How long does unemployment take to process with Washington ESD?

I checked and there's nothing showing that I need to submit. It just says 'claim under review' with no other details.

That's pretty normal. The system doesn't always show you everything that's happening behind the scenes.

Three weeks?? I was hoping it would be faster than that. Did you have to do anything special or just wait it out?

Just had to wait. I tried calling a few times but could never get through. The automated system kept hanging up on me.

How does that work exactly? Do they charge you for it?

They help you get through the phone system without having to wait on hold for hours. Much better than the alternative of never getting through at all.

Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Might give it a try.

I was laid off due to company downsizing so it should be pretty clear cut. Hopefully that means faster processing.

That sounds like it should be routine then. You might hear back soon since it's been 10 days already.

Thanks! I wasn't sure about filing weekly claims while it's still pending. I'll make sure to do that this Sunday.

Yeah definitely keep filing those weekly claims. I made the mistake of waiting and it caused issues later.

3 weeks sounds rough but at least there's hope. Did you have any issues with your claim or was it straightforward?

Pretty straightforward, just the normal verification stuff. They had to confirm my work history with my employer.

Yeah it's reassuring to know others are dealing with the same delays. Makes me feel less like I did something wrong.

The uncertainty is killing me too. I keep checking my account multiple times a day hoping for an update.

Oh great, another delay I didn't know about. So even if I get approved next week, I still won't see money for another week after that?

Exactly. It's called the waiting week and it applies to almost everyone. You'll need to file weekly claims during this time too.

18 days is ridiculous. People need these benefits to survive, not as a luxury.

Agreed. I'm lucky I had some savings but not everyone has that safety net.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically navigate the phone system for you and get you in the callback queue. Saved me hours of frustration.

Interesting, I might try that. I've been calling for days with no luck.

I was laid off due to reduced hours at the store. Should be pretty straightforward I hope.

Yeah layoffs are usually processed faster than quits. You should be fine.

Did they give you any estimate of when you'd hear back? That's what I really want to know.

The agent said my claim looked good and should be processed within the next few days. That was 2 days ago and I got approved this morning!

That's awesome! I'm definitely going to try this Claimyr thing.

What kind of verification did they need? I'm worried they might need something from me that I don't know about.

They had to contact her previous employer to confirm dates and reason for separation. Took forever because the employer was slow to respond.

Have you checked your secure messages on the website? Sometimes they request additional info there.

checked everything multiple times. just says pending still

That's so frustrating. At least you got through to someone though - that's more than most people can say.

True, but it was after literally dozens of phone calls. The system is broken.

What exactly is adjudication? I keep seeing that term but don't fully understand it.

Adjudication is when they need to investigate your claim more thoroughly. Could be to verify your reason for leaving, check if you're actively looking for work, or resolve conflicts in the information they received.

My claim went into adjudication because my employer disputed it. Took 6 weeks total but I eventually got approved with back pay.

I get that they're busy but people are struggling to pay rent and buy food. Accuracy is important but so is timeliness.

Absolutely agree. Just trying to stay positive while we all wait this out.

That settles it - I'm going to try Claimyr today. This waiting in limbo is driving me crazy.

Let us know how it goes! I'm considering it too but want to hear more success stories first.

That's really helpful to know from someone who deals with this professionally. I think I filled everything out correctly but now I'm second-guessing myself.

Don't overthink it. If there were errors, they'd contact you to correct them. The waiting is just part of the process unfortunately.

A month seems like forever but glad you finally got approved! Did talking to the agent speed things up at all?

Not really, but it gave me peace of mind knowing everything was on track. Sometimes just knowing what's happening is worth it.

Every state is different though. Washington has pretty generous benefits once you get them.

True, the weekly amount is decent here. Just wish the process was faster.

Guilty of checking way too often already! Hard not to when you're stressed about money.

I totally get it. The anxiety is real when you're waiting for benefits to kick in.

Wait, there's a waiting period even after approval? I didn't know that.

Yeah, it's called the waiting week. Everyone has to serve one unpaid week before benefits start. It's built into the system.

The waiting week gets paid out at the end of your benefit year though, so you're not losing money permanently.

6 weeks is definitely too long for a standard claim. Have you tried reaching out to your state representative's office? They can sometimes help with Washington ESD issues.

hadnt thought of that. might be worth a try at this point

Congratulations! That gives me hope. Did you get any advance notice or did the approval just show up?

It just appeared in my account one morning. No email or anything, so make sure to check your account regularly.

The weekly claims are pretty straightforward once you get started. Just answer the questions honestly about your job search activities.

I don't think the day matters much. It's more about the order they received your application and whether it needs extra review.

You're probably right. Just trying to find patterns where there might not be any.

Thanks for the recommendation. I might try it if I don't hear anything in the next week or two.

Same experience here. Worth it just for the peace of mind of talking to an actual person.

Good tip! I think I set that up when I filed but I'll double-check.

Yeah, checks can take an extra week or more to arrive. Direct deposit is usually next day.

That's pretty cynical but honestly might be true. The process shouldn't be this hard.

I don't think it's intentional but the end result is the same. Lots of people probably do give up.

Good point. I've been applying to jobs but not really keeping detailed records. I should start doing that.

Yeah, they want to see you're actively looking. Keep track of where you applied, when, and any responses you get.

That's encouraging to hear! 18 days seems reasonable compared to some of the longer waits people are mentioning.

Yeah, I was prepared for worse based on what I'd read online. Sometimes it goes smoother than expected.

Seriously consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. At least you'll know where you stand instead of wondering if something went wrong.

I think I'll have to try that. This uncertainty is worse than just being denied at this point.

Good point. I've been checking every day but I'll make sure to look more carefully for any requests.

Also make sure your contact information is up to date. They might try to reach you by phone or mail.