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

Mine was a straightforward layoff, got my separation notice and everything. Hopefully that means it'll be on the faster side.

Even 'straightforward' cases can hit snags. Washington ESD has been really backed up lately with all the system updates they've been doing.

Thanks, that's reassuring! I've been filing my weeklies so at least I'm covered there.

18 days is pretty typical right now. They've gotten better since the pandemic chaos but still not as fast as pre-2020.

My layoff was pretty straightforward - whole department got cut due to budget issues. Hoping that means it'll be on the faster side.

Even straightforward ones can take time these days. Washington ESD is still dealing with higher than normal claim volumes.

Wait, I can file weekly claims before getting approved? I thought I had to wait for the approval first.

Yes! You should definitely keep filing your weekly claims. If you're approved, Washington ESD will pay you for all the weeks you filed, going back to when you first became eligible.

No additional documents requested yet. My employer was pretty responsive when they contacted them, so hopefully that speeds things up.

That's a good sign! When employers respond quickly to verification requests, it definitely helps move things along faster.

21 days isn't too bad I guess. Did you get any updates during that time or did it just suddenly change to approved?

I got one letter asking for wage verification around day 10, then nothing until it was approved. Keep checking your account every few days.

Interesting, I haven't heard of that before. How much does it cost?

They focus more on the value of actually reaching someone rather than the cost. For me it was worth it to get real answers about my claim status instead of guessing.

I was skeptical at first but tried Claimyr when I couldn't get through for weeks. Actually worked - got connected and found out my claim was held up for a simple documentation issue I could fix immediately.

Have you tried calling right when they open at 8am? That's usually the best time to get through.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Finally talked to someone who could explain what was holding up my claim.

Never heard of that but honestly willing to try anything at this point. The phone situation is ridiculous.

Adjudication can definitely add weeks to the process. They have to verify everything with your former employer, which can take time if the employer is slow to respond.

That's the worst part - being stuck in limbo with no real updates. At least they'll pay you retroactively once it's approved.

The retroactive payment is the only thing keeping me sane right now. Just wish there was better communication about timelines.

Six weeks is definitely longer than normal. Have you tried contacting them directly to see what's causing the delay?

Tried calling probably 50 times. Either busy signal or they hang up after 2 hours on hold. This whole system is broken.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr above - the regular phone system is nearly impossible to get through on.

How much does that cost? Seems sketchy to pay someone just to make a phone call.

It's actually pretty reasonable and saved me hours of frustration. Way better than hitting redial 200 times a day and getting nowhere.

I used Claimyr too and it worked great. Finally got answers about my adjudication that had been pending for a month.

Yeah I'm wondering if the new year rush is slowing things down. Probably lots of people filing after holiday layoffs.

That makes sense. Plus Washington ESD always seems to slow down when they're doing system maintenance or updates.

That gives me hope! My situation is similar - one employer for 18 months, laid off due to budget cuts.

Yeah, straightforward cases usually move faster. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval.

Wait, really? I thought the job search stuff started after approval?

Nope, you need to be actively searching and documenting from week one. Check the Washington ESD website for the specific requirements.

That's correct - job search activities should begin immediately. Keep a log of all your applications and contacts.

7 weeks definitely sounds like there's an adjudication issue. Have you checked if there are any pending issues listed in your online account?

It just says 'determination pending' with no details. I've sent messages through the online system but no response.

Right? Even a rough timeline would help with planning. Like 'claims typically take 2-4 weeks' or something.

Exactly! I just want to know if I should be panicking yet or if this is normal waiting time.

Oh no, that sounds like a nightmare. How did you get it resolved?

Had to provide documentation of the layoff - emails, severance paperwork, everything. Eventually won the appeal but lost a month of benefits.

This happened to my friend too. Employers sometimes dispute claims to keep their unemployment insurance rates low. So frustrating.

Good point. I double-checked everything but now I'm second-guessing myself!

Don't stress too much, just be prepared to provide additional documentation if they ask for it.

Same boat here. Applied 2 weeks ago and checking the website obsessively. This waiting game is brutal.

At least I'm not alone! Fingers crossed we both hear something soon.

You might want to look into emergency assistance programs while waiting. Some local organizations can help with rent/utilities during this gap.

Adjudication means they're investigating something about your claim. Could be your employer contested it, or they need to verify your work history or reason for separation. It's not necessarily bad, but it will add time to the process.

Adjudication typically adds 2-4 weeks to the process. They'll send you a determination letter once it's complete explaining their decision.

Good point, I've been checking my account daily for any new messages or requirements.

