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

What kind of complications usually cause delays? I left my job voluntarily but it was due to unsafe working conditions.

That could definitely trigger an investigation. Washington ESD will need to verify your reason for leaving was legitimate. They'll contact your employer and may require documentation about the unsafe conditions.

Did you have to do anything special during those 3 weeks or just wait?

Just waited and made sure to file my weekly claims even though I wasn't getting paid yet. Don't skip those or you'll lose benefits.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.

I can't remember the exact cost but it was worth it for me to get answers instead of calling endlessly. The peace of mind was invaluable.

Interesting, I might have to look into that if I don't hear anything soon.

I feel you! The waiting is the worst part. Have you checked if there are any pending issues in your account that need attention?

I've logged in probably 50 times and it just says the same thing - under review. No pending issues listed.

That's helpful to know about the 21 day timeline. I'm at day 10 so I guess I still have some time left.

Wait, is that 21 calendar days or business days?

It's 21 calendar days from when they receive your complete application. But like I said, complications can extend this.

That gives me hope! Maybe mine will be straightforward too once they review everything.

Yes, I've been doing that religiously every Sunday. Thanks for the reminder though!

This is so important! I made this mistake and lost 3 weeks of benefits because I thought I should wait until approved to start filing.

I've heard this too! Also try calling right after lunch around 1-2 PM. Supposedly fewer people are calling then.

Or just use Claimyr and skip the hassle entirely. Seriously saved my sanity.

They verify your wages, confirm your reason for separation with your employer, and check if you meet all eligibility requirements. Sometimes they need to contact multiple employers if you had several jobs recently.

Ah that makes sense. I had 3 different jobs in the past 18 months so that probably explains why it's taking longer.

Easy for you to say! Some of us are about to lose our housing waiting for this approval.

I get it, I really do. I was in the same boat 6 months ago. Just trying to offer some perspective.

That's reassuring about the backpay. I was worried I'd lose out on those weeks if approval takes too long.

Yes, as long as you keep filing your weekly claims, you'll get paid retroactively once approved.

The 21-day timeline includes weekends and holidays, but the actual processing probably only happens on business days. So it might effectively take longer than 21 calendar days.

I do the exact same thing! Multiple times a day. It's becoming obsessive lol

We've all been there! The waiting is definitely the hardest part.

That's great to hear! I think I'm going to try it if I don't hear anything by the end of this week.

What kind of information were they able to give you over the phone?

They told me my claim was in adjudication because of my quit reason, approximately how much longer it would take, and what documents I could submit to help speed things up.

Good point about the job search documentation. I've been keeping a log of all my applications and networking contacts.

Unfortunately there's no formal expedite process, but if you can get through to speak with someone, they might be able to give you better information about timeline. You could also look into emergency assistance programs while waiting.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr are so valuable - when you're in a crisis situation, you need answers fast.

Congratulations! That gives me hope since we filed around the same time. Did you get any notification or did you just see it when you logged in?

I got an email notification and then saw the updated status in my account. The first payment should be processed in the next few days.

Ugh lucky you! Still waiting over here...

Same here! It's nice to know other people are going through the same thing and that there's light at the end of the tunnel.