How will I know if I'm approved for unemployment with Washington ESD?

Washington ESD will send you a determination letter in the mail - that's the official notification. You'll also see status updates in your SecureAccess Washington account. The letter will clearly state if you're approved or denied and include payment information if approved.

10 days is pretty normal for the initial review. Mine took almost 2 weeks before I heard anything. You'll get a letter in the mail with all the details about your weekly benefit amount and when payments start.

If you're having trouble getting through to check on your claim status, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me actually reach a Washington ESD agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped when I was stuck waiting for weeks with no updates.

ugh i've been waiting 3 weeks and still nothing!! this is ridiculous, i need to pay my rent. how is this system so broken???

Check your account early in the morning around 6-7 AM. That's when Washington ESD usually updates their system overnight. I found my approval showed up online before the letter arrived.

Just to be clear - once you're approved, you'll need to file weekly claims to actually receive payments. The approval just means you're eligible. You still need to certify each week that you're looking for work and available.

My experience was different - they called me! Got a call from a Washington ESD adjudicator who had questions about my separation. Scared me at first but it was just to clarify a few things. Got approved 2 days later.

Also keep in mind that if you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, Washington ESD needs to verify information with all of them. That can delay the process if any employer is slow to respond.

The determination letter will have EVERYTHING you need to know - your weekly benefit amount, how long you can collect, any special requirements, and when payments start. Keep that letter safe!

If you get denied don't panic - you have 30 days to file an appeal. The letter will explain exactly why you were denied and what you can do about it.

I was in the same boat last month - constantly refreshing the website. Using Claimyr to actually talk to someone really helped ease my anxiety. The agent was able to tell me exactly where my claim stood in the process.

Quick question - did you make sure to register with WorkSource? That's required for UI benefits and can delay your claim if you haven't done it yet.

The waiting is the absolute worst part. I checked my account probably 10 times a day when I first filed. Try to stay busy and check maybe once in the morning - the status won't change throughout the day anyway.

Just remember that even if approved, there's typically a one-week waiting period before you receive your first payment. So don't expect money immediately even after approval.

When I got my approval letter it came with a debit card in the same envelope. That's how they send payments now unless you specifically request direct deposit.

Pro tip: sign up for text alerts in your SecureAccess Washington account. They'll text you when there are updates to your claim status. Really helpful so you don't have to keep checking manually.

Update: I ended up using Claimyr again yesterday to check on a different issue and the agent told me they're currently running about 10-14 days on initial claim reviews. So your timing sounds about right.

Make sure you're prepared to start your job search activities as soon as you're approved. You'll need to log your work search efforts for each week you claim benefits.

Hang in there! I know the waiting is stressful but 10 days really isn't that long in Washington ESD time. You should hear something soon.

One more thing - if you have any issues with your claim or need to make changes, don't wait. Contact them as soon as possible because delays can affect your benefits.