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

Thanks, that's somewhat reassuring. Do you know if there's any way to check if there are issues with my claim?

You can log into your account on the Washington ESD website and look for any 'to-do' items or notifications. If there are none, it's likely just standard processing time.

Ok so potentially a month total before seeing any money? That's rough but good to know what to expect.

Yeah the waiting is the worst part. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval or you'll lose those weeks.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without spending hours on hold. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent within 30 minutes and finally got answers about my adjudication issue.

That sounds too good to be true but at this point I'm desperate. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah it really did. The agent explained exactly why my claim was taking so long and what documentation they needed from me. Worth every penny to avoid the phone hell.

I hear you on the frustration but my experience was actually pretty smooth. Got approved in 2.5 weeks and payments started right on schedule.

consider yourself lucky then because most people i know have horror stories

How do I know if my claim is in adjudication? My status still just says pending.

If it's in adjudication, you'll usually see that specific term on your account page or receive a letter explaining what additional information they need.

Mine said 'fact finding' which I think is the same thing as adjudication. Took 5 weeks total.

Yes I've been doing that! Wasn't sure if I needed to but figured better safe than sorry.

Good thinking. A lot of people miss that and then are devastated when they find out they can't get paid for those weeks.

I was laid off due to company downsizing so hopefully that helps speed things up.

That should definitely help. Layoffs due to lack of work are usually straightforward approvals.

Oh no, I haven't been doing that. How many job searches do I need to do per week?

It's 3 job search activities per week minimum. You can register on worksourcewa.com and log them there. Better start now even if you're still waiting for approval.

Actually I think the requirement is waived for the first few weeks while your claim is processing, but definitely start logging them once you're approved.

What callback services? I thought Washington ESD didn't have that option.

They don't, but there are third-party services like Claimyr that help you get through to agents. I used them when I had an appeal issue and it saved me weeks of trying to call on my own.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. I guess I need to figure out how to stretch my savings longer.

Yeah it sucks but once it starts flowing the payments are pretty reliable. Hang in there.

How would I know if they contested it? I haven't gotten any letters yet.

You'd get a letter about a fact-finding interview or questionnaire. If you haven't heard anything like that, your employer probably didn't contest.

Good idea, I should look into what else is available. Any specific programs you'd recommend?

211 is a great resource - you can dial 2-1-1 or go to wa211.org to find local assistance programs for food, housing, utilities, etc.

I've been checking online daily but haven't gotten any mail yet. Should I be worried?

At 10 days, probably not yet. But definitely keep an eye on your mailbox over the next week or two.

I agree it's frustrating but they do need time to verify eligibility and prevent fraud. Still sucks when you're waiting though.

yeah i get that but there has to be a better way to do it faster

That's helpful to know. Mine still says pending so hopefully that's just normal processing.

Yeah at 10 days that's totally normal. I'd start to worry if it's still pending after 3-4 weeks.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like you shouldn't have to pay to talk to a government agency.

You're not wrong, but when you're facing weeks of uncertainty and potential lost benefits, it was worth it for peace of mind. They explain their pricing on claimyr.com.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm trying to stay positive and use the time productively.

That's the right attitude. The benefits will come through and in the meantime you're getting ahead on finding your next job.

That gives me hope! My layoff was definitely legitimate - whole department got cut due to budget issues.

Yeah that kind of situation is exactly what unemployment is designed for. Should be straightforward approval once they get to your case.

Good to know. About how long between approval and first payment usually?

For me it was about 4-5 business days after I got the determination letter. But I've heard it can vary.

Just double-checked and it looks right. Thanks for thinking of that though!

No problem! Better safe than sorry when it comes to getting your payments.