

Agreed! Even just knowing what step of the process you're in would help with the anxiety.

You can sometimes get this information by speaking with an agent, though I know reaching them is challenging through normal channels.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard when bills are piling up.

I totally understand. Consider looking into temporary work or gig jobs to help cover expenses while you wait, just make sure to report any earnings on your weekly claims.

That's good advice. I think I'll give it another week and then try to get through to someone to check on the status.

Definitely do that. Getting answers about what's causing the delay was the key to getting my claim moving again.