Washington ESD - once you apply for unemployment how long does it take to get approved?

Thanks! That timeline helps me plan better. Do I need to wait for them to contact me about the weekly claims or should I be checking the website regularly?

Check your account regularly - you should see instructions for filing weekly claims once your initial claim is approved. Don't wait for them to contact you as that could delay your benefits.

It was definitely a layoff - they eliminated my whole department. Hopefully that means no complications.

That should make it pretty straightforward then. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time once you're able to.

Interesting, never heard of that service. Is it legit? I'm worried about giving my info to third parties.

Yeah it's legitimate - they just help you get through the phone queue system. You still talk directly to ESD agents, they just bypass the busy signals and long hold times.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Worked exactly as advertised - got connected to an actual ESD representative within an hour instead of calling for days.

That's frustrating. Are you able to see any status updates in your account or is it just showing pending?

It shows 'claim under review' but no specifics. I'm thinking about using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually talk to someone.

I understand the frustration, but 3 weeks might indicate there's an issue with your claim that needs resolution. Have you tried calling to check on the status?

tried calling probably 100 times, either busy signal or they hang up after being on hold for hours

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it's designed for this specific problem of not being able to get through to ESD by phone.

18 days isn't too bad. Did you get any notifications when you were supposed to start filing weekly claims?

I got an email but it went to my spam folder initially. Check spam and log into your account regularly - that's more reliable than waiting for notifications.

What kind of additional documentation did they want the second time?

They wanted verification of my employment dates and wages from multiple employers. Had to track down old pay stubs and tax documents.

Good to know - I'll make sure to keep all that stuff handy just in case.

What kinds of things trigger adjudication? I want to make sure I haven't missed anything that could cause delays.

Usually things like voluntary quit vs. involuntary separation, questions about misconduct, or discrepancies in employment information. Since you mentioned layoff, you should be fine.

Right? I keep checking like 10 times a day even though I know it won't change that fast.

haha same! my friends think I'm obsessed but they don't understand the financial pressure

Good point - I did set that up during the application process. Hopefully that helps when the time comes.

Definitely recommend direct deposit. Paper checks can take an extra week to arrive and process.

You can only file weekly claims after your initial claim is approved. The system won't let you file before then, so no worries about doing it too early.

Good to know! He was probably just confused about the timing.

Several people have mentioned that service now. Might be worth keeping in mind if I run into problems.

I used them too when my weekly claims got stuck. Much better than spending entire days trying to call ESD directly.

easy for you to say when you're not the one waiting for money to pay rent!

I totally understand the stress - been there myself. Just trying to provide some perspective that it does usually work out.

Thanks for the reminder. How many job search activities do you need per week?

It varies based on your situation, but typically 3 job search activities per week. Keep detailed records of what you do.

You can find the specific requirements for your situation in your account once your claim is approved. They'll spell out exactly what you need to do.

Even early morning calling is hit or miss. That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist - to solve this specific phone access problem.

True, might have to look into that if I need to call again.

Yeah, I saw those estimates but wanted to hear from real people about their actual experiences.

Smart approach. Real experiences give you a better sense of what to actually expect.

Wait, what? There's a waiting week that doesn't get paid? I didn't realize that.

Yes, the first week of your claim is an unpaid waiting week. You can potentially get it paid later if you remain eligible for several weeks, but initially it's unpaid.

Good to know so I can budget accordingly. Thanks for the heads up.

Appreciate the encouragement. This whole situation is stressful but all these responses have been really helpful.

That's what these forums are for! We've all been there and understand the stress. It does get easier once you're in the system.