How long does determination status take for Washington ESD unemployment claim?

determination can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks depending on complexity, mine took 8 weeks last year

The determination process involves Washington ESD reviewing all documentation from both you and your employer. They have to verify the reason for separation, wages, and eligibility. Complex cases involving misconduct allegations or quit vs discharge disputes take longer. Average timeframe is 6-10 weeks currently.

I was in the same boat last month - couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to check on my determination status. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Agent was able to tell me exactly where my case stood in the determination process.

DETERMINATION STATUS IS THE WORST PART OF THIS WHOLE SYSTEM! Been waiting 9 weeks now and Washington ESD just keeps saying "under review". Meanwhile my savings are gone and I can't even get a straight answer about timeline.

What was the reason for separation on your claim? That makes a huge difference in determination timeline. Layoffs are usually faster than quit/discharge cases.

mine took 11 weeks but that was during covid so maybe different now

Important reminder: even during determination status, you MUST continue filing your weekly claims. If you don't file weekly claims during this period, you'll lose those weeks even if determination comes back favorable.

Try calling right at 8am when the phone lines open. Sometimes you can get through faster in the morning before everyone else starts calling.

If you're really desperate you could try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. I used it last week and actually got through to Washington ESD. Cost some money but I was able to find out my determination was almost complete.

The determination process is supposed to be completed within a "reasonable time" according to Washington ESD but they don't define what reasonable means. In practice it's 6-14 weeks depending on case complexity and current workload.

Have you checked if there are any outstanding fact-finding questionnaires or documents Washington ESD is waiting for? Sometimes claims get delayed because they're waiting for additional info.

My brother went through this exact situation. Determination took 10 weeks but he got backpay for everything once it was approved. Just hang in there and keep filing weekly claims.

i've been waiting 7 weeks, this is insane how long it takes

One thing that helped me was getting my former employer to respond quickly to Washington ESD's requests. The longer they take to respond, the longer your determination takes. You might want to call your old HR department and ask them to prioritize any Washington ESD correspondence.

The waiting is the hardest part. I know everyone says keep filing weekly claims but it feels pointless when you're not getting paid. At least if determination goes in your favor you'll get all that backpay in one lump sum.

If you do end up trying Claimyr like others mentioned, make sure you have your Social Security number and PIN ready since the agent will need to verify your identity when you get connected.