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

The typical timeline for Washington ESD unemployment claims is usually 2-4 weeks from when you first file to when you receive your first payment, assuming there are no complications. You'll need to file your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial approval. The first week is always a waiting week where you don't get paid, but you still need to file it.

It really depends on your situation. If Washington ESD needs to verify your employment history or if there are any red flags, it could take much longer. Some people get approved in 2 weeks, others wait 6-8 weeks or more if it goes into adjudication.

I've been waiting 5 weeks now and still nothing. My claim is stuck in adjudication and I can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. I've called dozens of times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. This is ridiculous.

OMG 5 weeks?? I'm already stressed about money and I just filed mine yesterday. This is going to be a nightmare isn't it? What if I can't pay my rent?

The whole Washington ESD system is broken. I waited 7 weeks last year and when I finally got through to someone, they told me I filled out ONE form wrong and that's why it was delayed. Seven weeks for a form error!

If you're laid off and have straightforward employment history, you should be approved relatively quickly. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims on time and meet all the job search requirements once you start receiving benefits.

I got approved in exactly 2 weeks last month. No issues, just had to be patient. The waiting is the worst part but it does happen.

Been there done that. The trick is staying on top of your weekly claims and not missing any deadlines. Even if your initial claim takes a while, you'll get backpaid for all the weeks you properly filed.

Check your online account regularly for any requests for additional information. Sometimes Washington ESD will ask for more docs and if you don't respond quickly, it can delay everything.

My sister used Claimyr when she couldn't get through to Washington ESD and it worked great. They got her connected to an agent the same day and she was able to get her claim status updated. Way better than spending hours on hold.

The timing really varies. I've filed 3 times over the years and it was 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks respectively. The 6 week one was during a busy period when lots of people were filing.

Just be prepared for the waiting game. The first time is always the most stressful because you don't know what to expect. Once you get through it once, you'll know the process for next time (hopefully there isn't a next time though!).

Make sure you're available for work and actively seeking employment. They can and do check on this stuff, and if you're not available it can delay or disqualify your claim.

The system is so much better now than it was during 2020-2021. Back then people were waiting months. Now it's usually just a few weeks unless there's a problem with your claim.

I actually used Claimyr last week when I needed to check on my claim status. Got through to an agent in about 30 minutes instead of calling all day myself. Totally worth it when you need to talk to someone quickly.

Bottom line - most people get approved within 2-4 weeks if there are no complications. Keep filing your weekly claims, stay available for work, and don't stress too much about the timing. It'll come through.