How will I know if I'm approved for unemployment - waiting for Washington ESD response

Thanks! Should I be worried that it's been 10 days already? I'm starting to panic about bills coming due.

10 days is still normal, especially if there are any issues they need to verify with your previous employer. The determination letter will explain everything.

What if I moved recently? I updated my address in the system but I'm worried the letter might go to my old place.

You can call Washington ESD to confirm they have your current address on file. Better to be safe than miss important mail.

Good luck getting through on the phone though - I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my own claim issues and can never get past the busy signal.

Never heard of that before - does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it worked for me when I needed to check on my adjudication status. Way better than spending my whole day redialing the same number.

That might be helpful if I need to call about my address change. Thanks for sharing!

What section of the account should I be looking at specifically? I see a bunch of different tabs and links.

Look for 'Weekly Claims' or 'File Weekly Claim' - when that becomes available, it usually means you're approved.

3 weeks is getting long - you might want to call and check if there are any issues with your claim. Sometimes they need additional documentation.

i've tried calling like 50 times but always get the busy signal... this system is broken

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it's designed for situations like this when you can't get through normally.

How soon after approval do I need to file the first weekly claim? Is there a deadline?

You should file for each week you want benefits, starting with the week you became unemployed. Don't wait too long or you might miss out on weeks you're entitled to.

Oh great, something else to worry about! What happened with your case?

It worked out fine in the end but took another month to resolve. Just saying to be prepared for possible complications down the road.

Yes! And if you disagree with their decision, you only have 30 days to appeal, so don't delay.

Hopefully I won't need to worry about appeals - keeping my fingers crossed for approval!

It's somewhat comforting to know others are going through the same thing. Hope we both hear back soon!

Same here - filed 12 days ago and nothing yet. This thread is actually making me feel better about the timeline.

Good advice! I think I still have the email confirmation saved somewhere.

Also write down the date you filed and your last day of work - you'll need those details for weekly claims.

Yeah the technology feels like it's from 2005. But at least it usually works eventually.

I just want to know either way so I can plan accordingly. The uncertainty is the hardest part.

I think I set that up when I filed but I should double-check. Thanks for the reminder!

You can update your payment method in your online account anytime. Direct deposit is definitely the way to go.

Wait, I can file weekly claims before I'm officially approved? I thought I had to wait for the approval letter.

You should be able to file weekly claims as soon as your initial claim is processed, even if the determination isn't final yet. Check your online account.

Actually, I think you need to wait for approval before filing weekly claims. Don't want to give wrong information here.

Good point - I should start keeping better records now before I forget the details.

You're right, I should focus on job searching instead of obsessively checking my claim status. Easier said than done though!

Job searching while waiting for unemployment approval is like a double stress situation. But staying productive definitely helps with the anxiety.

How many job applications do I need to do each week? I've been applying to maybe 2-3 jobs.

I think it's 3 job search activities per week in Washington, but double-check the requirements when you get your determination letter.

Several people have mentioned Claimyr now - seems like it might be worth trying if I don't hear back soon.

I was skeptical at first but it actually worked when I needed to get through about an adjudication issue. Better than wasting hours on hold.

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the helpful information and support. This community is great.

Yes please update! I filed right after you and I'm following this thread closely for any insights.

Hope it all works out for you! The waiting game is brutal but most people do get approved eventually.