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

What kind of things trigger adjudication? I'm worried I might have messed something up on my application.

Common things are discrepancies in employment dates, reason for separation issues, or if your previous employer contests the claim. Also if you worked in multiple states recently.

Thanks! That's helpful to know. Do I need to do anything while I'm waiting or just sit tight?

You still need to file your weekly claims even while waiting for the determination. Don't skip those or you could lose benefits for those weeks.

I only worked at one place for the past two years so hopefully that speeds things up.

Even with one employer it can take time if Washington ESD can't reach them for verification. Some employers are slow to respond.

Same here! I've been calling for days and either get disconnected or stuck on hold for hours. It's so frustrating when you need answers about your claim status.

I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and stress.

Interesting, I've never heard of that before. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to speak with someone within a few days instead of spending weeks trying to get through on my own.

What would cause it to go into adjudication? I was laid off due to budget cuts, not fired.

Layoffs are usually straightforward, but if your employer disputes the reason for separation or there's any question about misconduct, it triggers an investigation.

This happened to me - my employer said I quit when I was actually laid off. Took 2 months to get it sorted out.

Thanks for the info! How do I know if my claim needs adjudication? Is there a way to check that online?

You can check your claim status on the Washington ESD website. If adjudication is needed, you'll usually see a notice in your account or receive mail about it. Sometimes they need additional information from you or your former employer.

That's reassuring! Did you get paid for all the weeks you were waiting once it was approved?

yeah they paid me retroactively from when i first filed, so i got a bigger payment for the first week

This is really helpful, thank you. How do I know if my claim needs adjudication?

You'll typically see a status change in your account or receive a letter/email if adjudication is needed. The status might show 'adjudication in progress' or similar language.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth checking out their site for the details. For me it was worth it just to get answers instead of calling 100+ times a day.

I've heard of services like this but wasn't sure if they were legit. Good to know it actually worked for someone.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it last month when I was having the same problem getting through to Washington ESD. It's a service that helps you get connected to an actual agent - worked great for me. You can check it out at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

5 weeks in adjudication is rough. Usually means there's something complex about your separation that they're investigating. Did you quit, get fired, or was it a layoff?

Congrats! That gives me hope. I was also laid off so hopefully mine will be straightforward too.

lucky! i'm still waiting after 3 weeks

I feel you. The system is totally broken. Have you tried contacting your state representative? Sometimes they can help expedite things.

No I haven't tried that. Do they actually help with unemployment claims?

They have constituent services that can sometimes help with state agency issues. Worth a shot if you're desperate.

I filed on a Tuesday morning so hopefully that helps. Didn't think about timing being a factor.

Tuesday morning is good timing. Mondays are usually swamped with weekend applications.

While there can be delays, most claims without complications are still processed within the standard timeframe. The system has improved significantly since the pandemic years.

Maybe for simple cases, but god help you if there's any issue at all. Then you're stuck in bureaucratic hell for months.

Wait, so even after approval there's another delay? That's frustrating.

Yes, it's called the waiting week. It's standard policy. Your first payable week won't be paid until you've had one unpaid waiting week.

Good point about the weekly claims. I wasn't sure if I should be doing those yet.

Yes definitely keep filing them! You won't get paid for weeks you don't file, even if your claim gets approved later.

Wait, really? I haven't been filing weekly claims because I thought I had to wait for approval first!

No, you need to file them right away! Log into your Washington ESD account and file for any weeks you've missed. You can usually backdate them if it's within a reasonable timeframe.

This is so important! I made this mistake and lost 2 weeks of benefits because I didn't know.

Wait, so even if I'm approved I don't get paid for the first week? That seems unfair.

It's called the waiting week and it's required by law. Everyone has to serve one unpaid week before benefits start.

Some states got rid of the waiting week during COVID but Washington still has it unfortunately.

At least you got through to someone! How long did you have to wait on hold?

About 2 hours, but I got lucky. Most of the time I just get disconnected.

