How long does a unemployment claim take through Washington ESD?

Thanks! I wasn't sure if I should file weekly claims before getting approved. I'll make sure to do that this Sunday.

Definitely file those weekly claims! I made that mistake and lost out on 2 weeks of benefits when I finally got approved.

What kind of confusion? I'm worried I might have put the wrong date somewhere.

i put my last day as when i got the notice but it should have been my actual last day working. took forever to sort out

I haven't had trouble getting through yet but good to know this exists if I need it. Did they charge you a lot?

They don't really focus on the cost - it's more about the value of actually reaching someone when you need help. Way better than spending hours on hold.

Sounds like a scam to me. Why would you pay someone to make a phone call?

6 weeks is definitely excessive. Have you tried filing an appeal or requesting escalation? There should be a way to expedite claims that have been pending that long.

I don't even know how to appeal something that hasn't been decided yet! The whole process makes no sense.

You might want to contact your state representative's office. They sometimes have liaisons who can help with ESD issues.

This is super helpful! Since mine was a clear layoff with no complications, I'm hoping for the 2-week timeline.

What counts as 'complications'? I'm worried my situation might be more complex than I thought.

Complications include things like: conflicting information from your employer, questions about whether you were fired vs. laid off, part-time work while claiming, or issues with your identity verification.

That gives me hope! Did you get paid for all the weeks you filed for once approved?

Yes, I got the full back payment for all 3 weeks I had filed weekly claims for. It was deposited all at once.

Wait, I need to be job searching before I'm even approved? That seems backwards.

Yes, job search requirements start immediately when you file your first weekly claim, regardless of approval status. You need 3 job contacts per week.

exactly what happened to me. wish someone had told me earlier

This is exactly why I ended up using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. The automated system tells you nothing useful, but when you actually talk to an agent they can see exactly where your claim is in the queue.

You can also check the 'Claim Summary' section of your account. It should show the date your claim was filed and any actions taken.

You should report all work, including freelance, on your application. It might trigger additional review but it's better to be upfront than have them discover it later.

Ugh, I already submitted without mentioning it. Should I call and add it or just wait and see?

Call and add it. It's better to correct it now than deal with an overpayment issue later.

2 hours?? That's brutal. I gave up after 45 minutes yesterday.

This is exactly the problem that Claimyr solves. Instead of wasting your whole day on hold, you just let them handle getting you connected to an agent.

At this point I might try anything. The phone system is definitely not designed for people who actually need help.

Good point! I just used the address from my W-2 but I'm wondering if I should have used the office location where I actually worked.

Probably better to use whatever address is on your pay stubs or W-2 since that's what's in their payroll system.

Adjudication is when ESD needs to investigate your claim because there's a question about your eligibility. Like if your employer disputes that you were laid off, or if there's confusion about your work history.

ok that makes sense. how do you know if your claim is in adjudication?

Your account will usually show 'adjudication in progress' or 'under investigation' instead of just 'claim pending.

Yes! I got my first payment deposited on Wednesday. It was for 3 weeks of back pay plus the most recent week. Total was around $1,400.

I've been getting mine regularly for 2 months now. The first payment takes forever but once you're in the system it's pretty reliable.

OK that's reassuring. I was starting to think this was all just a big paperwork exercise with no actual money.

It's business days, and it starts from when you file your initial application. However, you can't get paid until you've filed at least one weekly claim.

So I could theoretically be approved but not get paid if I haven't filed my weekly claims?

Exactly. Approval and payment are two separate processes. You need both to actually see money.

That's exactly what I'm hoping for! Did you do anything special to speed it up or just got lucky?

I think I got lucky with a straightforward case. Clear layoff, no disputes, all my info was correct. Plus I filed my weekly claims right away.

Still sounds sketchy to me. Why can't ESD just fix their phone system?

I agree the system should work better, but while we're waiting for that to happen, this actually solves the immediate problem of reaching someone.

I might try this if my claim doesn't move forward soon. The wait times are just impossible.

Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much better about the timeline now.

Good luck! Hope you get approved quickly.