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

What kind of issues could come up that would delay it?

Things like identity verification, work history discrepancies, or if they need to contact your former employer.

That's exactly what I'm worried about! Have you tried calling early in the morning?

I've tried everything - calling right at 8am, different numbers, even tried the chat feature. Nothing works.

Is this legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got connected to someone at Washington ESD within a few hours instead of spending days trying to call.

How much does something like that cost though?

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me the time savings was worth it since I was losing money every day my claim was stuck.

What would cause an employer to contest it?

If they think you were fired for misconduct, quit voluntarily, or if there are disputes about your work history or wages.

That's encouraging! Did you have to do anything special or just wait?

nah just filed weekly claims and waited. made sure to do the job search stuff they require

Oh wow I didn't know that! Where do you do the weekly claims?

Through your SecureAccess Washington account, same place you filed your initial claim. Don't skip any weeks!

That's great! How long did it take them to connect you?

About 3 hours. Way better than the weeks I spent trying to call myself.

Glad you got answers! That wage verification thing trips up a lot of people.

It's frustrating but they have to verify everything to prevent fraud. The volume of claims makes it even slower.

I get fraud prevention but there has to be a better way. Meanwhile people can't pay rent.

Smart plan! Hopefully you won't need it but good to have options if you get stuck.

Also keep detailed records of everything - when you filed, what documents you submitted, etc. Helps if you need to call later.

Six weeks?! That's so long. Did you have to submit extra paperwork?

Yeah, pay stubs and W2s from jobs that weren't in their system automatically. Pain in the butt but eventually got sorted out.

Good point, I should probably review my application to make sure everything matches my records.

Exactly! And if you notice an error after filing, don't wait - call to get it corrected ASAP.

Have you tried using Claimyr? Might be worth it at this point to get some answers about what's holding up your claim.

never heard of it but willing to try anything at this point

It really does work, just used it myself. Check out claimyr.com

I check mine daily but it just says 'claim filed' with no other details.

That's normal for the first couple weeks. If it goes to adjudication, you'll see that status change and usually get more information about what's needed.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but check the Washington ESD website for current requirements. Can include applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

What if you do some freelance work while waiting for benefits?

report it when you do your weekly claim. they'll adjust your benefits accordingly but better to be honest upfront

Yeah the uncertainty is really stressful. Especially when bills are piling up.

I know it's hard but try to use this time productively - update your resume, learn new skills, network. The benefits will come eventually.

A month seems like a long time to wait before following up. What's considered reasonable?

She said 3-4 weeks is normal processing time, but after that definitely try to get in touch to see if there are any issues.

True, the agent I spoke with through Claimyr was very knowledgeable and patient. The problem is just getting through to them.

Exactly! If only they had enough staff to handle all the calls.

Congrats! That's a pretty typical timeline for a straightforward claim.

Great news! Remember to keep doing your weekly claims and job search activities.

Happy it worked out quickly for you! Gives me hope for others who are still waiting.

Glad it helped! Make sure you have all your employment history and documents ready before you start.

Good luck with your claim! Feel free to ask questions if you run into any issues.