Washington ESD claim under review - what does this mean exactly?

When Washington ESD says your claim is 'under review' it usually means they need to verify some information before they can approve your benefits. This is pretty common, especially for new claims. Could be they're checking your work history, wages, or reason for separation from your last job.

I had the same thing happen last month. Took about 3 weeks total before mine got approved. The review process can be frustrating because they don't give you much detail about what they're actually reviewing.

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your review status, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get through to an actual agent instead of being stuck in phone queue hell. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than spending hours trying to call yourself.

The review status is basically Washington ESD's way of saying they're doing their due diligence. They have to investigate any potential issues before paying out benefits. Keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review - if you get approved, you'll get backpay for those weeks.

UGH the Washington ESD system is so frustrating!! They put everything 'under review' for the smallest reasons and then you can't get anyone on the phone to explain what's happening. I've been waiting 4 weeks for my issue to resolve.

In my experience, 'under review' can mean several different things: 1) They're verifying your employment history and wages, 2) Your former employer contested the claim, 3) There's a discrepancy in your application that needs clarification, or 4) They're doing a routine eligibility check. The good news is most reviews result in approval if everything checks out.

The waiting is the worst part. I basically checked my account every day during my review period hoping something would change. Just try to be patient - most people do get approved eventually.

If you're really anxious about the status and want to talk to someone, I'd seriously consider using Claimyr. I was in a similar situation where my claim was stuck and I couldn't get through on the phone. Used their service and got connected to a Washington ESD rep who explained exactly what was happening with my review.

Keep in mind that even if your claim is under review, you should still be doing your job search activities and keeping track of them. Washington ESD will want to see that you've been actively looking for work during this time.

This happened to my neighbor too and it turned out Washington ESD just needed her to verify her identity. She had to send in some documents and then it got approved pretty quickly after that.

The review process exists to prevent fraud, so try not to take it personally. Washington ESD processes thousands of claims and they have to verify everything properly. It's better that they're thorough than paying out benefits to people who aren't eligible.

Check your messages in your Washington ESD account and also watch for mail. Sometimes they send requests for additional information that you might miss.

When I was under review last year it felt like forever but looking back it was only about 2 weeks. Time moves really slow when you're waiting for unemployment money.

I used Claimyr when I couldn't figure out why my claim was taking so long. The Washington ESD agent I talked to explained that employer contests can add 2-3 weeks to the review process because they have to investigate both sides. Really helped me understand what was happening.

Don't panic yet! 10 days isn't that long in Washington ESD time. I know it feels like forever when you need the money, but most reviews resolve within 2-4 weeks.

Make sure you're still certifying for benefits each week even while under review. If you stop filing your weekly claims, you could lose those weeks even if your claim gets approved later.

The whole system is designed to discourage people from applying honestly. They make everything so complicated and stressful that some people just give up.

Just wanted to add that if your review takes longer than 4 weeks, you might want to contact your state representative's office. They sometimes have ways to expedite cases that are taking too long.

Hang in there! I know the waiting sucks but most people do get approved. Just focus on your job search and try not to stress too much about things you can't control.

I'm in a similar situation - my claim has been under review for 12 days now and I'm getting really anxious about it. Reading through all these responses is actually making me feel a bit better knowing that this is pretty normal and most people do get approved eventually. I think I might try that Claimyr service that people mentioned since I really need to know what's going on with my claim. The not knowing is honestly the hardest part. Thanks for asking this question because I was wondering the exact same thing!