How long does it take to hear back from Washington ESD unemployment claim?

Thanks, that's a relief to know it's normal. I was worried something went wrong.

Yeah the waiting is the worst part. Just keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending.

What would cause it to go to adjudication? I reported everything accurately when I filed.

Common reasons include questions about your job separation, prior claims in other states, or if you worked for multiple employers. It's not necessarily because you did anything wrong.

Mine went to adjudication because I had a brief temp job right before getting laid off. Added 3 extra weeks to the process.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It was worth it for me - way less frustrating than calling over and over. The agent was able to tell me exactly where my claim stood and what was holding it up.

I used Claimyr too when my claim got stuck. Super easy to use and saved me hours of busy signals.

I feel your frustration but yelling won't help. Have you tried contacting your state representative?

Yes I tried everything. Nobody responds. I'm about to lose my apartment.

That's awful, I'm sorry you're going through this. Did you check if there are any outstanding issues on your claim that need to be addressed?

Good point, I've been doing that. Just worried the whole thing will get denied for some reason.

As long as you were laid off or terminated through no fault of your own and meet the work history requirements, you should be fine.

That's correct - voluntary separations require adjudication to determine if there was good cause. Unsafe conditions can qualify as good cause if properly documented.

Yeah it took 6 weeks total but I eventually got approved. Worth fighting for if you have a legitimate reason.

What kind of documentation did you need? I'm in a similar situation with harassment at work.

Have you checked your account for any messages or requests for information? Sometimes claims get delayed because they need additional docs.

checked this morning, nothing there. just says pending still

Might be worth using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier to get through to someone who can tell you what's going on with your claim.

What's the best time to call? I tried a few times but always get busy signals.

Early morning right when they open (8 AM) or during lunch hours tend to be better. But honestly, the phone system is overwhelmed most days.

I've had luck calling right at 8 AM sharp. Takes persistence though.

Oh no, what kind of issue? Now I'm worried my employer might say something to block my claim.

They claimed she was fired for misconduct but it wasn't true. She won the appeal but it was a nightmare process.

Employer disputes are unfortunately common. If you were laid off due to lack of work, you should be fine. If terminated, make sure you have documentation of the circumstances.

How many times have you filed for unemployment? Is the process the same each time?

Third time in 15 years. Process is similar but they've made some improvements to the online system. Still slow though.

I did register with WorkSource when I filed. Do I need to do anything else with that?

You'll need to do job search activities once your claim is approved. For now just make sure your registration is complete.

Yeah they require 3 job search contacts per week once you start receiving benefits. Worth getting familiar with the WorkSource system now.

That's about 3 weeks which is on the longer side but still within normal range unfortunately.

normal range or not, bills dont wait for washington esd to get their act together

Did they charge you to use it? I'm already tight on money and can't afford extra fees.

There is a fee but for me it was worth it to get answers instead of wondering for weeks. Check their website for current pricing.

Used it last week too - worked exactly like they showed in their demo video. Finally got some real information about my claim status.

That makes sense I guess. Just wish they would communicate better about timelines.

Agreed, a simple status update system would help reduce anxiety for everyone waiting.

Do you see any common reasons why claims get delayed or denied?

Usually job separation issues, wage discrepancies, or people who haven't worked enough quarters to qualify. If you were clearly laid off and have recent work history you should be fine.

Thanks for the timeline reference. Gives me hope that I should hear something this week or next.

Yeah I need to start applying places anyway. Might as well use this waiting time productively.

Exactly! And keep track of your applications because you'll need to report job search activities once benefits start.

Good advice. The job search requirement kicks in right away so better to get ahead of it.

Congratulations! That gives me hope. I'm on day 12 now so hopefully soon for me too.

Great news! See, the system does work, just takes patience.

happy for you! still waiting on mine but this makes me feel better