Washington ESD unemployment how long does it take to get approved?

Thanks, that's helpful. I didn't quit or get fired for cause, just laid off due to business being slow. Hopefully that speeds things up.

Restaurant layoffs are pretty straightforward usually. You should be fine if you have all your paperwork in order.

What exactly is adjudication? I keep seeing that word but don't really understand what it means.

Adjudication is when Washington ESD needs to investigate your claim further. This happens when there are questions about your eligibility - like if your employer disputes the reason you left, or if there are discrepancies in your work history.

Have you tried calling right when they open at 8am? That's the only time I've had luck getting through.

Yeah I've tried that too. Still can't get through. It's like they don't want to help people.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They called me back within an hour and I was able to speak to someone about my claim. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That's terrible. Have you tried contacting your state representative? Sometimes they can help push things along.

I didn't know that was an option. How do I do that?

You can look up your district representative online and call their office. Explain your situation and they might be able to help expedite your claim.

That gives me hope! Did you have to do anything special or just wait it out?

Just waited. I made sure to file my weekly claims even though I wasn't getting paid yet. That's important - you have to keep filing even while your initial claim is being processed.

I guess you're right. It's just stressful not knowing what's happening.

Totally understand. The waiting is the worst part.

Yes, I've been doing that. Filing every week even though I'm not getting paid yet.

Good! That's the right thing to do. Once your claim is approved, you'll get paid for all those weeks.

Easy to say be patient when you're not the one who can't pay bills.

Fair point. I've been there too, it's really stressful.

I check it every day. So far no requests for additional info, just says 'under review'.

That's good. No news is usually good news in this case.

I set up direct deposit when I filed. Hopefully that helps speed things up when I do get approved.

Yeah, direct deposit is definitely the way to go. Gets your money faster.

How much does that cost? I'm already broke, can't afford to pay for more services.

It's worth checking out their website to see if it makes sense for your situation. For me, getting through to someone was worth it to get my claim moving.

Exactly! The stress is real when you don't know if/when money is coming.

yeah and cant even get through to ask whats taking so long

Thanks for the encouragement! It helps to hear from someone in a similar situation.

No problem. The restaurant industry has been rough lately. Hope things turn around for you soon.

How would I find out if they're contesting it? My manager seemed understanding when they laid me off.

Washington ESD would notify you if there was a contest, but sometimes those notices get lost in the mail or end up in spam folders. Keep checking your online account.

I was pretty careful when filling everything out. Double-checked all my employment dates and information.

Sounds like you did everything right then. Should hopefully come through soon.

Yeah I'm definitely guilty of checking way too often. It's hard not to when you're anxious about it.

I totally get it. The uncertainty is really stressful.

I've been applying to jobs but wasn't keeping detailed records. I should start doing that.

Yes, definitely keep track. Applications, networking, job fairs, even online job training courses count toward your search activities.

How long did the appeal process take?

About 6 weeks for me, but it was worth it. Got all my back pay once it was resolved.

Thanks for the reassurance. I know I'm probably overthinking it but it's hard not to worry.

Completely understandable. Financial uncertainty is really stressful.

I didn't know they had an online messaging system. I'll look for that option.

Yeah, it's in your online account. Not always faster but worth trying.

I tried their messaging system but never got a response. That's actually why I ended up using Claimyr - at least I knew I'd be able to talk to a real person about my situation.