How long does it take to get my Washington ESD unemployment benefits approved?

The standard processing time for Washington ESD is usually 2-3 weeks for a straightforward claim. Since you filed 10 days ago, you're still within the normal window. The key factors that affect timing are whether your claim needs adjudication (if there are any eligibility questions) and how quickly your former employer responds to their notice.

Check your account daily for any correspondence or requests for additional information. Sometimes Washington ESD will ask for documents and if you don't respond within the timeframe, it delays everything significantly. Also make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial approval.

I was in your exact situation last month - filed and then sat waiting with no updates. After 3 weeks of calling Washington ESD constantly and never getting through, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Honestly saved my sanity because I was about to lose my apartment.

Don't panic yet! I know the waiting is horrible but 10 days is actually pretty normal. My claim took exactly 14 days to get approved and I received my first payment 3 days after that. The worst part is the uncertainty but Washington ESD is generally pretty good about processing claims within their stated timeframes.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been waiting 6 WEEKS for my claim to be processed and every time I call they just say 'we're experiencing high call volume' and hang up on me. This is peoples LIVES we're talking about not some bureaucratic game. How are we supposed to pay rent and buy food while they take their sweet time???

For what it's worth, I had a similar timeline - filed on a Monday, got approved the following Friday (so about 11 business days). The payment showed up in my bank account 2 days later. I think Washington ESD has gotten better at processing claims compared to the chaos during COVID times.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it really depends on your specific situation. If you were laid off due to company downsizing with clear documentation, it should be straightforward. But if there are any questions about your separation reason, it can take much longer for adjudication.

Try calling Washington ESD first thing in the morning right when they open. I've had better luck getting through around 8 AM compared to later in the day. Though honestly even then it's hit or miss.

Just wanted to add that I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked for me too. I was skeptical at first but after weeks of not being able to reach Washington ESD, I was desperate. Got connected to an adjudicator who explained exactly what was holding up my claim.

I'm a little confused about something - do I need to keep filing weekly claims while waiting for initial approval? I've been doing it but I'm not sure if it matters since I haven't been approved yet.

The timing also depends on what day of the week you filed. I've heard that claims filed on Mondays get processed faster because they have the full week to work on them, but I'm not sure if that's actually true or just a rumor.

hang in there OP! the waiting is the worst part but most people do get approved eventually. just make sure you're doing everything right on your end (filing weekly claims, responding to any requests) and try not to stress too much about things outside your control

I went through this same anxiety when I first filed. What helped me was setting up automatic bill payments for just the essentials and contacting my other creditors to explain the situation. Most are understanding if you're proactive about communicating.

For anyone still having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered that Claimyr service too and it's legit. Got me through to someone at the unemployment office in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. Worth checking out their demo video if you're at your wit's end.

The other thing to keep in mind is that even after your claim is approved, there can be a delay before you actually receive payment. My claim was approved on a Tuesday but I didn't get the direct deposit until the following Monday.

I know this doesn't help with your immediate anxiety, but Washington ESD has actually improved a lot since the pandemic. Back in 2020-2021 people were waiting months just to get someone on the phone. The current wait times are much more reasonable in comparison.