This is so important! I almost missed a request for additional documents because I wasn't checking my online account regularly enough.

The system definitely needs an overhaul. Other states seem to process claims much faster.

Patience is hard when you're worried about rent and bills though!

Oh I totally get it, been there myself. Just trying to set realistic expectations since false hope makes the waiting worse.

18 days sounds reasonable. I've been keeping all my employment documents in one folder just in case.

Smart move! Having everything ready to go definitely helps speed up the process.

Thanks, that's helpful to know. I'll keep filing weekly even though I haven't been approved yet.

Good advice. I made the mistake of not filing weekly while waiting and lost out on 3 weeks of benefits even after I got approved.

The system has actually improved quite a bit since the pandemic peak. Processing times are much more reasonable now than they were in 2020-2021.

How does that work exactly? Is it expensive?

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Check out their demo video to see how it works - it's pretty straightforward.

Might have to try this since I'm getting nowhere with regular calling.

That's encouraging! Was there anything specific that seemed to speed up your approval?

Not really, I think it was just normal processing time. I did make sure to file all my weekly claims on time and responded quickly to any requests for info.

Yeah that seems to match what everyone's saying here. Guess I just have to keep waiting and hope for the best.

The variation is so frustrating though. Wish there was more consistency in processing times.

I feel this so much. It's like being in limbo financially. Makes the whole job search more stressful too.

Exactly! Hard to focus on finding work when you're worried about keeping the lights on.

Congrats! That gives me hope. Did anything specific happen that triggered the approval or did it just go through?

Nothing special on my end - I think they just finished verifying my employment history. Keep filing those weekly claims!

This is encouraging to hear! I'm on day 12 myself so hopefully soon.

I might have to try that if this drags on much longer. Getting really anxious about when I'll start seeing payments.

The peace of mind is worth it. At least you'll know exactly what's happening with your claim instead of guessing.

Oh that's a good tip! I didn't know they had text alerts available.

Yeah, you can set them up in your account settings. Definitely reduces the anxiety of constantly checking the website.

Just set this up myself - thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah, timing varies a lot based on your specific circumstances and even which day of the week you filed. Hang in there!

What's the legal timeframe? Because 7 weeks seems excessive for a simple layoff claim.

They're supposed to make determinations as quickly as possible, but there's not really a hard deadline. Adjudication cases get more leeway than regular claims.

That gives me hope! 17 days seems reasonable. I'm at day 10 now so hopefully soon.

Agreed, the communication could be much better. That's why talking to an actual person can be so helpful when you're stuck in limbo.

That's reassuring to hear from someone who sees this from the employer side. Hopefully mine is just taking the normal amount of time.

Your timeline sounds normal so far. I wouldn't worry unless you hit the 4-week mark with no communication.

Good tip! I'll dig deeper into my account to see if there's anything I missed.

I'm debating the same thing. Don't want to take something temporary and then have to leave it if I get called back to my old job.

You can work part-time and still collect partial unemployment benefits. Might be worth looking into while you wait.

I tried that approach for weeks with no luck. That's why I ended up using Claimyr - way more reliable than trying to time the call volume.

I'd recommend it. Even if your claim ends up getting approved normally, at least you'll know what to expect timeline-wise instead of just guessing.

That's good to know about the backpay. I'll definitely keep filing weekly claims while I wait.

Oh I didn't know about the waiting week. So even after approval there's another delay?

Yeah, the first week you're eligible is a non-payable waiting week. It's just how the system works. After that you'll get paid for subsequent weeks.

Congrats! The job search requirements are pretty manageable - just need to log 3 job search activities per week and keep records.

Wait, that was your update, not mine! I'm still waiting... but gives me hope that I should hear something soon.

Oops sorry for the confusion! You should definitely hear something within the next week or so based on your timeline.

That matches what I was expecting. Hoping I fall into the normal range and not the outliers!

Based on what you've described, sounds like you should be in the normal timeframe. Good luck!

Definitely doing that - filing every Sunday like clockwork even though nothing's been approved yet.

This is crucial advice. You can't get paid for weeks you didn't claim, even retroactively.

Agreed, even just a progress bar showing what stage your claim is in would be huge improvement.

That would be amazing! Right now it's just a black box until you get approved or denied.

I heard they're working on system updates but who knows when we'll actually see improvements.

16 days gives me hope! I've been super careful about accuracy and responding quickly to anything they ask for.

Being accurate and responsive definitely helps avoid delays from back-and-forth requests for corrections.

I'm seriously considering this at this point. Regular calling just isn't working.

Good to know there are options when the regular phone system fails. Might keep that in mind if I need to escalate.