How long does it take to get a decision from Washington ESD unemployment?

It really depends on your situation. Simple claims usually get decided within 2-3 weeks, but if there are any complications it can drag on much longer. Did you quit your job or were you laid off? That makes a big difference in processing time.

I've been waiting 3 weeks for a decision and still nothing. Called multiple times but can never get through. This system is so frustrating!

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, you might want to check out claimyr.com. They have a service that helps people connect with ESD agents without sitting on hold forever. I saw their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and it looked pretty useful for situations like this.

The 'normal' timeframe they quote is usually 21 business days, but in reality it varies a lot. If your claim triggers any red flags in their system it goes into adjudication which can add weeks or even months.

ugh this brings back memories of when I filed last year... took FOREVER and they never explained why

Ten days is still pretty early in the process honestly. I know it's stressful waiting but try not to panic yet. Most straightforward layoff cases get approved within 2-3 weeks total.

Check your online account daily. Sometimes the status changes without them sending you an email notification right away.

I'm in the same boat, filed 2 weeks ago and still waiting. This whole system needs an overhaul, it's 2025 and it still takes forever to process a simple claim.

When I was going through this last year, I found that calling around lunch time sometimes worked better than mornings. But honestly, after trying for days I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got through to an agent the same day and they were able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim.

Just wanted to chime in - mine took exactly 19 business days and then got approved. Hang in there!

One thing to keep in mind is that even after you get approved, there can be additional delays for the first payment while they verify your identity and set up direct deposit. So the whole process from filing to getting money can be 3-4 weeks even for straightforward cases.

For what it's worth, Washington ESD has gotten better about processing times compared to a few years ago. During the pandemic it was taking months, so 2-3 weeks now is actually an improvement.

Don't forget you still need to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial decision. I made that mistake my first time and it caused problems.

Anyone know if there's a way to check if your claim is in adjudication? My status just says pending but I don't know if that means normal processing or if there's an issue.

Keep checking your correspondence inbox on the ESD website too. Sometimes they request additional information and if you miss it, it can delay everything even more.

From my experience, if you were laid off and everything is straightforward, 2-3 weeks is pretty typical. If you quit or there are wage issues it can take much longer.

This thread is making me feel better about my situation. At least I'm not the only one waiting around for ESD to make up their minds.

Pro tip: if you do get approved, set up direct deposit right away. Paper checks take even longer and can get lost in the mail.

Just to summarize for the OP: 2-3 weeks is normal for straightforward layoff cases, keep filing weekly claims while you wait, check your online account and messages regularly, and don't panic if it takes the full 3 weeks. You should hear something soon.

Hope this helps future people too who are wondering about timing. This is exactly the kind of info I wish I had when I first filed.

I'm in week 2 of waiting myself and this thread has been super reassuring! It's so stressful when you don't know what's normal timing. The advice about continuing to file weekly claims is especially important - I almost forgot to do that this week thinking I should wait for approval first. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in this waiting game.