Washington ESD unemployment claim delayed - is this normal with highest unemployment rates?

Thanks, I've been doing the weekly claims religiously. Just worried I'm missing something that's holding it up.

Same boat here, 5 weeks and counting. The waiting is brutal when you have bills due.

I've checked multiple times and don't see any issues flagged. Everything looks complete on my end.

If there's nothing showing as needed, it's likely just backed up in their system. The volume is unprecedented right now.

Really? How does that service work exactly? I'm desperate to talk to someone at this point.

It basically calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent without the endless busy signals. Worth checking out when you can't get through the normal way.

Never heard of this but might be worth trying. The regular phone system is completely useless right now.

That's somewhat reassuring but also terrifying. How are people supposed to survive 8-10 weeks without income?

I wish I had better news. The state is trying to hire more processors but training takes time. Hang in there.

I understand the frustration completely. The system wasn't designed for this volume of claims. Try to stay patient if you can.

Easy to say stay patient when you're not facing eviction! Sorry, I know it's not your fault.

Feel you 100%. This whole situation is a nightmare for everyone involved.

I don't see anything in determinations. What would cause adjudication with the highest unemployment situation?

Could be anything - job separation reason, earnings discrepancies, even random quality checks. The high volume means more things get flagged automatically.

How did you find out about the dispute? Did they notify you somehow?

Only found out when I finally got through to an agent. They don't always send clear notifications about these things.

This is why getting through to someone is so important. The online system doesn't show everything.

How many weeks did you end up waiting total? And did you get back pay for all the weeks?

About 8 weeks total. Yes, got back pay for everything once it was approved. Just had to be patient.

They're doing their best with limited resources. The volume is unprecedented compared to normal times.

i get it but people need money to live. seems like they should have been more prepared

I've tried that but keep getting busy signals even at 8am sharp. Maybe I'll try again Monday.

It's hit or miss. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not. The Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier might be more reliable.

Do you know if there's any way to prioritize claims for people in desperate situations?

Not really. They process in order unless there are urgent circumstances like homelessness, but even then it's limited.

I've been logging job searches every week. Do they verify those somehow?

They can spot-check them, especially during high-volume periods. Make sure your entries are detailed and legitimate.

How much does it cost? At this point I'm willing to try anything.

Not sure on exact cost but my cousin said it was worth it to finally get answers about her claim status.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's hard to stay positive when bills are piling up.

I totally understand. Maybe look into local food banks or assistance programs while you wait?

I guess I'll keep waiting then. Just hoping it gets resolved soon.

It will. I've seen dozens of these cases resolve eventually. The system is slow but it works.

I'm definitely going to look into that. Thanks for the suggestion.

No problem. Hope you get your claim resolved soon. The waiting is the worst part.

Good advice. I've been keeping screenshots of everything just in case.

Smart. That documentation can be crucial if you need to appeal anything or prove you followed all requirements.

I just hope 'eventually' is soon. Running out of savings fast.

Hang in there. Most people are getting their claims approved, it's just taking way longer than usual.

Thanks for understanding. It really helps to know others have gone through this and come out okay.

You're not alone in this. The system will eventually catch up with the highest unemployment volumes we're seeing.

That's great news! Gives me hope that mine will come through too. Congrats on getting it resolved.

Thanks! Your situation sounds very similar to mine, so I'm optimistic you'll get good news soon too.