Stuck in 'Training Benefits' adjudication for 4 weeks - pending status with no ESD response

yeah been there man. training benefit approvals r taking FOREVER now. mine took 8 weeks, was about ready to give up and just take any job. esd doesnt care if ur bills are due lol

Training Benefits adjudication is unfortunately one of the longest processes at ESD right now. The system requires manual review by a specialist who verifies your school is approved and that your training plan meets their criteria. The fact that you have two separate adjudication dates suggests there might be both a Training Benefits review AND a separate issue (possibly availability for work while in school). A few important points: 1. Keep filing your weekly claims even while pending 2. Make sure you've submitted your Training Benefits application form completely 3. Verify your school/program is on the approved provider list 4. If approved, you should receive backpay for all eligible weeks The current training approval backlog is about 5-7 weeks according to what I've heard from others recently.

This happened to me last month!!! So frustrating!!! I was waiting for VOCATIONAL training approval and it took 5 weeks and then they DENIED me saying my program wasn't approved even though it WAS on their list!!! Then I had to appeal and wait ANOTHER 3 weeks!!! The system is BROKEN!!!!

I've helped several clients navigate the Training Benefits process. First, make sure you understand which type of training approval you're seeking: - Commissioner Approved Training (CAT) - Training Benefits (TB) - Self-arranged training Each has different eligibility rules and approval timelines. The two adjudication dates suggest there may be confusion about which type you've applied for. Do you know specifically which one you requested? This matters because it affects both your approval chances and potential benefit duration.

I know this sounds crazy but I literally had to contact my state representative to get my training benefits unstuck. After 6 weeks of nothing, I emailed my district rep with my situation and they contacted ESD on my behalf. Suddenly my claim was approved within 48 hours. The system is completely jammed up right now because they laid off a bunch of adjudicators after the pandemic rush but training approvals still require human review.

Try Claimyr.com - it's the only way I've been able to reliably get through to ESD lately. They basically navigate the phone system for you and call you back when they've reached an agent. Saved me hours of frustration when I was dealing with an adjudication issue. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. For Training Benefits specifically, you need to talk to a specialist, not just any agent, so be clear about that when you get through.

I work in workforce development and regularly help people with Training Benefits applications. Here's what you need to know: 1) The 2 adjudication dates are normal - one is for eligibility determination, one is for the training plan. 2) Training Benefits take 4-8 weeks minimum right now because there are only a handful of specialists who can approve them. 3) While waiting, make sure you're still doing your 3 job searches each week unless you've specifically been told you're exempt. 4) If you're in dire financial straits, call 211 for emergency assistance resources. 5) When approved, you'll get backpay for all weeks if you've been diligently filing. One last thing: double-check that you selected the correct type of training approval. Many people think they're applying for Training Benefits but actually completed the Commissioner Approved Training form, which is different.

anyone else notice how the esd website always goes down for "maintenance" right when ur trying to submit important docs?? happened to me THREE TIMES when i was uploading my training plan. then they claimed they never got it and i had to start over. the whole system is designed to make you give up!!

Quick update on current Training Benefits timelines - I just attended a WorkSource webinar yesterday and the specialist mentioned they're currently processing TB applications from early January. So the 5-7 week estimate is accurate. They also said they're prioritizing cases where financial hardship is documented, so it might be worth uploading a statement about your situation through your eServices account.

