Washington ESD claim shows 'issue closed level 3' - what does this mean for my unemployment benefits?

Level 3 issue closure typically means there was an adjudication review that has been resolved in your favor. However, there might be a processing delay before your payments resume. Check your correspondence inbox on the ESD portal for any letters or notices that explain the specific issue that was reviewed.

I had the same thing happen last month! Turned out there was a work separation issue they were reviewing from when I left my previous job. Once they closed it at level 3, my payments resumed the following week. Did you have any job changes recently?

Before you stress too much about calling ESD, try using Claimyr to actually get through to someone. I spent hours trying to call the regular number and kept getting disconnected. Found Claimyr.com and their system got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The different levels refer to the complexity and review authority required. Level 3 closures are handled by senior adjudicators and usually involve more complex separation issues or eligibility questions. Since yours is closed, it means they've made a determination and you should see normal processing resume.

ugh the ESD system is so confusing with all these random codes and levels that they never explain anywhere!!! why cant they just say 'your claim is approved' or 'theres a problem' instead of cryptic messages

Just wanted to follow up - when I had the level 3 closure, I also noticed my claim balance updated to show the correct remaining weeks. Double check that your benefit year and weekly benefit amount are still showing correctly in your account.

I think level 3 has something to do with voluntary quit reviews? I remember seeing that when they were checking if I had good cause for leaving my job.

Did you get any questionnaires or have to submit documentation during the review process? Sometimes they close issues without much notification to the claimant.

The good news is that if it's closed at level 3, you probably won't have to deal with appeals or hearings. Those usually happen when issues can't be resolved at the adjudication level.

For anyone else dealing with confusing status messages, I really recommend trying Claimyr if you need to talk to ESD directly. After my success with them for a different issue, I've recommended them to several friends who've all had good experiences getting through to agents quickly.

I've never seen level 3 specifically but I've had other issue codes that scared me until I found out they were actually resolved in my favor. ESD really needs better communication about what these status updates mean.

Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even with the issue closed status showing. Sometimes people stop filing thinking there's a problem, but you need to maintain your claim to get paid for those weeks.

This happened to my neighbor too. She was freaking out about the level 3 message but then got a big direct deposit a few days later with all her back payments.

The adjudication levels are supposed to indicate the complexity and authority level required for the decision. Level 1 would be basic automated reviews, level 2 more complex, and level 3 requires senior review. Closure at any level means the issue is resolved.

just keep an eye on your payment history over the next week, you should see the missing payments show up once the closure processes through the system completely

I went through something similar and used Claimyr to get clarification from ESD. The agent confirmed that level 3 closures are generally positive outcomes and explained exactly what was reviewed in my case. Really put my mind at ease.

For future reference, you can also check the ESD website under 'Claim Status Definitions' but their explanations are pretty vague. The level system isn't well documented anywhere public that I've found.

Update us when your payments resume! Always good to hear success stories for others who might encounter the same status message.