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How to speed up ESD adjudication process? Stuck in limbo for weeks!

I've been waiting on adjudication for nearly 7 weeks now and my savings are almost completely gone. My claim is for seasonal construction work that ended in January. The ESD website just says 'adjudication in progress' with no timeline or explanation. I've tried calling about 20 times over the past 3 weeks but can't get through to a real person. I waited on hold for 2 hours yesterday before getting disconnected! Does anyone know if there's a special number or trick to actually speak with someone who can tell me what's happening with my claim? Or ways to speed up the adjudication process? My rent is due in 10 days and I'm seriously stressing out. Has anyone successfully gotten through to a real person at ESD recently?

CosmicCaptain

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Unfortunately there's no easy way to speed up adjudication. The ESD system is backed up as usual. The standard adjudication process takes 4-8 weeks right now, though some cases can take longer if they're complex. What specific issue put you in adjudication? Sometimes the type of issue affects how long it takes.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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They're saying something about 'job separation issue' but I don't understand why. My employer and I both agreed the job ended because the project was completed. It wasn't a firing or quitting situation at all. It's just regular seasonal construction work!

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Giovanni Rossi

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did u try calling super early? like right when they open at 8am? thats how i got thru last month

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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Yeah tried that 3 times. Got the 'high call volume' message each time and was disconnected after waiting over an hour. So frustrating!!!

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Been there, done that. ESD adjudication is THE WORST! I waited 9 weeks last year and almost lost my apartment. The whole system is designed to make people give up. The 'job separation issue' is basically them checking with your employer to confirm you didn't quit or get fired for misconduct. But even when it's clear-cut, they take FOREVER. The people answering the main line usually can't do anything to help anyway.

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Giovanni Rossi

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totally agree!!!! system is broken af. my friend waited 11 weeks and then they just randomly approved him with no explanation

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Dylan Mitchell

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I had a similar adjudication situation last year and finally got it resolved after trying Claimyr. It's a service that connects you with an ESD agent without the endless hold times. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and use their site claimyr.com. Once I actually spoke with someone, they were able to expedite my adjudication because it was a simple seasonal work situation like yours. Worth checking out if you're desperate to get through.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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Thanks for sharing! Never heard of that before. Did they actually help resolve your case or just get you to an agent? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

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Dylan Mitchell

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They just connected me to an actual ESD agent - the same ones you'd reach if you got through the normal phone line. But once I had an agent on the phone, I explained my hardship situation and they were able to flag my case for expedited review. The adjudication was completed within a week after that call. Much better than waiting indefinitely!

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Sofia Gutierrez

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Have you tried contacting your state representative? That's what finally worked for me. I was in adjudication for 5 weeks, emailed my state rep's office explaining the financial hardship, and they contacted ESD on my behalf. My claim was processed within 3 days after that. Worth a try!

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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Wow, I hadn't thought of that! How do I find my representative's contact info? And did you just email them or call?

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Sofia Gutierrez

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Just go to leg.wa.gov and enter your address to find your district representatives. I emailed mine with my claim ID, last 4 of SSN, and a brief explanation of my hardship. Most have staff dedicated to helping constituents with ESD issues. They deal with this stuff all the time.

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Dmitry Petrov

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one time i waited 13 weeks and then they denied me anyway lol just saying dont get ur hopes up the esd is garbage

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CosmicCaptain

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Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while in adjudication. If you don't, you'll lose eligibility for those weeks even if your adjudication is eventually approved. Also, double-check your ESD account to make sure they haven't sent you any messages requesting additional information - sometimes adjudication is delayed simply because they need more documentation from you.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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Yes, I've been doing my weekly claims and job search activities religiously. I check my messages every day and there's nothing asking for more info. That's part of why it's so frustrating - I have no idea what the holdup is or if I need to do something to move things along.

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StarSurfer

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I went through something similar with my adjudication last month. The key is documenting everything. Write down each time you call, how long you wait, etc. When you do get through to someone, ask specifically: 1. What is the exact issue causing the adjudication? 2. Is there any documentation I can provide to help resolve it? 3. Can this be escalated due to financial hardship? 4. Can you note in my file that I've made multiple contact attempts? Also, try the ESD secure message portal instead of calling. Sometimes they respond within 3-5 business days. Be concise but mention the financial hardship specifically. This helped get mine bumped up in the queue.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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Thanks for the detailed advice. I'll definitely try the secure message portal with those specific questions. Did you get any actual updates through the portal or did they just resolve your case without much communication?

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StarSurfer

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They responded to my message saying they'd marked my case for expedited review due to financial hardship, then about 4 days later my adjudication was complete. The portal isn't perfect but it's better than banging your head against the wall with the phone system. Just make sure to check for responses daily.

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One other thing to try - if you've had any prior communication with a specific ESD agent (like during your initial application), try to contact that person directly. Sometimes they'll help move things along because they're already familiar with your case. And definitely mention the word "hardship" specifically when you communicate with ESD - they have internal procedures for prioritizing cases with severe financial impact.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

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Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I'm going to try: 1. The secure message portal with specific questions about my adjudication status 2. Reaching out to my state representative (already found their contact info) 3. Looking into Claimyr to actually get someone on the phone I'll update here if any of these work. Really appreciate all the advice when I was feeling completely stuck!

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Sofia Gutierrez

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Good luck! The system is frustrating but persistence usually pays off eventually.

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