That's a good point. I just need to be patient I guess.

That's great news! I might need to try that service too if my claim takes much longer.

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

It was worth it for me to get answers instead of waiting in limbo. Check their website for current pricing.

I might have to try this. I'm at my wit's end waiting for any kind of update on my claim.

Definitely worth it if you've been waiting weeks without answers. The peace of mind alone is valuable.

Same experience here. 3 weeks of anxiety then boom, approved and first payment within days.

What kind of documents might they ask for?

Could be pay stubs, ID verification, proof of job search activities. Depends on your situation.

They asked me for my social security card even though I'd been getting benefits before. Just be ready for anything.

This gives me a better idea of what to expect. Hopefully mine falls into the straightforward category.

Keep monitoring your account for any requests for additional information. Responding quickly to any requests can help avoid delays.

Check your account online for any alerts or pending issues. If there's nothing showing, your claim might be in adjudication.

This is exactly when I used Claimyr to get through to someone. Took forever to reach Washington ESD on my own but they got me connected in minutes.

I might have to look into that. I've called probably 200 times and either get busy signals or get disconnected.

That's really helpful to know from someone who worked there! Is there anything I can do to speed up the process?

Make sure all your information is accurate and complete. Respond quickly to any requests for additional information. Other than that, it's just a matter of waiting for the process to complete.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if you're really stuck.

I thought it was reasonable for what it saved me in time and stress. Check out their site at claimyr.com for details.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! This thread has been really helpful. I'll keep filing my weekly claims and try to be patient.

That's a pretty cynical view but honestly it does feel that way sometimes.

I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic. The system has built-in barriers and delays.

Absolutely. I've seen people lose weeks of benefits because they didn't respond to requests for information quickly enough.

That makes sense. I guess I just need to be patient and keep filing my weekly claims.

Exactly. Patience is hard when you need the money, but staying consistent with weekly filings is crucial.

Good advice. I tried to be as accurate as possible but I'm second-guessing some of the dates I put down.

If you're worried about specific details, you might want to call and verify rather than wait to see if there's a problem.

What happened when your employer contested it? How did that get resolved?

Had to go through a phone hearing where I explained my side. Won the appeal but it added about a month to the whole process.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and information. This has been really helpful in understanding what to expect.

You're welcome! Hope your claim processes smoothly and quickly.

How many job searches do I need to do per week? The website wasn't super clear on this.

It's 3 job search activities per week. Keep detailed records of what you did, when, and where.

And they can ask to see your job search log at any time so don't slack on this part.

That's reassuring! Do they direct deposit or send a card?

You can choose direct deposit or they'll send you a debit card. Direct deposit is faster.

That gives me hope! Did you have to provide any additional documentation?

Just had to verify my identity online, which took about 5 minutes. Nothing complicated.

Identity verification is the new thing they're doing. It's actually pretty quick if you have your documents ready.

Smart thinking! I'll go do that right now.

Yeah and double check your bank routing number. I typo'd mine and had to wait an extra week for my payment.

How did you finally get through? I've been trying for days.

Honestly I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth every penny to actually talk to a human.

The phone system is just impossible. I don't blame people for using services like that.

When do I file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. I usually do mine Sunday morning to get it out of the way.

The deadline is Saturday at midnight for the previous week. Don't wait until the last minute though.

That does make me feel better about the wait time. I was starting to think something was wrong.

The system got a lot better after the pandemic mess. They streamlined a lot of processes.

I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

That's good - interstate claims can add weeks to the process.

Good advice! I'll make sure to check regularly instead of just waiting for mail.

The online system updates faster than the mail notifications. I always check there first.

Thank you for the suggestion. I might need to look into that if this takes much longer.

211 is a good resource to call for local assistance programs. They can tell you what's available in your area.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! This has been way more informative than the Washington ESD website.

This forum is always more helpful than the official sites. Good luck with your claim!