How long does it take for Washington ESD unemployment claim to be approved?

Typical processing time for Washington ESD is 2-3 weeks for straightforward claims. If there are no issues with your work history or reason for separation, you should hear back within that timeframe. The 'under review' status is normal during initial processing.

10 days is still within normal range but I'd start getting concerned if you don't hear anything by day 21. Washington ESD is pretty backed up right now from what I've been hearing.

The typical processing time for Washington ESD unemployment claims is 2-3 weeks from the date you file. During this time, they're verifying your employment history, wages, and reason for separation with your former employer. If there are no issues requiring adjudication, most straightforward claims get approved within 14-21 days.

mine took almost 4 weeks last year but that was because they had to contact my employer for verification. if you got laid off and it was clearly not your fault it should be faster

If you're getting anxious about the wait, I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I needed to check on my claim status. They basically handle the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for over a week to check on my claim status and can NEVER get through! The phone just rings and rings or I get a busy signal. How is anyone supposed to get answers about their claims?

The waiting is the worst part honestly. I remember checking my account like 5 times a day when I was waiting for approval. Washington ESD has been pretty backed up since COVID even though things have normalized some.

BEEN WAITING 3 WEEKS AND STILL NOTHING!!! Called Washington ESD probably 50 times and can never get through. This system is broken.

honestly washington esd is just slow as molasses these days, mine took 3 weeks and that was for a simple layoff. just gotta be patient i guess

A few things that can slow down the approval process: discrepancies in your work history, if you quit your last job (even if you had good cause), if you worked in multiple states recently, or if your employer disputes the claim. The good news is most claims do get approved eventually if you're eligible.

just be patient, i know its hard when you need the money. keep filing your weekly claims even while its pending

Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval! I made that mistake and had to backdate everything later which was a huge hassle with Washington ESD.

The waiting game is terrible. I was so stressed during those first few weeks not knowing if I'd get approved or denied. At least nowadays you can check your claim status online instead of having to call.

The whole system is BROKEN! I waited 5 weeks for my claim and when I finally got someone on the phone they told me there was missing information that nobody ever told me about. How are we supposed to know what they need if they don't communicate?

One thing to keep in mind - even if approval takes 3-4 weeks, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were eligible and filed claims for. So you won't lose any benefits due to processing delays.

Quick question - do you get an email notification when your claim is approved or do you have to keep checking the website?

Is there any way to speed up the process or do you just have to wait it out?

Just went through this whole process myself 6 months ago. Filed on a Monday, got approved exactly 16 days later on a Wednesday. Seemed like forever at the time but looking back it was pretty reasonable.

Mine got stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks because they needed to verify my work history with a previous employer. Washington ESD doesn't always tell you upfront if there are going to be delays like that.

The uncertainty is the worst part. Like you don't know if you should start looking for any job right away or wait to see if you get approved for the full benefit amount.

just keep filing weekly claims and wait it out, thats all you can really do. washington esd moves at their own pace

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. Washington ESD typically processes straightforward layoff claims within 14-21 days. Quit or termination claims can take longer due to adjudication requirements.

Been waiting 4 weeks now and still nothing. Starting to think I should look into that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. Getting really desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

My sister had her claim approved in just 8 days last month. Guess it really depends on your specific situation and how busy they are when you file.

The wait is awful but try not to stress too much. Once it's approved you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were waiting, so you won't lose any money as long as you've been filing your weekly claims.

Washington ESD processing times seem to vary wildly. My neighbor got approved in 10 days, I waited 25 days, and my coworker is still waiting after 6 weeks. There's no rhyme or reason to it.

Pro tip: create an account on WorkSourceWA.com now if you haven't already. You'll need it for job search requirements once your claim is approved, and it's better to get set up ahead of time.

I got so frustrated waiting for my claim that I actually drove to the WorkSource office in person. They couldn't help with claim processing but at least gave me some clarity on what to expect.

Update on my situation - finally got approved today after 23 days! Got the approval email this morning and my first payment should hit my account tomorrow. Hang in there everyone, it does eventually happen.

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr when my claim got stuck and was able to get through to Washington ESD the same day. The agent told me exactly what was holding up my claim and how to fix it. Worth every penny to avoid the phone nightmare.

Bottom line is Washington ESD is understaffed and overwhelmed. 2-3 weeks is the new normal, and anything faster than that is just lucky timing. Plan your finances accordingly and try to be patient.

anyone else find the washington esd website confusing as hell? took me forever to figure out where to even check my claim status

I actually had a really smooth experience when I filed last year. Got approved in exactly 2 weeks and payments started right after. Sometimes the system does work like it's supposed to!

The key is not to panic if it takes the full 3 weeks or even a bit longer. As long as you filed correctly and were legitimately laid off, you should get approved eventually.

That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually sounds pretty useful. I remember spending literally hours on hold trying to reach Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim. Might be worth checking out if you really need to talk to someone.

hang in there! i know the waiting sucks but most people do get approved if they were legitimately unemployed through no fault of their own

One last tip - make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while waiting for initial approval. If you miss weeks, you can't go back and claim those later even if you get approved.

The whole process is just stressful when you're already dealing with job loss. Try to stay busy with job searching and other stuff so you're not constantly thinking about it.

For what it's worth, I've never heard of anyone with a legitimate layoff getting denied benefits in Washington. The approval might take time but it should come through.