How long does unemployment take to get approved with Washington ESD?

It really depends on your situation. Mine took about 2 weeks from start to finish, but that was pretty straightforward - no issues with my employer or work history.

The standard processing time for Washington ESD is typically 2-3 weeks for straightforward claims. However, if your claim requires adjudication (like if there's a question about why you separated from your job), it can take 4-6 weeks or even longer. You should receive a monetary determination letter within the first week or two that shows your weekly benefit amount, even if your claim is still pending.

Honestly, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I found out about it when I was stuck waiting for 5 weeks with no updates. It's a service that helps you actually get through to an ESD agent - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

UGH the waiting is the worst part!! I'm on week 3 of waiting and still nothing. My claim just says 'pending' and I have no idea what's going on. I've called probably 50 times and either get busy signal or hung up on after waiting forever.

Have you checked if you have any outstanding issues in your eServices account? Sometimes there are things you need to respond to that aren't obvious.

honestly the whole system is broken. took me 8 weeks to get approved and that was WITH calling every single day. they're just overwhelmed and understaffed

Just to set expectations - if your claim goes into adjudication, Washington ESD has to investigate the circumstances of your job separation. This happens when employers contest the claim or there are questions about eligibility. The adjudication process alone can take 3-6 weeks on top of the initial processing time.

The timing really varies. Mine was approved in 12 days but my friend waited almost 2 months because his employer disputed it. Best thing you can do is keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending - that way you get backpay once it's approved.

Has anyone tried that Claimyr thing mentioned earlier? I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone at ESD.

The whole system is a nightmare. I've been waiting 4 weeks and still no word. Meanwhile bills are piling up and I'm running out of savings. This is supposed to be insurance we paid into!

One thing to keep in mind - even if your claim takes longer to process, you'll receive retroactive payments back to your filing date once it's approved. So don't lose hope if it's taking longer than expected.

just got approved today after 19 days. hang in there!

For anyone still waiting - make sure you're checking your eServices account regularly and responding to any requests for information immediately. Delays in responding can really slow down the process.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone using that Claimyr service and found out my claim was stuck because they needed me to verify my identity. Agent was able to walk me through the process and now it's moving forward. Wish I had known about this weeks ago!

The key is patience unfortunately. I know it's hard when you need the money but most claims do get processed eventually.

if you're really struggling financially while waiting, look into local food banks and assistance programs. that helped me get through the long wait

Final piece of advice - document everything. Keep records of when you filed, any correspondence you receive, and dates you try to contact ESD. This can be helpful if there are any issues later.

Just wanted to update - I tried Claimyr and got connected to an ESD agent today! Turns out my employer had submitted some info that was holding up my claim. Agent was able to resolve it on the spot. Definitely recommend trying it if you're stuck.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and sharing your experiences. It's helpful to know I'm not alone in this waiting game. I'll keep filing my weekly claims and checking for updates. If it goes much longer I'll definitely look into that Claimyr service that seems to have helped a few people here.

This thread has been really helpful. At least now I know the long wait times are normal and not just me having issues.