How long does it take to determine unemployment eligibility with Washington ESD?

I logged in and don't see any pending issues listed. Just says my claim is being processed. Should I be doing anything else while I wait?

Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while the initial determination is pending. You won't get paid until eligibility is confirmed, but you need to keep filing to maintain your claim dates.

Three weeks?? That's so long when you're not getting any income. Did they eventually approve you without any issues?

Yes, it was approved but the waiting was stressful. I kept thinking something was wrong but it was just their normal processing time.

Is this legit? I've never heard of using a third party service to contact government agencies.

Yeah it's real, they just help you get through the phone system faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I needed to talk to someone about my claim.

Interesting, I might try this if my claim gets stuck. The regular phone system is impossible.

21 days seems like forever when you have rent due! But good to know about the backpay - I wasn't sure how that worked.

The backpay is automatic once you're approved, as long as you've been filing your weekly claims. Don't skip any weeks or you'll lose those payments.

I know it's frustrating but hang in there. Two weeks is still within normal processing time, especially if you filed recently.

thanks, just worried because I've never been unemployed before and don't know what to expect

Should I be watching for the letter in regular mail or email? I don't want to miss anything important.

Regular mail for the official determination letter. Email notifications are usually just reminders to file weekly claims.

Make sure your address is correct in your account because if the letter gets returned, it can delay everything even more.

That's reassuring to hear from someone who sees this professionally. My former employer said they wouldn't contest it since it was a company-wide layoff.

Company-wide layoffs are the easiest cases for approval. Just be patient with the timing.

It's definitely frustrating but good to know we're not alone in this waiting game.

The waiting is the worst part, especially when you don't know if something's wrong or if it's just normal processing time.

Good to know! I haven't tried calling yet but might if I don't hear anything soon.

8am is definitely the best time but you still might wait on hold for an hour or more. That Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier might be worth it to avoid the hassle.

Thanks for sharing your timeline! That gives me hope that mine should come through soon.

Yeah the weekly claims are crucial - don't skip those even while waiting for the initial determination.

That's good to know it worked for you. If I don't hear anything by next week I might give it a try.

Having that peace of mind is worth something when you're stressed about money. Good tip.

I hope so! This waiting period is really stressful when you have bills to pay.

Hang in there, the backpay will cover this waiting period once you're approved.