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

What kind of things typically trigger adjudication? I was laid off due to company downsizing so I'm hoping that's pretty straightforward.

Layoffs are usually the most straightforward. Adjudication typically happens when there's a question about why you left your job - like if you quit, were fired for cause, or if there's conflicting information between what you reported and what your employer reported.

What kind of things would trigger a longer review? I reported everything accurately on my application.

Things like gaps in employment, self-employment income, or if your employer contests the claim. Also if you worked in multiple states recently.

Did you call them to check on the status or just wait it out?

tried calling but never got through, just had to wait

Good to know about filing weekly claims! I wasn't sure if I should be doing that before getting approved.

Yes definitely keep filing weekly claims! I made that mistake my first time and lost out on two weeks of benefits because I thought I had to wait.

How does that work exactly? Do they just keep calling for you or is there some other trick?

They handle the calling process and get you connected to an actual agent. Much better than spending your entire day hitting redial and getting hung up on.

Interesting, I've never heard of that service before. Might be worth checking out if I run into issues.

How do I know if my claim is in adjudication? Is there a way to check the status online?

Yes, you can check your claim status through your SecureAccess Washington account. If it shows 'adjudication in progress' that means they're investigating something and it could take several more weeks.

I had the same question last month and ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent to check my status. Worth checking out - claimyr.com has a video demo that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call on my own.

Two weeks is still within normal range. Try not to panic yet - most claims without complications get processed by the 3-week mark.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I just keep refreshing the website hoping something will change.

I feel you on the anxiety. When I was waiting I called like 50 times trying to get through to someone who could tell me what was happening.

I understand the frustration, but adjudication is a real process where they investigate specific issues with your claim. It's not just a delay tactic.

Maybe so but they should be able to tell you WHAT they're investigating and give you a realistic timeline instead of just saying 'we'll get to it when we get to it

You're right about the communication being terrible. That's why I ended up trying that Claimyr thing someone mentioned - at least I could talk to an actual person who could look up my specific case details.

Have you received any correspondence from ESD asking for additional information? Sometimes they send requests that end up in spam folders.

checked everywhere including spam, nothing. just radio silence while I'm running out of money

This is exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr could help - you need to speak to someone to find out what's holding up your adjudication, but the phone system makes that nearly impossible on your own.

My company was pretty good about paperwork so hopefully they'll respond quickly if ESD contacts them.

That should help speed things up. The delays I've seen are usually when employers are slow to verify employment dates or dispute the reason for separation.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that processing time. Is it usually just a couple days?

Yeah, usually 2-3 business days after ESD shows your payment as issued. Direct deposit is faster than getting a debit card.

Oh good point! I wasn't sure if I should file weekly claims before getting approved. Thanks for the tip.

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

How many job search activities do you need per week? I've been applying to jobs but wasn't keeping detailed records.

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements on your ESD account. Keep records of where you applied, when, and any responses you got.

What kind of documentation did they need from your employer?

They wanted verification of my last day worked and reason for separation. My HR department was slow to respond which added to the delay.

Same thing happened to me! Employer took forever to send back the forms and Washington ESD just sits there waiting instead of following up.

easy to say when you're not the one struggling to pay bills with no income

I totally understand the stress - I was in the same boat. Just trying to offer some encouragement that it does eventually work out.

This is super helpful! My situation should be category 1 so hopefully I'm in the 2-3 week range.

What counts as a 'disputed separation'? My employer said they're not contesting but I'm worried they might change their mind.

Disputed separation is when your employer claims you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily when you say you were laid off. If they're not contesting, you should be fine.

Right? The not knowing is almost worse than just knowing it'll take a while. At least then you can plan.

Exactly! I just want to know if I need to start looking into food banks or borrow money from family.

I've been checking daily but it still just says 'under review.' Hopefully that changes soon.

Yeah, that's pretty normal for the first couple weeks. Once it moves to the next stage you should see more detailed status information.

Wait, so I lose a week of benefits no matter what? That seems unfair.

Yeah, it's called the waiting week. It's been that way for years. You still have to file for that week, you just don't get paid for it.

The waiting week is standard in most states. It's just part of how unemployment insurance works unfortunately.

I've tried calling at 8am multiple times and still can't get through. The system is just overloaded.

Yeah, it's definitely frustrating. That's why services like Claimyr exist - the regular phone system is basically unusable for most people.

What verification processes did they change?

Not sure exactly but I heard they added more identity verification steps after some fraud issues a few years back.

I didn't file around any holidays, so hopefully that's not a factor for me.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm trying to stay positive.

Yeah the waiting sucks but once it starts coming it's worth it. Just make sure you understand the job search requirements so you don't get cut off later.

Good advice. I'm checking my account and email daily to make sure I don't miss anything.

That's smart. ESD doesn't always send things to your email either - sometimes important stuff only shows up when you log into your account.

Thanks for the encouragement! It's definitely stressful not knowing when to expect income.

That's about what I was hoping to hear. Fingers crossed mine stays straightforward.

Yeah, layoffs are usually the easiest to process. The complications usually come from job separations that aren't clear-cut.

How quickly were you able to get through to someone using their service?

They got me connected within a few hours, which was amazing compared to the days I'd spent trying to call myself. The agent was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim.

Right, I know I'll need to keep filing weekly. Is there anything else I should be prepared for once benefits start?

Just stay on top of the job search requirements and report any income if you do any part-time work. ESD can audit your job search activities at any time.

It does feel unnecessarily complicated for something that should be straightforward.

Good thinking. All my info should be current but I'll double-check everything.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! Feeling much better about the process now.

How much does that service cost? Might be worth it for peace of mind.

I don't remember the exact amount but it wasn't too expensive for what you get. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works.

Interesting, hadn't heard of that before. Might try it if I can't get through on my own after another week of trying.

That's reassuring about the payments being regular once approved. I was worried each payment would be another long wait.

No, once you're in the system and approved, weekly payments are usually deposited within 1-2 days of filing your weekly claim.

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

Interstate claims are definitely more complicated. Had the same issue when I moved from California.

Yeah I'm trying to find the balance between being patient and being proactive. Don't want to be annoying but also don't want to get forgotten in the system.

Exactly. After 4-5 weeks I'd definitely start making calls or looking into services like that Claimyr thing to get answers.