How long does unemployment take to get approved in Washington state?

Thanks! Should I be worried if I don't hear anything by week 3?

Not necessarily. If it goes into adjudication for any reason, it can take longer. Just keep filing weekly claims and be patient.

Did you have to do anything special to get approved so quickly?

Not really, just made sure all my info was accurate when I filed. I think being laid off vs fired makes a difference.

What exactly is adjudication? This is my first time filing.

Adjudication is when Washington ESD reviews your claim more thoroughly. They might contact you and your employer to gather more information before making a decision.

How do I know if my claim is in adjudication?

I had the same problem! Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

I might try that if I don't hear back soon. The uncertainty is killing me.

My employer said they wouldn't contest it since it was a layoff. That should help, right?

Yes, that definitely helps! Non-contested layoff claims typically process much faster than contested terminations.

5 weeks?? That's terrifying. How did you survive financially?

credit cards and borrowing from family. not ideal but you get backpay once approved

This is important advice! I made the mistake of not filing weekly claims while waiting and lost out on 2 weeks of benefits.

Good to know. I've been filing weekly even though nothing's approved yet.

Is there anything I can do to speed up the process?

Not really, just make sure all your information was accurate when you filed. Errors can cause delays.

I've heard calling to check status can sometimes help move things along, but good luck getting through to anyone.

That gives me hope. My situation is pretty similar - laid off from a stable job.

You should be fine then. Just stay patient and keep filing weekly claims.

Have you tried reaching out through the website or checking if your claim is in adjudication status?

Website just says 'processing' and has said that for weeks. No other information.

I used Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD when I was in a similar situation. Check out claimyr.com - they actually got me connected to an agent who could explain what was happening with my claim.

My employer has been pretty responsive so far. They confirmed the layoff details when Washington ESD contacted them.

That's a good sign! Should help your timeline.

I was really careful about getting all the dates right when I filed. Hopefully that helps.

Sounds like you did everything right. Should be smooth sailing!

Thanks for the encouragement. It really helps to hear from people who've been through this.

Good to know about the payment delay. I'll plan for that too.

Yeah, the approval and the payment are two separate steps. But once that first payment comes through, the weekly ones are usually pretty regular.

That matches what others have been saying. Guess I need to prepare for the longer timeline.

Yeah, unfortunately. But like others said, you'll get backpay so don't let the delay discourage you from filing weekly claims.

This is where something like Claimyr really helps. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got me through to an agent who could give me real updates on my claim status instead of just the generic website info.

I'm definitely considering trying Claimyr if I don't hear something soon. The uncertainty is the worst part.

Totally understand. Having someone actually explain what's happening with your claim makes such a difference.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and reassurance. This thread has been really helpful!

Good luck! Come back and update us when you get approved.

That's really helpful to know about the eServices portal! I've been checking it but you're right that it doesn't give much detail beyond "processing." 18 days sounds reasonable for a tech layoff. Did you have any issues with the weekly claim filings while waiting, or was that process pretty straightforward?

The weekly claim filings were pretty straightforward - just the standard questions about whether you worked, looked for work, etc. The system automatically saved them even though I wasn't approved yet. I think the most confusing part was the "available for work" question since I wasn't sure if I should report informational interviews or networking meetings as job search activities. Turned out it didn't matter much, but I erred on the side of reporting everything. The main thing is just don't skip any weeks!