How long does it actually take to get approved for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks for the breakdown. Do you know what triggers adjudication? I was laid off due to company downsizing, so I'm hoping that's straightforward enough.

Layoffs due to downsizing are usually pretty straightforward and shouldn't trigger adjudication unless there are discrepancies in the information provided by you versus your employer.

That gives me hope! Did you get any status updates during those 3 weeks or did it just suddenly change to approved?

Pretty much radio silence until it was approved. The waiting is definitely the worst part.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that service. Have you used it yourself?

Yeah, used it last week when I had questions about my job search requirements. Actually got through to a real person in about 20 minutes instead of calling for days.

Wait, there's actually a way to get through to ESD? I've been calling the 833 number for weeks with no luck.

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm afraid of. Have you tried appealing or anything?

Can't appeal until they actually make a decision. It's just sitting in limbo. I'm about to lose my apartment because of this BS.

Have you tried contacting your state representative? Sometimes they can help push things along when claims get stuck.

Good to know about the volume. Is there a way to check if my employer has responded to their notice?

Not directly through your online account, but if you can get through to ESD by phone, they can tell you the status of the employer response.

10 days sounds amazing! Was that during a slower period maybe?

yeah probably, summer time when less people getting laid off

How much does something like that cost though?

I'd rather focus on the value - being able to get real answers instead of guessing about your claim status. Check their site for current info.

That's reassuring to hear. I was worried 'under review' meant there was a problem.

Nope, it's just part of the normal verification process. They're confirming your employment dates, wages, and reason for separation.

@Isabella Silva Mine has said it is under review since July 27th. Everything of mine should have been straight forward. I was laid off twice and given severance pay. been filing for 7 weeks now. Im stuck in adjudication process. :

Good reminder! I've been doing that but wasn't sure if it mattered before approval.

Definitely matters. Those weekly claims establish your continued eligibility for each week.

Wait, you can file weekly claims before your initial claim is approved? I had no idea!

That's helpful perspective. I haven't gotten any requests for additional info yet, so hopefully that's a good sign.

Usually is. Most requests for additional info come within the first week or two of filing.

Totally agree. The uncertainty makes everything so much harder.

At least we have unemployment benefits at all. Some countries don't have anything like this.

True, but that doesn't mean we can't make it better and faster.

The backpay aspect is reassuring. So if it takes 6 weeks but I'm approved, I get paid for all 6 weeks?

Exactly, as long as you filed your weekly claims for each week. That's why continuing to file weekly is so important.

Good tip! I've been checking but nothing there yet.

That's probably a good sign then. No news is often good news with ESD.

That sounds exactly like what I need right now - just some concrete information about what's happening.

Yeah, the unknown is definitely the hardest part. At least when you know what's happening you can plan accordingly.

You're probably right. I think I'm just anxious because this is my first time filing for unemployment.

Totally understandable! The first time is always nerve-wracking because you don't know what to expect.

Good advice. I have been checking it probably too often.

We've all been there! It's natural to want updates, but the process just takes time.

That's helpful context. Since I just filed two weeks ago, it's probably the basic eligibility review.

Most likely, yeah. The basic review usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on their current workload.

Thanks everyone for all the reassurance and advice. This thread has been really helpful for managing my expectations.

Glad we could help! Feel free to update us when you hear something.

Yes, please keep us posted. These timeline discussions help other people in similar situations.

This community has been such a lifesaver! I was spiraling with anxiety about my claim status, but reading everyone's experiences has really helped put things in perspective. It's good to know that 2-4 weeks is normal and that "under review" doesn't mean there's a problem.

Totally agree with Daniel - this community is amazing! I'm in a similar boat, filed about 3 weeks ago and still waiting. Reading everyone's experiences has helped me realize that my timeline is actually pretty normal. It's reassuring to know that so many people have gone through this process successfully, even when it takes longer than expected.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just filed my claim yesterday after being laid off from my tech job, and I was already starting to panic about how long it might take. Reading everyone's experiences - both the quick approvals and the longer waits - has really helped me set realistic expectations. It sounds like as long as I keep filing my weekly claims and respond quickly to any requests for information, I should be okay even if it takes a few weeks. Thanks for creating such a supportive space for people going through this stressful process!

