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

It typically takes 2-3 weeks to process your initial claim if there are no issues. You should get a determination letter in the mail within 10-14 days. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims every week even while waiting for approval - you can't get paid for weeks you don't claim.

The 2-3 week timeline is accurate IF your claim doesn't go into adjudication. If Washington ESD needs to verify anything about your separation from work or eligibility, it can take 4-6 weeks or even longer. Common things that trigger adjudication include quit vs layoff disputes, availability issues, or income reporting discrepancies.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my pending claim and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting for hours. Recently found out about claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your claim status.

mine took exactly 3 weeks and 2 days from filing to first payment hitting my account, no issues with adjudication tho

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been waiting 6 WEEKS for my claim to be approved and every time I call they give me a different excuse. First they said they needed verification from my employer, then they said there was a computer glitch, now they're saying they need to verify my identity AGAIN even though I already sent all my documents twice!

For anyone wondering about payment timing - once your claim is approved, you usually get your first payment within 2-3 business days if you have direct deposit set up. The debit card option takes about 7-10 days for the card to arrive by mail, then payments are instant after that.

Just want to add that you need to complete your job search activities too. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week to remain eligible. Make sure you're keeping track of everything in WorkSourceWA or you could get disqualified even after approval.

I got my determination letter in 12 days and was approved right away. First payment came 4 days after that. The key is making sure all your info is accurate when you file - any discrepancies will slow things down.

Does anyone know if part-time work affects the timeline? I might have the opportunity to do some freelance work while I'm looking for full-time employment.

Been reading horror stories online about people waiting months for approval. Really hoping that's not the norm because I can't afford to wait that long.

Pro tip: set up your eServices account right after filing if you haven't already. You can track your claim status, file weekly claims, and view correspondence all online. Much easier than trying to call.

My sister just went through this process last month. Filed on a Tuesday, got determination letter the following Friday (10 days), first payment hit her account the next Wednesday. Pretty smooth process for her.

Whatever you do, don't miss filing any weekly claims while you wait! Even if your initial claim is still pending, you need to keep filing every week or you'll lose those weeks permanently. I learned this the hard way.

I had to use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier because my claim got stuck in adjudication for over a month. The agent I talked to was able to see exactly what was holding up my claim and told me what documentation I needed to send. Got approved within a week after that call.

The waiting is the worst part honestly. Try to stay busy with job searching and don't obsess over checking your account every day. It'll update when it updates.

Just got my first payment today after waiting 3 weeks and 4 days. Hang in there - it does come through eventually!

One thing I wish I'd known - you can sign up for email and text alerts about your claim status through eServices. Saves you from constantly logging in to check for updates.

Bottom line - if it's a straightforward layoff with no complications, expect 2-3 weeks. If there are any issues that require adjudication, could be 4-8 weeks or more. The key is filing your weekly claims no matter what and being patient with the process.

Last thing - if you run into problems or your claim gets stuck, don't just wait around hoping it fixes itself. Be proactive about calling (or using services like Claimyr if you can't get through) to find out what's happening. The sooner you address issues, the sooner you get paid.