What does 'adjudication' mean on my ESD unemployment claim?

Adjudication means ESD is investigating something on your claim that needs to be resolved before they can pay you. It could be your separation reason, availability for work, or something else that triggered a flag. It's definitely normal but can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks depending on their backlog. When I went through this last year, I was in adjudication for 3 weeks before they approved my claim. You can try calling ESD directly, but getting through is nearly impossible these days.

adjudication is when they check if u qualify. my sister had this happen cuz her employer said she quit but she was actually laid off. took almost a month to fix!!

Adjudication is essentially ESD's investigation process. When something in your claim needs further review, they put it in adjudication. Common reasons include: - Discrepancies in information between you and your employer - Questions about your availability for work - Issues with your work separation (quit vs fired vs laid off) - Potential eligibility issues Unfortunately, it's a waiting game. Make sure you KEEP FILING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS even during adjudication! This is super important because if they approve you, they'll pay for all those weeks at once. If it's urgent, you might want to try reaching an ESD agent directly. I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to ESD when my claim was stuck. They have a service that helps you skip the phone queues. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Hope this helps!

The ESD system is DELIBERATELY designed to be confusing and slow. They hope people will give up and not collect benefits they're entitled to. I was stuck in "adjudication" for 7 weeks last year and had to call my state representative to finally get it resolved. The system is broken by design, not by accident.

When I was in adjudication they sent me a questionnaire through my eServices message center. Did you check there to see if they're waiting for additional information from you? Sometimes they need more details but don't make it obvious they're waiting for you.

If you're concerned about your mortgage payment, you might want to try the Claimyr service someone mentioned above. I was skeptical at first but it actually got me through to an ESD agent after weeks of trying on my own. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim and gave me an estimated timeframe. Sometimes just knowing what's happening makes the waiting easier. You can check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

Adjudication is the formal process ESD uses to resolve questions about your eligibility for benefits. Under Washington state law (RCW 50.32), certain issues require investigation before benefits can be paid. While your claim is in adjudication: 1. Continue filing weekly claims without fail 2. Check your eServices account daily for questionnaires or document requests 3. Answer your phone even from unknown numbers (could be an adjudicator) 4. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in the system The current average adjudication time is approximately 4-5 weeks, though simple issues may resolve faster. If you have documentation that supports your claim (separation notice, doctor's notes, etc.), you can upload them proactively through your eServices portal under "Upload a Document.

has anyone else noticed they always seem to put first-time claimants in adjudication? happened to me and like 5 other people i know. almost like they do it automatically for new people

UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning after trying for days! They told me my claim is in adjudication because my employer reported a different reason for separation than what I put. I said I was laid off due to lack of work, but apparently my employer is claiming I was terminated for performance issues (which is NOT true). The agent said they'll be scheduling a phone interview with both me and my employer separately to determine what actually happened. At least now I know what's going on. She estimated 3-4 more weeks before resolution. Going to call my mortgage company to see if I can get an extension. Thanks everyone for your help explaining this!