How long does it take to find out if you qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thank you! I wasn't sure if I should file weekly claims before getting approved. I'll start doing that this week.

Yeah definitely keep filing weekly even if you haven't heard back yet. I made that mistake and had to backdate everything later.

Mine should be straightforward too - just a regular layoff due to budget cuts. Hopefully it goes as smoothly as yours did.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it when I was having trouble reaching Washington ESD. It's a service that helps you get through to an actual agent - check out claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

It's totally legitimate. I was skeptical too but it actually worked - got connected to a Washington ESD agent within a few hours instead of spending days trying to call.

What exactly triggers adjudication? My employer was pretty clear that the layoffs were due to budget constraints, so hopefully that won't be an issue.

Common triggers are employer contests, multiple jobs in the base period, self-employment, or if you quit instead of being laid off. Since yours was a clear layoff, you should be fine.

Yikes, that sounds like a nightmare. Did they tell you upfront what documents they needed or did they keep asking for more?

they kept requesting new stuff each time. super annoying. but once i finally got all the paperwork in it was approved pretty quick

Good point. I double-checked everything before submitting but now I'm second-guessing myself!

I totally understand the anxiety. The waiting is brutal when you have bills due. Have you been able to get through to anyone at Washington ESD to check on your claim status?

No luck getting through by phone. The lines are always busy and when I do get in the queue, I get disconnected after waiting forever.

This is exactly why I ended up trying Claimyr. Saved me so much frustration with the phone system. Got connected to an agent who could actually check my claim status and explain what was happening.

Congrats! That gives me hope. Was your situation pretty straightforward like mine?

Yes, regular W2 job, laid off due to company restructuring. No complications at all.

Right? Like at least tell us if we're in the normal queue or if there's something specific they're waiting on.

Good reminder! I've been applying to jobs but haven't been keeping a formal log. Should probably start doing that.

Definitely keep a log with dates, companies, positions, and how you applied. Makes it much easier when you have to report your job search activities.

What happens if an employer contests your claim? Do they notify you?

Yes, you get notified and there's a fact-finding process. It delays everything significantly but if you were legitimately laid off, you'll be fine in the end.

I feel for you. The financial stress while waiting is real. Have you looked into any emergency assistance programs while you wait? Some local nonprofits can help with rent or utilities.

Also consider using Claimyr to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim status. At least you'd know if there's a specific holdup or if you're just in the normal processing queue.

Good to know about the payment delay after approval. Did you get back pay for the weeks you were waiting?

Yes, as long as you filed your weekly claims during the waiting period, you get back pay for all those weeks once approved.

Totally agree. Even something like 'Week 1 of 2-3 week review process' would be so much better than the vague status updates.

The problem is actually getting through to talk to someone. I've probably tried calling 50 times and never gotten past the busy signal.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. They handle the calling hassle for you and get you connected to an actual person who can give you real information about your claim.