How long will it take to get unemployment benefits approved in Washington ESD?

Thanks! I wasn't sure if I should start filing weekly claims before getting approved. I'll do that right away.

Yeah definitely file weekly claims from the start or you'll lose those weeks permanently

That's reassuring to hear. Did you get backpay for the weeks you were waiting?

Yes, as long as you file your weekly claims during the waiting period you'll get backpay for all eligible weeks.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money

It's worth checking out their site for pricing info. For me it was worth it just to get peace of mind about my claim status instead of wondering and worrying.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Might try it if I can't get through this week.

What would cause it to go into adjudication? I'm worried now that I might have said something wrong on the application.

Common reasons are if there's a question about why you left your job, if you worked in multiple states, or if there's missing wage information. Layoffs are usually pretty clean though.

Okay that makes me feel better. It was definitely a clear layoff situation with severance paperwork and everything.

That sounds like your claim might be in adjudication. You should see a status update in your SecureAccess Washington account if that's the case.

yeah it says adjudication in progress but no details about what they need or how long it will take

This is exactly the situation where Claimyr helped me. I was able to talk to an agent who explained what was holding up my claim and what I needed to submit.

Do I need to start job searching right away or can I wait until I'm approved?

You should start right away. The job search requirement applies to any week you're claiming benefits for, even if you haven't been paid yet.

WorkSourceWA is where you log your job searches. Make sure you register there too.

Right?? I keep checking my account like 5 times a day hoping something will change.

Totally normal reaction. Try to stay busy with job applications - it helps pass the time and you need to do it anyway.

I did that and it looks like I should get around $340 per week if approved. Does that sound right for someone making $45k annually?

That sounds about right. Washington's maximum weekly benefit is $999 but most people get somewhere in the $300-500 range depending on their wages.

Good point. I just moved last month so I need to double-check my address is updated.

yeah they sent me something important to my old address and I almost missed the deadline

Thanks for the suggestion. I might need to look into that if this takes much longer.

211 is a good resource for finding local assistance programs. Just dial 2-1-1.

That's longer than usual. Was there something specific causing the delay?

I think it was just high volume. They eventually got everything sorted out with backpay.

Already done! I set that up as soon as I filed the claim.

Smart move. Direct deposit usually processes within 2-3 business days once benefits are approved.

How quickly were you able to get connected to someone?

It was pretty fast - within like 10 minutes I was talking to a real person at Washington ESD instead of getting hung up on.

Wait, so even after approval there's another week delay? That's rough.

It's just how the system works. The waiting week is unpaid but you'll get benefits for every week after that as long as you keep filing weekly claims.

When exactly do I need to file each week? Is there a specific day?

You can file weekly claims starting Sunday for the previous week. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way.

I do mine every Sunday at 8am like clockwork. Makes it automatic.

That's what I'm hoping for. Just need to get over this hurdle.

Exactly. The first few weeks are stressful but then it becomes routine if you stay on top of your weekly claims and job search.

Good advice. I've been screenshotting everything just in case.

Smart. I wish I had done that when I had issues with my claim. Would have saved me a lot of headaches.

I think I understand but can you clarify? I want to make sure I'm answering the weekly questions correctly.

Able means you're physically and mentally capable of working. Available means you're ready to accept work and not restricted by things like travel or other commitments.

Thanks for the encouragement. Some days are definitely harder than others.

We're all in this together. This forum has been really helpful for me to not feel so alone in the process.

Noted. I'll be checking my mail and email obsessively until this gets resolved.

That's the right approach. Better to be overly cautious than miss something important.

And if you do get something confusing in the mail, that's another good reason to use something like Claimyr to talk to an agent who can explain what you need to do.