Month-long ESD adjudication wait - can we expedite our own claims?

Unfortunately the adjudication process can take 6-8 weeks these days, sometimes longer. There's really no way to "expedite" your own claim - that's not how the system works. Your best bet is to keep trying to reach a live agent who can check your file for any specific issues causing the delay. They might be waiting on additional information that wasn't requested properly or there could be some mismatch between your application and employer records.

I was stuck in adjudication for nearly 7 weeks earlier this year. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual ESD agent. It's a service that basically calls ESD for you and then connects you when they get through. Saved me from the endless busy signals and hangups. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent I finally spoke with was able to see that my claim had a simple identity verification flag that was never communicated to me! Got it resolved in that one call after weeks of frustration.

lol @ "adjudicate my own claim" 😂 if only it worked that way! I waited 9 WEEKS last year before mine was approved. ESD is the absolute worst.

There are a few things you can try to potentially move your claim along: 1. Check your ESD account for any alerts or action items you may have missed. Sometimes they request additional information but the notification gets lost. 2. Contact your state representative or senator. Their constituent services can sometimes help expedite claims that have been stalled for extended periods. They often have direct contacts at ESD. 3. Make sure you continue filing your weekly claims without interruption, even while waiting for the initial claim decision. 4. If you're experiencing severe financial hardship, make sure to mention this when you do reach an agent. There are sometimes provisions for hardship expedites, though they're rarely advertised. 5. Double-check that your former employer actually responded to ESD's inquiry. Despite what they told you about not contesting, if they didn't respond at all, that could be causing the delay. The standard adjudication period is 4-6 weeks currently, but with the recent system updates and staffing changes at ESD, many claims are taking longer.

wait you've only been waiting a month? try THREE MONTHS last year when my claim got stuck because i worked in two states in my base year. ESD is a disaster after they updated their systems the agents dont even know how to use it properly

I was in adjudication for 5 weeks in January, and what ended up happening was the adjudicator had questions about my availability for work. The frustrating part was they never actually contacted me to ask these questions! The system is supposed to trigger a phone appointment or questionnaire, but it failed to do so in my case. I suggest sending a message through your eServices portal specifically asking if there are any specific issues with your claim that are causing the adjudication delay. Be very clear in your message. Sometimes this can prompt them to actually look at your file. Also, if you're getting desperate financially, check if you qualify for emergency assistance through DSHS or local community action agencies while you wait. Most counties have hardship funds available specifically for people waiting on unemployment benefits.

mine took 2 months!! keep calling keep calling keep calling. its the only way. start at 7:59am exactly thats when they open the phones

One additional note: when you do finally reach an agent, ask them to document in your file that you've been attempting to contact ESD regularly. This can be important if they try to say you were non-responsive to some request you never received. Also, make sure you have a clear and accurate record of your last employer, including the correct business name (sometimes the legal name is different from what employees call it), their ESD reference number if you have it, and exact dates of employment. Having these details ready can sometimes help them clear up issues on the spot. Keep in mind that adjudicators and regular ESD agents are different - regular agents can see what's causing the hold but often can't adjudicate the claim themselves. However, they CAN add notes to your file that the adjudicator will see, which is why being specific about your situation when you do reach someone is so important.

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! Called about 40 times starting at exactly 8am. The agent confirmed my employer DID respond promptly (not the issue) but apparently there was a discrepancy between the reason for separation I listed (layoff) and some auto-categorization in their system that flagged it as "lack of work" which are technically different things in their system. The agent added detailed notes to my file and said an adjudicator should contact me within 3-5 business days. Fingers crossed this actually happens! Will update when I hear more.