How long for Washington ESD unemployment to get approved - still waiting after 2 weeks

That's somewhat reassuring. I just keep checking my account obsessively hoping to see a change in status.

Same here! I check like 5 times a day even though I know it won't change that fast lol

Yes I've been doing my weekly claims religiously. Thanks for the reminder though - that's definitely important.

Wait really? I didn't know that. I've been waiting to file weekly claims until my initial claim gets approved. Am I screwed?

You should start filing immediately. Contact Washington ESD to see if you can still claim those missed weeks - sometimes they'll allow it if it's been less than 4 weeks.

That's interesting - I've never heard of that service before. How does it work exactly?

Basically they handle all the calling and waiting for you. You just tell them what you need to ask about and they get you connected to the right person at Washington ESD. Super helpful when you can't get through on your own.

Sounds too good to be true honestly. How much does something like that cost?

I understand the frustration but the system is dealing with high volume. Three weeks isn't unusual, especially if your case requires additional verification.

High volume is no excuse for this kind of delay. People are losing their homes while Washington ESD sits on their hands.

Have you tried calling first thing in the morning? I had better luck getting through around 8 AM right when they open.

I was laid off from a single employer so hopefully that means mine will be faster. Did you get back pay for all the weeks you were waiting?

Yes, as long as you filed your weekly claims they'll pay you retroactively once approved. Just make sure you keep filing every week.

Yes, you need to be actively looking for work and keeping a job search log from day one. The requirement is 3 job search activities per week in Washington.

ok thanks. i've been applying to jobs but wasn't keeping track properly. better start documenting everything now

Adjudication means they're reviewing your claim more carefully, usually because there's a question about your eligibility. Could be related to how you left your job, wage discrepancies, or other factors.

Great, so even longer wait times. This is so stressful when you have bills to pay.

That's exactly when I used Claimyr - when my claim went into adjudication and I couldn't get answers. They helped me understand what documents I needed to provide to speed up the process.

Interesting theory but I think it's just random. I filed on a Thursday and got approved on a Monday 3 weeks later.

I filed on a Wednesday so I guess we'll see if there's any pattern to it!

File your weekly claims, keep looking for work, and make sure all your contact info is updated in your Washington ESD account. Other than that, just wait patiently.

Also double-check that you uploaded all required documents correctly. Missing paperwork is a common cause of delays.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Did you notice any differences between the two times you filed?

The second time took longer because I had worked for multiple employers in my base period, so they had to verify wages from several sources.

I used it last month when I couldn't reach Washington ESD about my delayed payment. Worked great - got through to someone in about 20 minutes and they were able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim. Worth it when you're stuck like this.

ok that's good to hear. i'm at the point where i'm willing to try anything to get some answers

Still seems sketchy to me. How do you know they're legitimate? What if they're just taking your money and not actually helping?

They have good reviews and the service worked exactly as advertised for me. Plus they show you the demo video so you know what to expect.

That's not our problem though! They need to hire more people or fix their systems. We shouldn't have to suffer because they can't get their act together.

I agree it's frustrating but at least knowing why it's slow helps me be more patient about it.

Congratulations! That gives me hope. I'm at day 15 now so maybe I'm getting close.

So jealous right now. Congrats though - at least someone is getting through the system!

Easier said than done when you can't get through to anyone on the phone. That's why I'm considering that Claimyr service people mentioned.

Fair point. I was lucky and got through after only 2 hours of trying, but I know others have had much worse experiences with the phone system.

I check that thing like 10 times a day lol. Still just says 'under review' but I keep hoping.

same here! i probably check it every hour when i'm awake. it's become an obsession at this point

I know it's hard but try not to check too frequently. The status usually only updates once or twice a week at most.