Welcome to the waiting club, Zoe! The tech layoffs have been brutal lately, but the good news is that those are usually very straightforward for ESD to process since it's clearly not your fault. I went through this about 8 months ago when my startup folded, and even though it took about 3.5 weeks, I got approved with no issues. The key things that helped me stay sane were: 1) Setting up a job search routine to stay productive, 2) Only checking my claim status twice a week max, and 3) making sure I understood that the weekly claims are separate from the initial approval. You've got this!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this process last year. I was laid off from my manufacturing job and filed immediately, but it took almost 5 weeks to get approved because there was a delay with my employer responding to ESD's inquiry. The frustrating part was not knowing what was causing the delay until I finally got through to someone on the phone. My advice would be to try calling ESD around week 3-4 if you haven't heard anything - sometimes they can give you specific information about what's holding things up. And definitely keep filing those weekly claims like everyone said! I got backpaid for all 5 weeks once it was approved.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also waiting on my claim (filed about 10 days ago) and was starting to get really anxious seeing all the different timelines online. It's reassuring to hear from actual people who've been through this process rather than just reading generic government websites. The tip about continuing to file weekly claims even before approval is something I definitely wouldn't have known otherwise. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm in week 3 of waiting myself and this discussion has been so helpful! What really stands out to me is how much the timeline seems to depend on factors outside our control - like how quickly employers respond or current claim volume at ESD. It's frustrating but also reassuring to know that most people do eventually get approved if they were legitimately laid off. I've been following the advice here about filing weekly claims and checking secure messages regularly. The hardest part is definitely the uncertainty, but reading everyone's stories makes me feel less alone in this process.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about 10 days ago after being laid off from my retail job due to store closure. This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I was getting really worried seeing some of the horror stories online about people waiting months, but it sounds like most straightforward layoffs get processed within that 2-4 week window. I've been diligently filing my weekly claims and checking for any messages from ESD. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, especially with rent due soon, but hearing from people who've actually been through this process successfully gives me hope. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it makes such a difference when you're in the middle of this stressful situation!

I'm also in the waiting process right now - filed about a week and a half ago after my company had layoffs. This thread has been such a relief to read! I was starting to panic seeing conflicting information everywhere online, but hearing real experiences from people who've actually been through this makes me feel so much better. The advice about filing weekly claims even before approval is something I definitely didn't realize was important. It's comforting to know that most straightforward layoffs do get processed eventually, even if the timeline varies. Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive community - it really helps to know we're not alone in this stressful process!

I'm just starting this process myself - filed my claim three days ago after being laid off from my healthcare job due to budget cuts. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and honestly a huge relief! I was already starting to stress about the timeline, but seeing that 2-4 weeks is pretty normal for straightforward cases makes me feel much better. The tip about continuing to file weekly claims before approval is golden - I had no idea that was necessary. It's also reassuring to know that "under review" is just part of the normal process. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's so much more valuable than the vague information on official websites!

I just wanted to echo what everyone else is saying about this community being so helpful! I'm about 2 weeks into my wait after being laid off from my marketing job, and reading all these real experiences has been way more informative than anything I found on the official ESD website. It's really reassuring to know that the "under review" status is normal and that most people with straightforward layoffs do get approved within that 2-4 week window. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously after reading the advice here. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, but knowing that so many others have successfully navigated this process gives me confidence that it will work out. Thanks for making this such a supportive space!

I'm also new to this process - just filed my claim yesterday after being laid off from my construction job due to project completion. This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I was already getting anxious about the wait time, but seeing everyone's real experiences has helped me understand what to expect. The advice about filing weekly claims even before initial approval is something I never would have known otherwise. It's also comforting to hear that "under review" is just part of the normal verification process rather than a red flag. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it really helps to have this community support during such a stressful time!

