How long does an unemployment claim take to process through Washington ESD?

What kind of complications usually cause delays? I was laid off due to company downsizing, so I thought it would be pretty straightforward.

Layoffs are usually the easiest to process. Sometimes they need to verify your wages with previous employers or if you worked in multiple states. Did you work anywhere else in the past 18 months?

I had the same problem trying to reach them. Actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual ESD agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it some kind of scam?

No it's legit, they basically handle the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. I was skeptical too but it worked and I finally got my claim status sorted out.

How do I know if my claim is in adjudication? My online account doesn't really explain what 'under review' means.

Check your SecureAccess Washington account regularly. If it's in adjudication, you'll usually see a status update and may receive requests for additional information. You should also receive letters in the mail explaining any issues.

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

just waited and made sure to file my weekly claims on time even though I hadn't been approved yet

I registered with WorkSource but I'm not sure what activities I need to do. How many job contacts do I need per week?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a detailed log. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking activities, etc. Keep records of everything.

wait I thought it was 2 contacts per week? or did they change it again?

I know it's frustrating but try to stay patient. If you've been waiting 4 weeks, something might be holding up your claim. Have you received any correspondence from ESD asking for additional information?

No letters, no emails, nothing. My online account just says 'claim under review' with no other details. I don't even know if they received all my information properly.

I tried that and still waited 2 hours before getting disconnected. The phone system is completely overwhelmed.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I was spending entire days trying to get through and it was driving me crazy. At least with their service I could go about my day while they handled the calling.

That's terrible! How did you prove you were laid off and not quit?

I had to provide my layoff notice and get statements from coworkers. The whole process was a nightmare but eventually got resolved in my favor.

Employment separation disputes are unfortunately common. Always keep documentation of layoffs, terminations, or resignations. This paperwork becomes crucial if there's a dispute later.

YES! The site crashes constantly and the error messages don't help at all. It's like they designed it to be as frustrating as possible.

Try using a different browser or clearing your cache. The site works better on some browsers than others. Chrome seems to work best in my experience.

They often request additional documentation during the review process. Respond to their request as quickly as possible to avoid further delays. What specific information are they asking for?

They want pay stubs from my last 3 jobs over the past 18 months. Problem is one of those companies went out of business so I don't know how to get those records.

Try contacting your state's Department of Labor for wage records, or check if you have old tax documents. Bank statements showing direct deposits can also help verify employment.

That's reassuring to hear. So even if it takes a month to get approved, I'll still get paid for all those weeks I was waiting?

Exactly! As long as you've been filing your weekly claims during the waiting period, you'll get paid for all eligible weeks once approved.

ESD's website states they process most claims within 2-3 weeks, but that's only for straightforward cases. Claims requiring adjudication take significantly longer and there's no set timeline for those.

The 'official' timeline means nothing when you're actually dealing with them. I've been waiting 7 weeks for my adjudication to complete.

Good point, I should look into that. Do you know where to find information about those programs?

Start with 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with local resources. Also check your county's social services website.

I think they're still dealing with backlogs from the pandemic. The whole system got overwhelmed and hasn't fully recovered.

That's probably true. They also implemented new fraud prevention measures that might be slowing down the process, but it's necessary to protect the system.

Yes, absolutely keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim isn't approved yet. You won't get paid until approval, but you need those weekly filings to get retroactive payments.

Good question, I was wondering the same thing. Glad to know I should keep filing them.

Easier said than done! I've been trying to call for weeks and can never get through. The phone system is absolutely useless.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist - to solve the phone problem. Worth checking out if you're tired of wasting hours trying to get through.

I might have to try that. This is driving me crazy and I need answers about my claim status.