What does adjudication mean for unemployment claims in Washington ESD?

Thanks! Do you know if there's a way to find out specifically what they're reviewing? My account doesn't show any issues that need my attention.

Usually they'll send you a letter or show a pending issue in your account, but sometimes it's just internal verification stuff you can't see.

At least yours got approved! I'm starting to panic about my bills.

Three weeks is actually pretty fast these days. I've seen people wait 6-8 weeks for adjudication.

Is this legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach Washington ESD by phone.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got connected to an adjudicator who explained exactly what was holding up my claim.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.

I did work in Oregon for a few months last year before moving to Washington. Could that be causing the delay?

Absolutely! Multi-state work history often triggers adjudication because they need to verify wages and coordinate with the other state's unemployment office.

Feel your pain. The waiting is the worst part especially when you have no idea what's going on.

Five weeks is definitely longer than average. Have you checked if there are any pending issues in your account that need your response?

Checked a million times. Nothing shows up as needing action from me.

Good to know! I was wondering if I should keep filing since I'm not getting paid anyway.

This is crucial advice. Always keep filing weekly claims unless Washington ESD specifically tells you to stop.

What kind of documentation did you need to provide?

layoff notice from HR, company email about budget cuts, and a letter from my supervisor confirming I wasn't fired for performance issues

Yes, you absolutely need to keep doing your job searches and logging them in WorkSourceWA. Adjudication doesn't pause those requirements.

Thanks for clarifying! Don't want to mess anything up while waiting for this to resolve.

That's exactly what I need to know! How did you find out about this service?

Someone in another unemployment forum mentioned it. Wish I'd known about it weeks ago instead of wasting so much time trying to call directly.

Standby claims can have their own adjudication issues, especially if there's confusion about your availability for work or union recall procedures.

that might be it - there was some confusion about my recall date when I first filed

That's reassuring to hear. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're stressed about money.

Easy to say when you're not the one waiting weeks without income!

How would I know if I need to appeal? Would they explain the reason for denial?

You'll get a determination letter explaining the decision. If you disagree, you typically have 30 days to file an appeal.

Ten days is nothing to worry about. You're still in the normal timeframe for most adjudication reviews.

Thanks! The uncertainty is definitely the worst part of this whole process.

Good to know it's consistent. I might try it if my adjudication drags on much longer.

I'm still skeptical about paying for something that should be free, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

Adjudication happens before a decision is made - it's the investigation process. An appeal happens after you receive a decision you disagree with.

oh that makes sense! so i'm in adjudication right now, waiting for them to make the initial decision

Washington ESD doesn't have a formal expedite process, but contacting them to explain your situation might help. Document everything in case you need it later.

This is exactly when that Claimyr service could help - getting through to someone who can at least give you a status update or timeline.

That's so encouraging! Hopefully mine resolves soon too. Did you do anything specific to speed it up?

not really, just kept filing weekly and waited it out. the hardest part is definitely not knowing what's happening

How often should I be checking? I've been logging in daily but maybe that's overkill.

Daily is probably fine if you're anxious about it. I'd say at minimum every few days to catch any new requests.

That makes me feel better. My situation is pretty straightforward so hopefully it won't take that long.

Six weeks is insane! How did you survive financially during that time?

it was really tough. had to borrow money from family and use food banks. but the back pay helped catch up on everything once it finally came through

Thanks for the summary! This whole thread has been really helpful for understanding what to expect.

Agreed - wish I'd found information like this when I was going through my adjudication last year.

I totally understand that uncertainty feeling! I'm dealing with the same thing right now - it's so hard not knowing what's going on or how long it might take. What really helped me after reading this thread is realizing that adjudication seems to be pretty common and most people do get through it eventually. The advice about keeping up with weekly claims even though you're not getting paid yet is something I definitely needed to hear. Hang in there!

You're definitely not alone! I went through the exact same anxiety when I was in adjudication a few months ago. Ten days is still pretty early in the process, so try not to panic yet. The waiting is absolutely the worst part because you have no idea what's happening behind the scenes. I found it helped to set a specific day each week to check my account rather than obsessively logging in daily. And definitely keep filing those weekly claims - that was crucial advice I wish I'd known from the start. If you do end up trying Claimyr, I'd love to hear how it works out for you!