How long does it take for unemployment approval from Washington ESD?
I submitted my unemployment claim online through the Washington ESD website about 10 days ago and I'm still waiting to hear back. My claim status just says 'under review' but doesn't give any timeline. I'm getting really anxious because I need to know if I'm approved so I can start my job search requirements properly. Does anyone know how long Washington ESD typically takes to approve or deny claims? I lost my job at a retail store due to cutbacks and I think it should be straightforward but I'm worried something might be wrong.
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Oliver Schulz
Usually takes 2-3 weeks for Washington ESD to process initial claims if there are no issues. Since you were laid off from retail, that's pretty straightforward so you should hear back soon. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval.
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Amina Diallo
•I didn't know I was supposed to file weekly claims before approval! Should I start doing that now?
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Oliver Schulz
•Yes, definitely start filing weekly claims right away. You can backdate if needed but it's easier to just start now.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
Mine took exactly 18 days last year. Washington ESD has been pretty consistent with their processing times since they upgraded their system. The 'under review' status usually means they're just verifying your employment history with your last employer.
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Amina Diallo
•That's reassuring to hear! I was worried it meant there was a problem with my application.
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AstroAdventurer
•18 days is actually pretty good timing for Washington ESD. I've heard horror stories of people waiting months.
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Javier Mendoza
If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim status, I had good luck using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to actual agents instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than trying to call Washington ESD directly.
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Amina Diallo
•Is that legitimate? I'm hesitant to use third-party services for something as important as unemployment.
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Javier Mendoza
•Yeah it's legit. They just help you get connected to Washington ESD agents faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I couldn't get through any other way.
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Emma Wilson
•I used Claimyr too when I had an adjudication issue. Saved me hours of calling Washington ESD over and over.
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Malik Davis
The Washington ESD system is SO SLOW. I waited three weeks for my approval and then another week for my first payment. They really need to hire more staff or something because this is ridiculous.
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Isabella Santos
•At least you got approved! Some people wait months just to get denied for some technicality.
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Malik Davis
•True, I shouldn't complain too much. The whole system is just frustrating when you're already stressed about money.
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Oliver Schulz
Pro tip: make sure all your employer information is accurate on your claim. Washington ESD will contact your former employer to verify everything, and any discrepancies can delay the process significantly.
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Amina Diallo
•I double-checked all my dates and wages, so hopefully that's not an issue.
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Oliver Schulz
•Good! That's the most common reason for delays in my experience.
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AstroAdventurer
honestly the waiting is the worst part. once you get approved everything moves pretty smoothly with weekly claims and job search reporting
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Amina Diallo
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I've been seeing conflicting information about Washington ESD requirements.
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Oliver Schulz
•It's 3 job search activities per week, but they can be applications, networking, or other approved activities. Check the WorkSource website for the full list.
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Ravi Gupta
I'm in the same situation as you! Filed 12 days ago and still waiting. It's nerve-wracking not knowing if you'll get approved or not.
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Amina Diallo
•At least we're not alone in this! Hopefully we both hear back soon.
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Ravi Gupta
•Fingers crossed! I keep checking my account multiple times a day like that's going to make it go faster lol
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Isabella Santos
The key thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting. Washington ESD will backpay you for approved weeks, but only if you filed the claims on time.
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Amina Diallo
•This is really important info, thank you! I'm going to file my weekly claim right now.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Yes, this is crucial. I've seen people lose weeks of benefits because they waited for approval before filing weekly claims.
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Emma Wilson
If your claim goes into adjudication that's when you might want to try calling Washington ESD. That's when I used Claimyr and it really helped me get answers about what was holding things up.
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Amina Diallo
•What does adjudication mean exactly? I keep seeing that term but I'm not sure what it involves.
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Emma Wilson
•Adjudication is when Washington ESD needs to investigate something about your claim - like if there's a question about why you left your job or if you're eligible. It can add weeks to the process.
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Javier Mendoza
For what it's worth, most straightforward layoff cases get approved within 2-3 weeks. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to cutbacks, that's pretty clear-cut for Washington ESD.
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Amina Diallo
•That's what I'm hoping for! My employer even gave me a letter explaining the layoffs were due to budget cuts.
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Javier Mendoza
•That letter will definitely help if Washington ESD has any questions. You should be fine.
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Malik Davis
Just remember that even after approval, your first payment might take another week or so. Washington ESD has to process everything through their payment system.
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Amina Diallo
•Good to know! I'm trying to plan my budget around when I might actually see money.
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Malik Davis
•Yeah, it's definitely not instant. Plan for at least a month from filing to first payment in your bank account.
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AstroAdventurer
the good news is that once you're in the system and approved, weekly payments are pretty reliable. it's just this initial waiting period that sucks
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Ravi Gupta
•That's encouraging! I'm hoping to get through this waiting period soon.
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AstroAdventurer
•you will! just hang in there and keep filing those weekly claims
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Oliver Schulz
One more thing - make sure your contact information is up to date in your Washington ESD account. If they need to reach you for any reason, outdated contact info can really slow things down.
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Amina Diallo
•I just double-checked and everything looks current. Thanks for the reminder!
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Oliver Schulz
•Perfect! You're doing everything right then. Just need to be patient with the process.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
Has anyone else noticed that Washington ESD seems to process claims faster now than they did a couple years ago? Maybe it's just me but it feels like they've improved their system.
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Isabella Santos
•I think you're right. My claim last year took way longer than my friend's recent one.
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Emma Wilson
•They definitely upgraded their technology. The website is much better now too.
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Ravi Gupta
UPDATE: I just got approved! My claim status changed this morning after 13 days. So there's hope for all of us waiting!
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Amina Diallo
•Congratulations! That gives me hope that mine will come through soon too.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thanks! I'm sure yours will be approved soon. The waiting is the hardest part.
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Javier Mendoza
For anyone still waiting and getting anxious, remember that Washington ESD has to be thorough with their reviews. It's better that they take time to do it right than rush and make mistakes.
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Amina Diallo
•That's a good way to think about it. I'd rather wait and get approved than have problems later.
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Malik Davis
•True, but it's still stressful when you have bills to pay and no income coming in.
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Isabella Santos
The average seems to be about 2-3 weeks for regular unemployment claims in Washington. Anything longer than that and you might want to call Washington ESD to check on status.
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Amina Diallo
•I'll give it another week and then try calling if I still haven't heard anything.
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Javier Mendoza
•If calling doesn't work, that's when services like Claimyr can really help you get through to someone who can check your claim.
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Emma Wilson
Just wanted to add that if you get approved, make sure to set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Getting paper checks takes even longer.
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Amina Diallo
•I already set up direct deposit when I filed my claim. Good advice though!
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Emma Wilson
•Smart! You'll get your payments much faster that way.
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AstroAdventurer
hang in there everyone! the waiting sucks but washington esd is generally pretty fair with approvals if you qualify
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Amina Diallo
•Thanks for the encouragement! This whole thread has been really helpful.
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Oliver Schulz
•Agreed! It's nice to have a community where people can share their experiences and help each other out.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
Final advice: don't stress too much about the timing. Focus on your job search and filing weekly claims. The approval will come when it comes, and you'll be ready.
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Amina Diallo
•You're absolutely right. I need to stop obsessing over checking my claim status every hour!
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Exactly! Put that energy into productive job searching instead. You've got this!
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