How long does unemployment take to be approved - Washington ESD timeline?

That's reassuring, thank you. Mine should be straightforward too - mass layoff with about 50 other people.

Yeah the simple ones go through faster. If you have any wage disputes or quit/fired issues it takes way longer.

Good to know about the 21 day official timeframe. I only had one employer so hopefully that helps.

What exactly is adjudication? I keep seeing that term but don't understand what it means for my claim.

Adjudication is when Washington ESD needs to investigate something about your claim before they can approve it. Could be verifying your reason for separation, checking if you're able and available for work, or confirming your wage information.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that service. How much does it cost?

I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of spending days trying to get through on my own.

Hmm seems sketchy to pay someone to call a government office for you. Why can't you just call yourself?

Trust me, I tried calling myself dozens of times. The Washington ESD phone lines are constantly busy and even when you get through, you often get disconnected. This just automates the calling process.

5 weeks?? That's way longer than what others are saying. Have you tried calling to find out what's going on?

tried calling every day for 2 weeks straight, never got through once. the system is broken

You might want to check if your claim went into adjudication. Sometimes there are issues that need to be resolved before approval.

That's helpful context. I was laid off due to company restructuring so hopefully no red flags there.

What constitutes 'good cause' for quitting? I left my last job because of harassment issues but I'm worried they won't consider that valid.

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to job duties or pay, or domestic violence situations. You'll need documentation though.

Yeah I've been doing the weekly claims. Is there any downside to filing them before approval?

No downside at all. If you're approved, you'll get paid for all those weeks retroactively. If you don't file them, you lose those weeks completely.

This is true! I forgot to file one weekly claim while waiting and lost that week of benefits permanently.

That's really helpful to know from someone who sees this from the employer side. What kind of things typically trigger manual review?

Job abandonment, attendance issues, performance problems, conflicting information between employer and employee accounts, or any situation where the separation reason isn't crystal clear.

Congrats! Did you get any communication from Washington ESD during those 3 weeks or just radio silence until approval?

Pretty much radio silence except for automated confirmations of my weekly claims. The approval just showed up in my account one day.

Same experience here. No news until suddenly approved and payments started showing up.

Good point. I've been applying to jobs but haven't been keeping detailed records. Should I start documenting everything?

Absolutely! Keep track of where you applied, when, and any responses. Washington ESD can request this information and if you can't provide it, you could lose benefits.

How many jobs do you need to apply to each week? I've heard different numbers.

The standard requirement is 3 job search activities per week, which can include applications, networking events, job fairs, etc.

What happens if an employer contests the claim? How do you find out?

Washington ESD will send you a notice if the employer contests it. Then you get a chance to respond with your side of the story. It just adds time to the process.

I'm dealing with a contested claim right now. Been waiting 6 weeks and still no resolution.

That's good to know. I might consider that if I don't hear anything by the 3 week mark.

How did you find out about Claimyr? I've never heard of services like that.

Found it online when I was desperately searching for ways to reach Washington ESD. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo that shows exactly how it works.

Thanks, that helps put it in perspective. I guess I'm just anxious because I've never been through this before.

Totally understandable anxiety! The unknown is always stressful, especially when money is involved.

Good point! I did set up direct deposit when I filed initially.

Yes! Direct deposit is the way to go. The debit card option has fees and other issues.

Good to know about the additional delay after approval. Every bit of timeline info helps with planning.

Yeah the first payment took like 3 extra days after my approval notification, but after that they were consistent every week.

I double-checked that when I filed but good reminder to verify it's still accurate.

Thank you for the encouragement! This thread has been really helpful for understanding what to expect.

This is such a supportive community. Going through unemployment is stressful enough without having to navigate it alone.