How long for Washington ESD unemployment to process my claim?
Filed my unemployment claim with Washington ESD about 10 days ago and still haven't heard anything back. My claim status just says 'under review' when I check online. I'm starting to worry because I have rent due next week. Does anyone know how long Washington ESD typically takes to process new claims? I submitted all my documents correctly and don't think there should be any issues with my eligibility.
46 comments


Chloe Green
It usually takes 2-3 weeks for Washington ESD to process initial claims, but it can be longer if they need to verify your employment history or if there are any red flags in your application.
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Logan Scott
•Thanks, that's what I was afraid of. I guess I'll just have to wait it out.
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Lucas Adams
•Sometimes it takes even longer if they're backed up. I waited 5 weeks last year.
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Harper Hill
Check if your claim went into adjudication - that's what really slows things down. If Washington ESD needs to investigate anything about your separation from work, it can take 4-6 weeks or more.
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Logan Scott
•How do I tell if it's in adjudication? My account just says 'under review' with no other details.
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Harper Hill
•If it was adjudication, it would usually say 'adjudication in progress' specifically. Under review might just mean normal processing.
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Caden Nguyen
I was in a similar situation last month - waited 3 weeks with no update from Washington ESD. Finally got through to someone using Claimyr (claimyr.com) after trying to call for days. Turns out they needed one more document from me that wasn't showing up on my online account. Got it sorted within a few days after that. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works.
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Logan Scott
•Never heard of Claimyr before - is it legit? I'm desperate to get through to someone at Washington ESD.
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Caden Nguyen
•Yeah it's legitimate, basically helps you get through the phone queue. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked when I couldn't get through any other way.
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Avery Flores
•I used Claimyr too when my claim was stuck. Worth it when you can't waste days calling and getting nowhere.
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Zoe Gonzalez
Processing times vary a lot depending on your situation. Simple claims with W-2 employment history usually process faster than claims involving multiple employers, self-employment, or issues with your reason for separation.
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Logan Scott
•I only had one employer for the past 2 years, so hopefully that helps speed things up.
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Ashley Adams
•That should definitely help. The more complicated your work history, the longer it takes.
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Alexis Robinson
UGH I'm going through the same thing!! Filed 2 weeks ago and NOTHING. This is so stressful when you have bills to pay. Washington ESD needs to hire more people or something.
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Logan Scott
•I feel you! The waiting is the worst part, especially when you don't know what's happening.
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Aaron Lee
•The system is definitely overwhelmed. I think they're still catching up from all the changes over the past few years.
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Chloe Green
Keep filing your weekly claims even while your initial claim is processing. You won't get paid until it's approved, but you need to maintain your claim status.
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Logan Scott
•Good point, I've been doing that. At least the weekly claims go through quickly.
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Harper Hill
•Yes, definitely keep filing weekly claims. You can't go back and file them later if you miss weeks.
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Lucas Adams
mine took forever because I had to do a phone interview about why I left my job. They scheduled it 3 weeks out and then the guy called 2 hours late. whole thing was a mess
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Logan Scott
•Did they give you advance notice about the interview? I haven't gotten any notification about needing one.
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Lucas Adams
•yeah they sent a letter in the mail but it was like 5 days before the interview date. barely enough time to prepare
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Harper Hill
If you're worried about the delay, you can try calling Washington ESD directly, but be prepared for long wait times. The phone lines are usually jammed, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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Logan Scott
•I've tried calling multiple times but either get a busy signal or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected.
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Chloe Mitchell
•That's exactly why I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The regular phone system is basically broken.
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Michael Adams
Just be patient. I know it's hard when you need the money, but Washington ESD is doing their best. The system works, it just takes time.
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Alexis Robinson
•Easy to say when it's not your rent on the line. Some of us can't afford to just 'be patient.
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Natalie Wang
•I get both sides. The system is slow but they do eventually get through everything.
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Noah Torres
Check if there are any outstanding issues on your account that might be holding things up. Sometimes there are requirements you need to fulfill that aren't obvious.
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Logan Scott
•I've checked my account multiple times and don't see any issues or action items. Everything looks complete on my end.
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Samantha Hall
•Sometimes the issues don't show up in your online account but they're there in the system. That's another reason why talking to someone can help.
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Ryan Young
I waited 6 weeks for my claim to process last year because of some issue with my previous employer's response. turned out they reported the wrong separation date and it triggered an investigation
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Logan Scott
•How did you find out what the issue was? Did Washington ESD notify you?
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Ryan Young
•I only found out when I finally got through to someone on the phone. They don't always communicate these issues clearly.
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Sophia Clark
The processing time also depends on when you filed. If you filed right after a holiday or during a busy period, it might take longer than usual.
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Logan Scott
•I filed on a Wednesday morning, so hopefully that wasn't a particularly busy time.
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Katherine Harris
•Weekday filings are usually better than weekend ones, so that should help.
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Madison Allen
Have you tried checking WorkSourceWA to see if there are any job search requirements you need to complete? Sometimes claims get held up for that reason too.
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Logan Scott
•I thought job search requirements only started after your claim was approved and you started receiving benefits?
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Harper Hill
•You're right, job search requirements typically start after approval. But it's good to register with WorkSourceWA early anyway.
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Joshua Wood
If your claim is still processing after 3 weeks, I'd definitely try to get in touch with Washington ESD. That Claimyr thing people mentioned might be worth trying if you can't get through the regular way.
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Logan Scott
•I'm getting close to that 3 week mark, so I might have to try it. Thanks for all the advice everyone!
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Justin Evans
•Good luck! Let us know how it goes if you do end up contacting them.
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Emily Parker
The whole system is just slow. I think they're understaffed and dealing with too many claims. It's frustrating but unfortunately normal.
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Ezra Collins
•Yeah, the pandemic really messed up their processing times and they never fully recovered.
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Victoria Scott
•At least the weekly claims process pretty quickly once your initial claim is approved.
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