How long does it take to get accepted for unemployment with Washington ESD?

It really depends on your specific situation. If your claim is straightforward with no issues, you might see approval in 1-2 weeks. But if they need to do any adjudication (like verifying your separation reason or work history), it can take 4-6 weeks or even longer. Check your account daily for any pending issues or requests for additional information.

Mine took exactly 10 business days from filing to first payment. But that was pretty smooth - no complications with my separation or anything. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims even while waiting for approval, otherwise you'll miss out on those weeks.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to check on my claim status but can never get through. The phone system is impossible - either busy signal or it just hangs up on you after waiting forever. There has to be a better way to get answers about processing times.

ugh the waiting is the worst part... filed mine almost a month ago and still nothing. my savings are running out and i dont know what to do

The timeline really varies. I work in HR and I've seen employees get approved in a week, others take 6+ weeks. It depends on factors like: how busy Washington ESD is, whether your former employer contests the claim, if you have multiple jobs in your base period that need verification, or if there are any red flags in your work history.

honestly the whole system is broken. ive been waiting 3 weeks and cant get anyone on the phone to explain why. meanwhile bills keep coming

Just got approved yesterday after 12 days! The key was making sure I had all my employment info correct and filing weekly claims from day one. Also helped that I uploaded my separation letter right when I filed the initial claim.

For anyone still waiting, here are some things that can cause delays: quit vs fired disputes, wage discrepancies between what you reported and what employers reported, working in multiple states during your base period, or having gaps in employment that need explanation. Washington ESD has to verify everything before approving.

mine took forever because my previous employer said i was fired for misconduct (which was BS) and it had to go through adjudication. took almost 8 weeks total but i eventually won the appeal. sometimes its not about processing time but about having to fight incorrect information

From what I've seen, most straightforward claims get processed within 2-3 weeks. The outliers that take longer usually have some complicating factor. If you're past 3 weeks with no communication, definitely try to contact them.

Check your correspondence section in your online account too. Sometimes they send requests for info there and people miss it, which can delay processing significantly.

The current average seems to be around 2-3 weeks for uncomplicated claims. But Washington ESD has been pretty overwhelmed lately so some are taking longer. Just keep filing your weekly claims and be patient.

I think the key is setting realistic expectations. If you filed recently, expect 2-4 weeks minimum. If there are any complications or they need to investigate something, it could be 6-8 weeks. The uncertainty is the worst part.

Just want to add that even if your claim takes a while to get approved, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you were eligible and filed weekly claims. So don't worry about 'losing' those weeks during the waiting period.

Based on everything I've read here and my own experience, 2-3 weeks seems normal for straightforward layoff situations. Anything involving misconduct allegations, wage disputes, or complex work histories will take longer due to adjudication.