Washington ESD zero unemployment rate - what does this mean for my claim?

That makes sense, I guess I was thinking if fewer people were unemployed there'd be less workload for them

Actually when unemployment is low, sometimes it takes longer because they're more thorough with verification since there's less obvious widespread layoffs

The phone system is definitely overwhelmed. Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open?

tried that too, still can't get through. its so frustrating when you need answers about your claim

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone

Yeah I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't need your personal info or anything, just helps you get connected to the right department

I've heard of this too, might be worth trying if you're stuck in adjudication limbo

I understand the frustration, but the system does work for most people. The ones having problems are just more vocal about it online

maybe but when you're one of the ones having problems it feels like the whole system is against you

So even in a 'perfect' economy people would still need unemployment benefits?

Exactly. There's always what economists call 'frictional unemployment' - people between jobs, recent graduates, etc.

This is helpful context, I always wondered about this too

5 weeks?? I'm already stressed at 3 weeks, don't tell me it could be that long

sorry didn't mean to stress you out more! but yeah it can vary a lot depending on your specific situation

My case should be straightforward though - just a regular layoff with no disputes

Sometimes even straightforward cases get flagged for review. Did you double-check that all your employer information was entered correctly?

That's kind of backwards isn't it? Making it harder when the economy is good?

It does seem counterintuitive but I think the logic is that there are more job opportunities available so they want to ensure benefits go to people who truly need them

That's actually a good point I hadn't considered before

Really?? What did they say was causing the delay?

turned out there was an issue with how my employer reported my separation reason. the agent was able to clarify it right on the call

That's awesome, glad you got it resolved! Sometimes it really is just a communication issue

From an HR perspective, do you think low unemployment makes Washington ESD more strict about approving claims?

In my experience, they're consistent with their criteria regardless of the economic climate. The process might seem slower when there are fewer obvious mass layoffs to process

Yeah that was confusing me too. Have you tried calling them?

I've tried but haven't gotten through yet. Might give that claimyr service a shot based on what others are saying

What's the difference between regular UI and standby claims?

Standby is for when you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same employer. Regular UI is for permanent separations or when you're actively job searching

Good explanation - a lot of people get confused about the different claim types

That makes total sense now that everyone's explained it

Yeah it's one of those things that seems obvious once you think about it but can be confusing at first

At least now I know it's not because of the economic situation

exactly, it's more about their internal processes and workload than external economic factors

So when people say zero unemployment they don't literally mean zero?

Right, it's more like 'near-zero' or as close to zero as you can realistically get while still having a functioning labor market

I'm definitely going to try it if my adjudication doesn't move soon

Yeah it's worth a shot if you're stuck. Much better than sitting on hold for hours

Interesting point, hadn't thought about staffing shortages

It's just one factor among many, but yeah when everyone's employed it can be harder to hire additional staff

Thanks for the clear summary! That really helps put things in perspective

No problem! Hope your adjudication gets resolved soon. Don't hesitate to reach out to them directly if you need answers

That settles it, I'm definitely trying it if I don't hear back soon

yeah definitely worth it when you're stuck and need to talk to someone

Definitely helped! I feel much less confused about the whole situation now

Great! Good luck with getting your adjudication resolved