How long does it take to process unemployment claims in Washington ESD?

Thanks! Do you know what kind of issues would cause delays?

Things like if you quit your job, were fired for misconduct, or if there's a question about your wages. Also if you worked in multiple states recently.

Oh I didn't know that! I thought I had to wait for approval first. How do I file the weekly claims?

Log into your account on the Washington ESD website and look for 'File Weekly Claim' - you do this every week to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work.

This is so confusing, I wish they explained this better when you first apply

What causes a claim to go into adjudication?

Common reasons include separation issues (quit vs laid off), wage discrepancies, working while filing, or if you have a previous overpayment. The system flags these automatically.

My claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now and I can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to find out what's happening.

Really? How does that work exactly?

You give them your info and they keep calling Washington ESD until they get through, then they conference you in when they reach an agent. Saved me hours of frustration.

Is it expensive though?

It was worth it for me just to finally talk to someone and get my claim moving. Much better than wasting entire days trying to call.

Did you have any complications or was it pretty straightforward?

pretty straightforward, was laid off due to company downsizing so no issues there

Try not to worry too much. Most claims get approved if you were laid off. Just keep filing your weekly claims and be patient.

But what if something goes wrong? I really need this money to pay rent.

If there are any issues, Washington ESD will send you a notice explaining what they need from you. Don't panic unless you actually get a denial.

5 weeks suggests your claim is in adjudication. There should be a notice in your account explaining why.

There's nothing in my account! Just says 'under review' with no details. This is ridiculous.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - I was getting nowhere with the regular phone system. At least when they got me through to an agent, I could get real answers about what was happening with my claim.

That's good to know! I was worried I'd miss out on money if it took too long to process.

Yes but only if you file every week. If you miss weeks you can't go back and claim them later.

That's really helpful context, thank you! I guess I just need to be patient.

10 weeks?? That's insane. How are people supposed to survive that long without income?

I know it's frustrating. That's why it's so important to apply as soon as you lose your job and keep filing those weekly claims.

What was different about your situations?

She was laid off from a big company, mine was more complicated because I was working part-time while looking for full-time work.

Check your account for any alerts or messages. If there's nothing there and it's been over 3 weeks, you should try to contact Washington ESD.

I've tried calling but can never get through. The line is always busy or I get disconnected.

That's the exact problem Claimyr solves - they handle all the calling frustration and get you connected to an actual person who can explain what's happening with your claim.

How did he resolve the employer verification issue?

He had to provide additional documentation about his layoff. Washington ESD sent him a form to fill out and his employer had to confirm the details.

Yeah I'm definitely going to keep filing. Better safe than sorry.

I registered with WorkSource but haven't been documenting job searches yet. Should I start now even though my claim isn't approved?

Yes, absolutely start now. You need to show 3 job search activities per week once you're approved, so it's good to get in the habit early.

What counts as job search activities?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, interviews, career counseling - there's a list on the WorkSource website.

I don't think that's accurate. Washington ESD processes applications continuously, not in weekly batches.

Maybe I heard wrong then. Just trying to figure out why some people wait longer than others.

Same here! It's hard not to obsess over it when you need the money.

Exactly. I wish they would give better estimates on processing times right when you apply.

That's good to know! So if my claim gets approved next week, I could see money by the end of that week?

Yes, assuming you've been filing your weekly claims. The payment covers all the weeks you've filed and been eligible for.

Glad it helped! This forum is great for getting real answers about Washington ESD stuff.

Agreed! I'll update this thread when my claim gets processed to add another data point for future people.

Did they charge you each time you used it?

Yes but it was worth it to avoid the endless calling. Plus they only charge if they actually get you connected to an agent.

Perfect summary! This is exactly what I needed to know.