How to know if you got accepted for unemployment benefits in Washington

You should get a determination letter either by mail or through your online account. Usually takes 1-3 weeks depending on if there are any issues with your claim. Check your secure messages in your Washington ESD account - that's where they post most notifications now.

same thing happened to me, took forever to hear anything back from them. the waiting is the worst part honestly

If you're getting really anxious about the status and can't get through by calling, I'd suggest trying Claimyr. It's a service that helps you actually reach Washington ESD agents on the phone. I used it when my claim was stuck in adjudication and it saved me weeks of trying to call myself. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The Washington ESD system is so frustrating! I waited almost a month before I heard anything and then they needed more information. Make sure you have all your employment history ready in case they ask for it.

Look for the monetary determination letter - that's what tells you if you're approved and how much your weekly benefit will be. It should show up in your secure messages or get mailed to you. Don't panic yet, 10 days is still within normal processing time.

just keep checking every day, they'll update it eventually. took me 2 weeks but then everything was fine

Also make sure you're ready to file your first weekly claim as soon as you get approved. You have to do it every week to keep getting benefits, and you can usually file for the week you applied even if it gets approved later.

If you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim status, seriously consider using Claimyr. I know I mentioned it before but when you're waiting on benefits you can't afford to waste time trying to get through on your own.

the system is just backed up right now, everyone's trying to file claims. just be patient it will work out

Washington ESD is notorious for taking forever and then asking for more documentation at the last minute. Make sure you have everything ready - W2s, pay stubs, separation notice from your employer.

I went through this same anxiety last year. The not knowing is terrible but in most cases if you qualify for unemployment and filled out everything correctly, you'll get approved. Just takes time for them to process everything.

One thing to watch for - if your claim goes into adjudication that can add several more weeks to the process. That happens when they need to investigate something about your separation from work or eligibility.

honestly the whole system needs to be fixed, it shouldn't take this long to find out if you can get help when you're unemployed

If you haven't gotten any determination letters by the 3-week mark, that's when I'd definitely recommend trying to contact them directly. Either through Claimyr like others mentioned or keep trying the phone lines early in the morning.

Make sure you're checking both your online account AND your physical mailbox. Sometimes they send important stuff by regular mail even if you signed up for electronic delivery.

keep us posted on what happens! always curious to hear how long it takes for people

Last suggestion - if you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD directly, Claimyr has helped a lot of people get through when the regular phone lines are jammed. Sometimes talking to an actual person is the only way to get real answers about your claim status.

The waiting game with unemployment is awful but try not to stress too much. Most people do get approved if they legitimately qualify. Washington ESD is just slow, not necessarily rejecting claims.

One more tip - once you do get approved, make sure you understand the job search requirements. You'll need to log your job search activities each week when you file your weekly claim. Better to be prepared ahead of time.

Good luck with everything! The first claim is always the most stressful because you don't know what to expect. It gets easier once you know how the system works.