How long does it take to get approved for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks for the info! What would cause it to go to adjudication? I'm worried I might have messed something up on the application.

Common reasons include discrepancies in employment dates, reason for separation, or if Washington ESD needs to verify information with your employer. As long as you were honest and accurate, you should be fine.

No additional requests yet. My employer laid me off so it should be straightforward, but I'm worried something went wrong with my application.

If it's a layoff situation, that's usually pretty clear cut. The delay might just be due to high volume of claims they're processing right now.

That's reassuring! Did you have to do anything special or just wait it out?

just kept filing weekly claims and waited. didn't have to call or anything

Interesting, I haven't heard of that before. Did it actually help you get answers faster?

Yeah, I was able to talk to someone within a few hours instead of spending days trying to get through the regular phone lines. They explained what was holding up my claim and gave me a better timeline.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already strapped for cash waiting for benefits.

That's reassuring to hear! Did you have to do anything during those 16 days or just wait?

Just waited and made sure to file my weekly claims on time. Even though you're not approved yet, you still need to keep filing those weekly claims retroactively.

Oh no, that's exactly what I was afraid of. Have you tried calling them?

TRIED CALLING HUNDREDS OF TIMES. Either busy signal or they hang up on you after an hour on hold. Absolutely useless.

That sounds like your claim is definitely in adjudication. You should be able to see the status in your online account. Sometimes mass layoffs actually take longer because they have to verify with the employer.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it some kind of scam?

It's legit - I was skeptical too but I was desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

How much does something like that cost? I've been trying to call for weeks.

Yikes, 6 weeks? I only had one employer for the past year so hopefully that helps speed things up.

Six weeks would indicate there was some kind of adjudication issue. Most straightforward layoff cases don't take that long.

I feel your frustration but unfortunately that's just how government agencies work. At least Washington is better than some other states.

Better than other states isn't good enough when you can't pay rent!

Good point, I'll double check that section. I've been focusing on the claim status page.

Yes! This happened to my sister - she missed a request for wage verification and her claim was delayed by 6 weeks.

That makes me feel better. It was definitely a layoff, not my choice at all. Hopefully that helps speed things up.

Yeah layoffs are usually pretty straightforward unless there's something weird about the timing or circumstances.

Yes, I've been filing every Sunday. The system lets me submit them even though my claim isn't approved yet.

Good! That's the most important thing. Those weekly claims establish your benefit weeks.

Good point, I'll make sure to stay on top of that. When is the weekly filing deadline?

you have to file by the end of the week for that week, but I always do mine on sundays to be safe

That's helpful insight! I tried to be really careful with the dates but now I'm second-guessing myself.

Don't stress too much about it. If there's a minor discrepancy, they'll usually just contact you or your employer to clarify. It's the major inconsistencies that cause real delays.

This is so true. I had my start date off by one day and it delayed my claim by 3 weeks while they sorted it out.

Mine just shows 'Filed' right now. Is that different from 'Pending'?

' Filed usually changes 'to' Pending within a few days, then 'to' Approved 'or' Adjudication depending on thereview.

How did you find out about Claimyr? This is the second mention I've seen in this thread.

Someone mentioned it in another unemployment forum. I was skeptical but desperate to get answers about my claim.

It was definitely a layoff - company eliminated my position due to budget cuts. I have the layoff notice as documentation.

With layoff documentation, you should be processed pretty quickly. Probably within the 2-3 week timeframe mentioned earlier.

This is good to hear. The waiting is the worst part of the whole process.

18 days seems reasonable. I'm at 10 days now so hopefully just another week or so.

Computer glitches are definitely a thing. My claim got stuck for 2 weeks because of a system error that flagged my SSN incorrectly.

Good to know. I'll give it another week before trying to call.

Thank you, that helps put my mind at ease. I'll try to be more patient.

Exactly right. 10 days is nothing to worry about yet.

That's the third mention of that service in this thread. Must actually work if multiple people are recommending it.

Yeah it's not free but honestly worth it if you're stressed about your claim status and can't get through normally.

One week waiting period after approval? I didn't know about that part.

Yes, it's called the 'waiting week' and it's required for all new claims in Washington state.

That would be perfect timing. I really appreciate everyone's input on this - makes me feel much better about the wait.

That's encouraging! Did she have to provide any additional documentation?

Nope, just the initial application. I think having clear documentation from HR about the layoff really helped her case.

How many job contacts do I need to make per week?

It depends on your benefit amount but usually 3-5 per week. Keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and any responses.

The WorkSourceWA website has good tools for tracking your job search activities too.

