How long does it take for Washington ESD unemployment to be approved - still waiting after 2 weeks

Two weeks is pretty typical for Washington ESD unfortunately. The initial processing usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on your situation. Since you mentioned layoffs, they might need to verify with your employer which can add time. Keep filing your weekly claims though - you'll get backpay once approved.

Usually takes 2-4 weeks for a straightforward claim. If there's any issues or they need to verify something it can take longer. Have you been filing your weekly claims even though it's pending?

I'm in the same boat - filed 3 weeks ago and still nothing! My friend got approved in 10 days last year so I thought it would be faster. The waiting is killing me financially.

Check if your claim went into adjudication. That's usually what causes the longer delays. Log into your Washington ESD account and look for any messages or documents they might need from you.

Manufacturing layoffs usually go through faster than other types of separations since the reason is clear-cut. However, Washington ESD has been dealing with higher claim volumes lately. If your employer contests the claim or there are any wage discrepancies, it could trigger adjudication which adds several more weeks.

omg SAME!! filed mine 18 days ago and nothing yet. this is ridiculous, how are people supposed to survive without income? i've called like 50 times and either get hung up on or sit on hold for hours

I had the same issue last month and it was driving me crazy trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through you're on hold forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

The standard processing time is 21 days from when you file, but that's just the baseline. If Washington ESD needs to verify your employment history, contact your employer, or investigate any potential issues, it can take 4-6 weeks or more. The key is making sure you've provided accurate information and responded to any requests promptly.

been waiting 3 weeks myself... this is ridiculous. people need money to survive not wait around forever for bureaucrats to do their job

Mine took exactly 18 days to get approved. No issues just normal processing time. Keep checking your account and make sure your contact info is updated in case they need to reach you.

Been there! My claim took 3.5 weeks last time. The worst part is not knowing if something's wrong or if it's just normal processing. Once it gets approved though, you'll get all the back payments at once which is nice.

Check your employer's response too. Sometimes they contest claims which triggers an automatic review process that can add weeks to approval time. You should get notified if this happens but doesn't hurt to check.

The whole system is broken if you ask me. 2-4 weeks to approve a simple layoff claim? Meanwhile people are losing their apartments and cars. There's got to be a better way.

The waiting is the worst part honestly. I remember checking my account like 10 times a day when I was waiting for approval. Try to stay busy with job searching activities since you'll need to show that anyway once benefits start.

What reason did you give when you filed? If it was for misconduct or quitting voluntarily that usually triggers additional review time. Layoffs and lack of work typically process faster.

For what it's worth, Washington ESD has been pretty good about processing straightforward layoff cases. If your employer reported the layoff correctly and your wages match up, you should be fine. The delays are usually just volume-related, not problems with individual claims.

just a quick update - mine got approved yesterday after 19 days! hang in there everyone, the wait is brutal but it does happen eventually

Update on the Claimyr thing - I tried it this morning and actually got through to someone at Washington ESD in like 15 minutes! The rep said my claim is in final review and should be approved by next week. Definitely worth it if you're stuck waiting.

Try calling early morning like 7:59 AM right when they open. I got through after about 45 minutes on hold that way. Afternoons are impossible.

Three weeks for me back in March. Washington ESD seems to run about 2-4 weeks for most people unless there's complications. The manufacturing industry has been hit hard with layoffs so they're probably seeing a lot of similar claims right now.

Make sure you haven't accidentally missed any steps in your initial application. Sometimes people think they've completed everything but there's a section left undone.

Just remember that even if it takes a while to get approved, your benefit year starts from when you first filed, not when you get approved. So if you filed two weeks ago and get approved next week, you'll get paid for all three weeks assuming you've been filing your weekly claims.

honestly the stress of waiting is almost worse than being unemployed. at least when you know you're getting benefits you can budget and plan. this limbo is terrible

2 weeks isn't that long honestly. I know it feels forever when you need the money but it's pretty normal. Mine took 19 days and several friends took 3+ weeks.

Pro tip: if you log into your Washington ESD account and see any alerts or notices, deal with those immediately. Sometimes there are requests for additional info that people miss, which delays everything even more.

The good news is that once you're in the system and approved, future claims (if you ever need them unfortunately) usually process much faster since they already have all your info verified.

2 weeks isn't that bad honestly. I've heard of people waiting 6+ weeks during busy periods. Just keep doing your weekly claims and try to be patient.

Final update from me - got my approval email this afternoon! 16 days total from filing to approval. Thanks everyone for the advice and support. The Claimyr suggestion really helped me get answers when I was getting anxious about the wait.

For anyone still waiting - I found it helpful to set up text alerts through the Washington ESD website so you get notified immediately when there are updates to your claim instead of constantly checking.

hang in there everyone! the wait is stressful but most people do get approved eventually. just keep filing those weeklies and try not to stress too much (easier said than done i know

My experience: filed on a Tuesday, approved the following Thursday. 9 days total. But that was during a slower period last fall. Timing really depends on current volume and whether there are any red flags in your application.

One last thing to remember - even if your claim takes a while to get approved, Washington ESD is generally pretty reliable once you're in the system. The initial wait is frustrating but the weekly payments usually come through on schedule after that.

The system shows processing times but they're not always accurate. I'd give it another week before getting too worried. If it hits 4 weeks definitely try to contact them somehow.

Don't panic yet but do start looking into food banks and utility assistance programs if money is tight. Better to be prepared than stressed.

Mine got approved at exactly the 3 week mark. Got the determination letter on a Tuesday and first payment hit my account that Thursday. Hang in there!

If you need to speak with someone urgently about your claim status, I actually had success with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth checking out their demo video to see if it would help your situation. Sometimes you just need a real person to look at your account.