How long to receive first ESD payment when reapplying in 2025? Employer just shut down

I reapplied back in March when our project ended. Had a previous claim from 2022. Got my first payment in 10 days. BUT they still made me do the ID verification again because my old one had expired! Apparently they expire after like 18 months or something. So he might still need to do it again depending on when his last claim was.

The timing depends on several factors, but generally with a previous claim it can be faster as long as the separation reason is straightforward. Since the business closed down (rather than him quitting or being fired for cause), that should help speed things up. Typically: 1. If there are no issues requiring adjudication, you might see payment in 1-2 weeks 2. First payment includes backpay to your filing date if you complete all weekly claims 3. Make sure he completes his first weekly claim this Sunday (don't wait, even if benefits aren't approved yet) 4. Check that his SAW (SecureAccess Washington) account is still active and linked correctly 5. Most importantly, verify all information matches his previous claim to avoid flags Regarding ID verification - ESD now requires verification every 18 months. If his last claim was over that timeframe, he'll need to reverify, but the system should prompt him.

It took me FOREVER to get paid when I reapplied last year!!! 3 months of waiting bcause they flagged my claim for "investigation" even though I had a previous claim. The whole system is broken!! So don't count on anything fast.

question - did ur boyfriend recieve a layoff notice or anything in writing? my company closed 2 months ago and ESD wanted documentation. once i uploaded the email from HR my claim was approved in 3 days

I've been tracking claim processing times based on posts in this forum and my own experience. For reapplications with previous claims where the ID verification is still valid, the average time to first payment is currently 8-12 days if there are no adjudication issues. However, certain factors can slow things down: 1. If the employer disputes the claim (rare with total closures, but possible) 2. If there's been a long gap between claims requiring updated information 3. If you had earnings from multiple employers during the base year 4. If your previous claim had any unresolved issues The good news is that with a business closure, there's typically less scrutiny about the separation reason. Make sure he answers the weekly claim questions accurately, especially about ability/availability for work and job search activities (which are required from week one unless he's specifically granted standby status).

When I reapplied in January it was taking forever to get through to ESD to ask about my claim status. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an ESD agent in less than 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at ESD about the claim status and can't get through.

make sure he checks his ESD message center EVERYDAY!! they might ask for additional info and if u dont respond in like 5 days they just deny the claim

To answer your follow-up question about job search requirements - yes, he needs to start looking for work and recording his job search activities immediately. There is no automatic standby period when a business closes. He needs to complete at least 3 job search activities each week and document them. The only exceptions would be if: 1. He's in an approved training program 2. He specifically applies for and is granted standby status (typically for temporary layoffs where the employer plans to recall workers) 3. He has a definite return-to-work date within 4 weeks from an employer Since the business closed entirely, #2 and #3 wouldn't apply. So yes, job search requirements are in effect from week one.

Also if ur worried about waiting too long make sure he answers those fact-finding questionares ASAP. I got one about my job search activities that took me 3 days to notice and it delayed my claim by like 2 weeks!!