Did the agent give you any idea of how much longer it might take?

She said once the employer responds it should process within a week. Apparently they have 10 business days to respond to Washington ESD inquiries.

Lucky you got through to someone! I might have to try that service too since regular calling hasn't worked.

Easier said than done when bills are due! But I'll try to be patient.

I feel you on that. The financial stress makes every day feel like forever.

That's what I'm hoping for. The layoff was pretty clearly documented with severance paperwork and everything.

Having that documentation definitely helps. Washington ESD likes clear paper trails for separation reasons.

I did get 2 weeks severance. Does that mean my benefits won't start for 2 weeks?

Possibly, yes. You'll need to report that severance when you file your weekly claims. It might delay your benefit start date but won't affect approval.

This happened to me too. The severance pushed my benefit start date back but once it kicked in everything was normal.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's hard not to worry but I guess I just need to trust the process.

You got this! The waiting is definitely the hardest part but it sounds like you have a straightforward case.

Welcome to the waiting game! It's good that you're already on top of the weekly claims and job search documentation - that puts you ahead of a lot of people. Company restructuring layoffs are usually processed pretty smoothly since the reason for separation is clear cut. Just try to stay patient during these next couple weeks, and don't hesitate to check your online account for any correspondence requests. The community here has been super helpful with sharing their experiences!

Great advice on staying on top of the weekly claims! I'm at day 10 of waiting myself and this thread has been incredibly helpful for managing expectations. It's reassuring to know that most straightforward layoff cases get processed within that 2-3 week window. The job search requirement was something I wasn't fully aware of until reading through these responses - definitely going to make sure I'm documenting everything properly. Good luck with your claim!

I'm glad this thread has been helpful! It's crazy how much uncertainty there is around the whole process when you're going through it for the first time. I filed my claim yesterday so I'm just starting this journey, but reading everyone's experiences has definitely helped calm my nerves a bit. The severance pay issue someone mentioned is something I need to look into - I got a small severance package too and wasn't sure how that would affect things. It sounds like as long as we stay on top of the weekly filings and job search requirements, we should be okay. Here's hoping we both get our approvals soon!

This thread has been so reassuring! I just filed my unemployment claim three days ago after getting laid off from my marketing job. The company had to eliminate several positions due to budget constraints, so it sounds like I'm in a similar boat to many of you. I've already started filing my weekly claims and keeping track of my job applications. It's encouraging to hear that most layoff cases get processed within 2-3 weeks - I was worried it might take months based on some horror stories I'd heard online. The tip about checking the correspondence section regularly is something I definitely need to remember. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know what to expect during this stressful time!

I don't think the day of the week you file your weekly claims affects your initial approval processing time - that's handled separately by the adjudication team. But filing consistently on the same day (like Sundays) is definitely a smart approach to stay organized! I'm at day 12 of waiting myself and also keeping a detailed spreadsheet of job applications. The tech industry layoffs have been brutal lately, so you're definitely not alone in this situation. It sounds like you're doing everything right with the weekly filings and job search documentation. Hopefully we'll both hear something in the next week or two!

I've been filing my weekly claims on Sundays too and I don't think the specific day matters for processing your initial approval. What really matters is staying consistent and not missing any weeks. I'm at day 15 of waiting after a layoff from my finance job, and like you said, watching the savings account dwindle is definitely stressful! The tech layoffs have been hitting so many people lately. It sounds like you're being super diligent with the job search spreadsheet - I've been doing something similar and it really helps when you need to report your weekly activities. Fingers crossed we both get our determination letters soon!

Tech layoffs have definitely been hitting hard this year! I'm on day 6 of waiting myself after my software company eliminated my entire department. It's reassuring to see everyone mentioning that 2-3 week timeframe - gives me something concrete to focus on instead of just endless anxiety. I've also been filing on Sundays and keeping detailed records of every application. One thing that's helped my stress levels is setting up automatic job alerts so I'm not constantly refreshing job boards. The waiting game is brutal but at least we're all in good company here!

The Sunday filing routine is smart! I'm at day 11 of waiting after being laid off from my marketing position, and I've been doing the same thing. From what I've read here, the day you file weekly claims doesn't impact initial approval speed, but staying consistent definitely helps avoid any missed weeks. The tech industry has been brutal with layoffs lately - seems like half the people in this thread are dealing with similar situations. Your spreadsheet approach sounds solid too. I've been using a simple notebook but might switch to digital tracking. It's nerve-wracking watching savings disappear, but based on everyone's experiences here, we should hopefully hear something within the next week or so!