To answer your original question - yes, I did find my rep through the state legislature website. Just put in your address and it shows your district representatives. I emailed all three of mine (2 house, 1 senate) with a brief explanation of my situation, my claim ID number, and how long I'd been waiting. One of them had their legislative assistant contact ESD directly. I didn't need to provide super detailed info, just enough that ESD could locate my claim. It was surprisingly effective!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my Training Benefits application on January 8th and it's been stuck in adjudication for over 5 weeks. Also have two different dates showing up in my account which was super confusing until I read the explanations here. I've been doing the job search requirements even though I'm in school full-time because nobody told me otherwise. The financial stress is unreal - had to borrow money from family just to pay utilities this month. Really hoping these timelines people are sharing are accurate and we'll hear something soon. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my Training Benefits application on January 20th for a nursing program at Bellevue College and have been stuck in pending status for 3+ weeks now. Like you, I have two different adjudication dates showing up which was driving me crazy until I read the explanations here. The wait is absolutely brutal - I'm behind on car payments and my credit cards are maxed out from trying to survive without income. I've been continuing to do my job searches even though I'm in school because I wasn't told otherwise, but it's so hard to focus on applications when you're stressed about money constantly. Based on what others are saying about early January applications being processed now, hopefully we're both getting close! I'm definitely going to try uploading a hardship statement and maybe contact my state rep if nothing happens in the next week. Thanks for posting this - it's weirdly comforting to know so many others are going through the same thing.

I'm currently going through the Training Benefits process too and wanted to share what I learned from calling the WorkSource office directly instead of the main ESD line. They told me that TB applications are being processed in strict chronological order, but there are only 4 specialists statewide handling these approvals right now (used to be 12 before budget cuts). The good news is that if your application was complete when submitted and your program is pre-approved, the actual approval once they get to your file only takes 1-2 days. The bad news is the wait time to get reviewed. They also confirmed that uploading a hardship statement through eServices does get flagged for priority review, but "priority" still means 3-4 weeks instead of 6-8 weeks. One thing that might help while waiting - if you're enrolled in an approved program, you can usually get emergency financial aid through your school's financial aid office. Most community colleges have emergency grants specifically for students dealing with unemployment delays. Worth asking about!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Applied for Training Benefits on January 16th for a cybersecurity program and have been stuck in pending status for over a month. Also seeing those confusing dual adjudication dates that everyone's talking about. The financial pressure is absolutely crushing - I've had to move back in with my parents because I couldn't make rent. What's been most frustrating is the complete lack of communication from ESD. At least now I understand from reading everyone's experiences that this is just how broken the system is right now. The info about only 4 specialists statewide is mind-blowing - that explains everything! I'm going to try the hardship statement upload today and maybe reach out to my state rep if I don't hear anything by next week. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and strategies - it really helps to know we're not alone in this mess. Fingers crossed we all get approved soon and can focus on our studies instead of worrying about bills!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Filed my Training Benefits application on January 10th for a medical assistant program and have been in pending hell for over 6 weeks now. The two different adjudication dates thing had me so confused until I read all your explanations - makes sense that one is eligibility and one is the training plan review. The financial stress is absolutely brutal. I've been living off credit cards and borrowing money from friends just to survive. What really gets me is that I'm trying to better myself by getting training for a stable healthcare career, but the system makes it almost impossible to actually do it without going broke first. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and advice here - I had no idea about the hardship statement option or contacting state reps. Also didn't know there were only 4 specialists handling these statewide - that's absolutely ridiculous! No wonder we're all stuck. I'm going to upload a hardship statement today and contact my school about emergency financial aid. Hopefully those of us who applied in early January will start hearing something soon. This whole situation is just proof that the system needs serious reform.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Applied for Training Benefits on January 18th for a web development bootcamp and have been stuck in pending status for almost 5 weeks. Like everyone else, I have those two confusing adjudication dates showing up in my account. The financial stress is absolutely destroying me - I've had to ask family for help with groceries and I'm terrified about making rent next month. What's really frustrating is that I'm trying to transition into tech because my previous industry (retail management) has been dying, but ESD is making it nearly impossible to actually get the training I need. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting and horrifying. Comforting to know I'm not alone, but horrifying to learn there are only 4 specialists statewide handling these approvals! That explains why we're all experiencing the same nightmare delays. I'm definitely going to upload a hardship statement today and contact my school about emergency financial aid - I had no idea those options existed. Also going to look up my state representatives just in case. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and strategies. It really helps to know we're all fighting the same broken system together. Hopefully those of us who applied in mid-January will start hearing something soon!