Quick ESD payment without decision letter - is this normal or potential overpayment risk?

This is actually completely normal and how the system is supposed to work when everything aligns correctly! ESD has drastically improved their processing times since the pandemic. When there are no flags on the account (like identity verification issues, employer disputes, or job separation questions), payments can process very quickly after the waiting week. You will eventually receive a monetary determination letter that confirms the weekly benefit amount, but they often send these electronically through your eServices account rather than by mail. Have you checked the "Letters" section in his online account? The $1,125 weekly benefit is within the normal range for Washington (the max is $1,152 in 2025), so if his previous earnings qualify him for that amount, it sounds like the system is working as intended. Just make sure he continues to complete his weekly claims and meets the three job search activities requirement each week!

lol dont worry be happy! my claim last yr went thru fast too... then BAM! 3 months later they hit me with an "interview" and cut my benefits. turns out my employer disputed something. took FOREVER to fix. just saying, keep all ur husbands paystubs and layoff paperwork handy just in case!!!

It's definitely possible to get paid quickly when everything in the system lines up correctly. However, I would strongly recommend a few precautionary steps: 1. Check your husband's eServices account weekly for any new notices or letters 2. Print or save PDF copies of all weekly claim confirmations 3. Keep a detailed job search log with all required information for each activity 4. Save documentation of the layoff (separation notice, etc.) 5. Set aside a portion of each payment if possible, just in case there's an issue later One thing to watch for - sometimes employers don't respond to ESD's initial inquiries within the timeframe, so ESD approves the claim. Then later the employer contests it, which can trigger an investigation or potential overpayment notice. Not trying to worry you, just suggesting being prepared!

had same happen 2 me too! got paid super fast, no problems for like 2 months. then they needed more info about why i left my last job. everything worked out fine tho. just keep doing the weekly claims and make SURE he does all 3 job search things every week!!!!!!

I had the opposite experience trying to reach ESD when my claim got stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks! Called literally 30+ times and couldn't get through. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 showing how it works. Might be worth bookmarking in case you do run into issues later and need to talk to someone. But honestly, it sounds like your husband's claim is processing normally! The system works great when there are no complications. Hopefully it stays that way for you!

One other thing to keep in mind - make sure your husband understands the job search requirements. He needs to complete and document 3 job search activities each week. This is the #1 reason people end up with overpayments later - they don't realize they need to be actively searching for work, or they don't properly document their search activities. The good news is that the system is working as designed in your case! Just follow the rules, keep good records, and everything should continue smoothly.

btw did ur husband get the extra $35 for dependents? i have 2 kids and it took FOREVER to get that added to my weekly amount