How long to get approved for unemployment in Washington ESD?

Processing times can vary a lot depending on your situation. If it's a straightforward layoff with no complications, you might see approval within 1-2 weeks. But if there are any red flags in your work history or separation reason, it could go into adjudication which adds several more weeks.

I filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting. My claim went into adjudication because they needed to verify my employment dates with my previous employer. Washington ESD is supposed to contact employers within 10 business days but it's been longer than that.

The official timeline Washington ESD gives is 21 days for a determination, but that's only if there are no issues. If your employer disputes the claim or if there's any question about your eligibility, it can take 6-8 weeks or even longer.

Mine took exactly 2 weeks from filing to first payment. But I had all my documentation ready and my employer confirmed the layoff quickly. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims even while waiting for approval - you can get backpay for those weeks once approved.

ugh the waiting is the worst part!! i filed like a month ago and STILL nothing. every time i check the website it just says 'in progress' with no other info. how are we supposed to pay rent and groceries while waiting???

It really depends on your specific circumstances. I've seen people get approved in 5 days and others wait 2 months. The system is pretty unpredictable right now. If you were laid off (not fired for cause), have clear wage records, and your employer doesn't contest it, you should be on the faster side.

Check if you need to complete any additional steps like work search requirements or identity verification. Sometimes claims get held up because people miss those requirements. Log into your account and look for any pending items or messages.

honestly the whole system is a joke. they make you jump through hoops while you're already stressed about money. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and by then I was behind on everything

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. If the separation was a clear layoff and the employer responds quickly to Washington ESD's request for information, it typically takes 10-14 business days. The delays usually happen when employers are slow to respond or when there are questions about the separation circumstances.

meanwhile i'm here eating ramen noodles for the third week in a row waiting for my claim to process... at least tell us WHERE we are in the queue or something

My experience was pretty smooth - filed on a Tuesday, got approved the following Wednesday, first payment hit my account Friday. But I think I got lucky with timing and had a very straightforward case.

The thing that sped up my process was getting directly connected to a Washington ESD agent through Claimyr. Instead of waiting weeks wondering what was happening, I found out my employer hadn't responded to their request for information. The agent was able to follow up immediately and my claim was approved within days after that.

Just remember that even if approval takes a while, you'll get paid for all the weeks you've been filing claims once it goes through. The first payment is usually bigger because it includes all the back weeks.

Pro tip: make sure your contact information is current in your profile. I know someone whose claim was delayed because Washington ESD was trying to reach them at an old phone number for additional verification.

The average seems to be about 2-3 weeks for most people I know, but there's a lot of variation. Keep filing your weekly claims and try to be patient. I know that's easier said than done when money's tight.

whatever you do dont stop filing the weekly claims even if it feels pointless. i made that mistake and lost out on 2 weeks of benefits when i finally got approved