How long is the process for unemployment in Washington - timeline questions

The initial application process usually takes about 1-2 weeks if everything goes smoothly. You'll file your initial claim with Washington ESD, then wait for them to process it. If there are no issues, you should get your first payment within 2-3 weeks of filing. But that's only if nothing gets flagged for adjudication.

I filed 3 months ago and STILL waiting on my adjudication to finish. Washington ESD is backed up like crazy. Called them probably 50 times and can never get through.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it actually worked for me. They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your claim status.

Here's the basic timeline if everything goes normal: Week 1 - file initial claim, Week 2 - get determination letter, Week 3 - file first weekly claim and get first payment. Then you file weekly claims every week after that. Maximum benefit period in Washington is 26 weeks for regular UI.

The whole system is a joke tbh. Filed 6 weeks ago, got one payment, then they stopped everything because apparently I didn't report some part-time work correctly. Now I'm in adjudication hell and nobody can tell me when it'll be resolved.

Just to clarify the job search requirements - it's actually 3 job search activities per week in Washington, not 2. You need to keep a log of all your activities and Washington ESD can audit it at any time.

What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim? I forgot to file one week and now I'm panicking that I messed everything up.

For situations like this where you need to reach Washington ESD quickly, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is really helpful. Especially when you have time-sensitive issues like missed weekly claims.

Been on unemployment twice in the last 5 years. First time was smooth - got payments within 3 weeks. Second time took 2 months because of adjudication. It really depends on your specific situation and whether anything gets flagged for review.

Don't forget about the waiting week! You don't get paid for your first week of unemployment in Washington. That caught me off guard.

Here's what nobody tells you - even after you start getting payments, Washington ESD can randomly audit your claim months later and demand money back if they find any issues. Happened to my friend last year.

Quick timeline summary: Week 1 file claim, Week 2-3 wait for processing, Week 4 first payment (if no adjudication), then weekly payments for up to 26 weeks. Add 4-8 weeks if you hit adjudication.

Update on my situation - finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr thing someone mentioned. Turns out there was just one document they needed that I didn't know about. Could have been resolved months ago if I had been able to talk to someone.

One more thing to remember - you need to register with WorkSource Washington and maintain an active job search while on unemployment. It's not just free money, there are ongoing requirements.

Just remember that every case is different. Some people get approved and start receiving payments in 2 weeks, others wait months. Don't panic if your timeline doesn't match what others experienced.

Make sure you file your initial claim as soon as possible after losing your job. Your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you lost your job, so waiting just costs you money.

Pro tip: screenshot everything and keep copies of all correspondence with Washington ESD. If something goes wrong later, you'll need documentation to prove what happened.

Bottom line - plan for the worst case scenario financially but hope for the best. Have backup plans for paying bills if your claim gets delayed in adjudication.

Good luck with your claim! And remember, if you do run into issues contacting Washington ESD, services like Claimyr can really help cut through the phone system frustrations.

The process can feel overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes pretty straightforward. Just stay on top of the requirements and you'll be fine.

Just want to add one more thing that might help - when you file your initial claim, make sure you have all your employment information ready including your Social Security number, driver's license, and details about your previous employers for the last 18 months. Having everything organized beforehand will make the process smoother and reduce the chance of delays. Also, if you worked for multiple employers recently, you'll need wage information for all of them. The more complete and accurate your initial application is, the less likely you'll run into issues later.