How long does it take for Washington ESD unemployment to process the claim - 5 weeks and counting

same boat here, filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting. my friend said it took her 6 weeks last fall

Washington ESD processing times have been all over the place lately. Initial claims can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on your situation. If you have any issues that need adjudication (like questions about your separation from work, availability, or work search), it takes longer. The 'under review' status usually means they're waiting on information from your employer or need to verify something about your claim.

I was stuck in the same situation for 4 weeks last month. Couldn't get through to anyone on the phone - kept getting disconnected or the line was busy. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Got through the same day and found out my claim was stuck because my employer hadn't responded to their request for information.

The whole system is broken IMO. I've been calling every morning at 8am sharp when they open and STILL can't get through. It's ridiculous that we have to pay third parties just to reach our own state agency!!

Check your correspondence section in your Washington ESD account - sometimes they send messages there instead of mailing them. Also make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed. If you don't file weekly, it can delay everything even more.

took me 7 weeks total last year but that was during busy season. yours might be faster

One thing to keep in mind is that once your claim is approved, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were eligible. So you're not losing money, just dealing with the cash flow problem while waiting. I know that doesn't help with immediate bills but it's something.

update: just got approved this morning! exactly 4 weeks from when I filed. never did figure out what was taking so long

For anyone still waiting and getting frustrated with the phone system, I really recommend checking out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I know it sounds sketchy but they actually got me connected within a few hours and the Washington ESD agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim. Sometimes you just need that human contact to get things moving.

Also worth mentioning - if your claim is taking longer than 6 weeks, you might want to contact your state representative's office. They have staff who can make inquiries with Washington ESD on your behalf. It's a free service and sometimes gets faster results than calling directly.

been waiting 8 weeks now... this is absolutely ridiculous. I'm about to lose my apartment

The processing times really depend on your specific situation. If you were fired vs laid off, if you have wages from multiple states, if there are any discrepancies between what you reported and what your employer reports - all of these can trigger additional review. Washington ESD has to investigate thoroughly to prevent fraud, which is why some claims take longer.

just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread, OP. it's comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this stress

My claim took 3 weeks exactly but I think I got lucky. Filed in November and everything went smoothly. The key is making sure all your information is accurate when you file - any discrepancies can cause delays.

One more thing about Claimyr - they specialize in exactly this kind of situation where you need to check on claim status but can't get through on the phone. The Washington ESD agent I talked to through their service was actually really helpful and explained the whole process to me. Much better experience than I expected from a government call.

The worst part is not knowing WHY it's taking so long. At least if they told you what the holdup was, you could do something about it or at least have peace of mind.

i filed online at like 2am thinking it would be faster than calling but still waiting 4 weeks later. probably doesn't matter when you file

Washington ESD really needs to overhaul their whole system. It's 2025 and we're still dealing with processing times from the 1990s. Other states have much faster turnaround times.

Just want to give everyone hope - my claim was approved after 5 weeks and I got my first payment 3 days later. The backpay covered all the weeks I was waiting. Hang in there!

For what it's worth, I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked. Got connected to Washington ESD within a couple hours and found out my employer hadn't sent in their response yet. At least now I know what's going on instead of just wondering.