How long does it take to receive unemployment benefits after filing with Washington ESD?

Thanks! I wasn't sure if I should file weekly claims before getting approved. I'll start doing that this week.

Yeah definitely keep filing weekly or you'll miss out on those weeks of benefits even if you get approved later.

Wait, there's a waiting week? Nobody told me that when I filed. Does that mean I don't get paid for the first week even if I'm approved?

Yeah, the first week is unpaid - it's like a deductible. So you'll file weekly claims but the first one won't generate a payment.

What kind of issues would cause delays? My layoff was pretty straightforward - just budget cuts affecting multiple employees.

Budget cuts should be fine, that's usually considered no-fault separation. Delays happen more with things like quitting, being fired for cause, or if your employer contests the claim.

My employer contested mine even though it was a layoff and it took almost 6 weeks to resolve. Super frustrating.

How do I know if my claim is in adjudication? My account just says 'pending' right now.

If it goes to adjudication, you'll usually get a letter or see it change status in your account. They might also request additional documentation from you or your employer.

Same problem here! I've called probably 50 times and only got through once, then got disconnected after waiting 2 hours.

I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They handle the calling for you and call you back when they reach someone. Check out claimyr.com - there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach them normally.

Really? I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Does that service actually work for getting through?

Yeah, it handles all the redialing and waiting for you. Much better than sitting there hitting redial all day.

I'm always skeptical of these third-party services, but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that anything is better than what they have now.

That's helpful to know a specific timeline. Did you get back pay for the waiting week?

Yeah, Washington eliminated the waiting week so you get paid for that first week too, just all comes in your first payment.

That's reassuring to hear a specific timeline. Did you have to do anything special or just wait?

Just filed my weekly claims on time and waited. Make sure you're doing your job searches too - they can audit those later.

5 weeks is definitely too long. Have you tried the contact form on their website?

Yes! Multiple times! No response whatsoever. It's like sending messages into a black hole.

For adjudication issues, you really need to speak to someone directly. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier might be worth trying - they specialize in getting through for claim status questions.

7 weeks?! That's insane. How did you survive that long without income?

Credit cards mostly. Had to borrow money from family. It's ridiculous that they can just hold up payments for weeks with no explanation.

That does seem excessive. Usually employment verification doesn't take that long unless there's something unusual about your work history.

Good point, I haven't set that up yet. How many job contacts do I need per week?

It's 3 job search activities per week, but they can include more than just applications - networking, job fairs, interviews all count.

Make sure you're logging them correctly in WorkSourceWA or they might deny your weekly claims later.

Good advice. What time on Sunday do they usually post the weekly claims?

Usually by Sunday morning, but I always check Saturday night just in case. Better to file early than forget.

That might be it - this is my first time filing so maybe they need to verify more information.

First-time filers can take a bit longer because Washington ESD needs to establish your base period wages and verify employment history.

That's good to know for planning purposes. At least once it gets going it's predictable.

Unless there's a holiday or something. Then everything gets delayed another day or two.

What kind of documentation did they want from you?

pay stubs, separation notice from employer, had to verify my identity with extra documents. was a pain

Good tip, I'll make sure to check daily. How do I know if they need something from me?

It should show up under 'To Do List' in your account, but like I said, the notification system isn't reliable.

Adjudication usually means they're verifying something - could be your reason for separation, your availability for work, or your employment history. Have you received any letters asking for documentation?

No letters, no emails, nothing. That's what's so frustrating. I have no idea what they need from me.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - when my claim was stuck in adjudication, I needed to talk to someone who could actually look at my case and tell me what was missing. Worth every penny to get answers.

That's confusing. Why would there be a delay between approval and payment?

Sometimes it's just processing time for the payment system, or if you signed up for direct deposit it can take a few extra days to set up.

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

It's worth checking their website for current pricing. For me it was definitely worth it to finally get answers after weeks of trying on my own.

I might try this if my claim doesn't move soon. Anything is better than this endless waiting.

That's good to know, I was wondering about that. So it includes all the weekly claims I've been filing?

Exactly, as long as you've been filing your weekly claims consistently.

I feel you, it's so stressful. Have you tried reaching out to your local legislators? Sometimes they can help with state agency issues.

didn't think of that, might be worth a shot at this point

That's reassuring at least. I just need to get through this initial waiting period.

Yeah, once you're in the system and filing weekly, it usually runs smoothly unless something changes with your situation.

I did set up direct deposit, I'll double check those details. Thanks for the heads up!

You can update banking info in your online account if needed, just make sure to do it before your payment gets processed.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. This has been really helpful in setting expectations and knowing what to watch for.

Good luck with your claim! Hope it goes smoothly and you get your first payment soon.

Feel free to update us on how it goes. Always helpful for others to hear real timelines and experiences.

Where do you find that in the online system?

Under 'Payment Information' in your eServices account. Shows all your weekly claim submissions and payment status.

How did you follow up effectively? Calling seems impossible.

Online messages through the secure portal sometimes work better than calling. But honestly, getting through by phone is still the most effective when you can manage it.

I don't have any part-time work right now, but good to know for the future.

Even small things like odd jobs or freelance work need to be reported. Better to over-report than under-report.

That's exactly what I'm doing now - checking multiple times a day even though I know it won't change anything.

I know the feeling. Try to focus on your job search activities instead - at least that's productive while you wait.

Will that letter come before I get my first payment or after?

Usually before, but not always. Sometimes the payment and letter arrive around the same time.

That's a good suggestion. I hadn't thought about other resources while waiting.

211 is a good resource for finding local assistance programs. Just dial 2-1-1 from any phone.

How many job searches do I need to do per week?

I think it's 3 per week minimum, but check your eligibility requirements letter. It varies based on your situation.

It's usually 3 job search activities per week, and they need to be documented with employer contact info and dates.

Thanks for the encouragement. It helps to hear that most people get through this okay.

Hang in there. Focus on what you can control - filing weekly claims on time, doing job searches, and keeping good records.

That's helpful to know. I'll watch for that once things get moving.

Yeah, it usually shows 'payment issued' a day or two before it hits your bank account.

Good point. I double-checked that when I filed but I'll verify again.

Smart. Better to catch those issues early than have to wait for paper checks or deal with returned payments.

That seems to be the consensus from everyone here. Hoping I'm one of the smooth cases!

Sounds like you filed everything correctly and have your documentation ready, so you should be in good shape.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this recently - I filed in March and it took exactly 18 days from filing to first payment. The key was making sure I had all my employment verification documents ready when I filed. Also, I set up direct deposit from the start which probably helped speed things up compared to waiting for paper checks.