I'm in the same boat as many of you - just filed my claim 5 days ago after being laid off from my customer service job when our call center downsized. This thread has been such a lifesaver! I was starting to spiral with anxiety about the timeline, especially seeing some of the scary stories online about people waiting months. But hearing from actual people who've been through this process successfully has really calmed my nerves. The tip about continuing to file weekly claims before approval is crucial - I almost didn't do that thinking I had to wait for approval first. It's also reassuring to know that "under review" is just standard verification, not a problem. Thanks everyone for creating such a supportive community - it makes this stressful process feel much more manageable!

I'm also going through this process right now - filed my claim about 12 days ago after being laid off from my nonprofit job due to funding cuts. This entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I was getting really stressed seeing all the conflicting information online about processing times, but hearing from people who've actually been through this makes such a difference. The advice about filing weekly claims even before approval is something I definitely wouldn't have figured out on my own. It's also really helpful to know that "under review" is just part of the normal verification process. The waiting is definitely anxiety-inducing, especially when bills are due, but reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that it will work out. Thanks for making this such a supportive community!

I'm also in this waiting period - just filed my claim 8 days ago after being laid off from my logistics job when the company restructured. This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was really starting to panic after reading some horror stories online, but seeing so many real experiences from people who've successfully gotten through this process has been incredibly reassuring. The tip about filing weekly claims before approval is something I never would have known - I actually called ESD to ask about it after reading it here and they confirmed it's essential. It's also really comforting to understand that "under review" is just standard procedure, not a red flag. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, but this community has made me feel so much less alone in the process. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and advice!

Welcome to the waiting club! It's totally normal to feel anxious during this process, especially when it's your first time. The 10-day mark is still well within the typical 2-4 week processing window for straightforward layoffs like yours from budget cuts. Keep doing exactly what you're doing - filing those weekly claims and checking for messages. The fact that you're "under review" rather than having requests for additional information is actually a good sign. Try to stay busy with job searching to keep your mind occupied, and remember that even if it takes the full 3-4 weeks, you'll get backpaid for all those weeks as long as you keep filing. You've got this!

I'm in a very similar situation - filed about 8 days ago after my restaurant management job was eliminated due to restructuring. This whole thread has been such a relief to find! Like you, I was getting really stressed about the timeline and wasn't sure if "under review" was good or bad. It's so helpful to hear from people who've actually been through this rather than trying to decipher the official ESD website. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously after reading the advice here. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when rent is due next week, but hearing all these success stories gives me hope. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's exactly what I needed to read today!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Filed my claim 9 days ago after being laid off from my IT support role due to company downsizing. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to panic about the "under review" status, but now I understand it's just part of the normal process. The tip about filing weekly claims before approval is a game-changer - I almost skipped last week thinking I had to wait. It's really reassuring to see so many people with straightforward layoffs getting approved within that 2-4 week window. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, but this community has made me feel so much more confident about the process. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping create such a supportive discussion!

I'm in a really similar situation too! Filed my claim about 6 days ago after being laid off from my graphic design job when the agency lost a major client. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was already starting to stress about how long it might take, especially after seeing some people mention waiting 2+ months. But reading everyone's real experiences has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing ESD website. The weekly claims tip is huge - I definitely would have missed that without this discussion. It's also really reassuring to know that "under review" is just standard verification, not a red flag. The waiting game is tough when you're worried about making ends meet, but hearing all these success stories gives me hope that it will work out. Thanks for sharing your story and helping build such a supportive community here!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! Filed my claim about a week ago after being laid off from my retail management position due to store closure. This entire discussion has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I was starting to get really anxious about the "under review" status, but reading everyone's experiences has helped me understand it's just part of the normal verification process. The tip about filing weekly claims even before approval is something I never would have known otherwise - I almost waited thinking I needed approval first! It's really comforting to see so many people with straightforward layoffs getting approved within that 2-4 week timeframe. The uncertainty is definitely stressful, especially with bills coming up, but this community has given me so much more confidence in the process. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping create such a supportive space for all of us going through this!