What does awaiting processing mean for unemployment - Washington ESD claim stuck

Thanks for explaining that! I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong on my application.

Mine was stuck there for almost a month last year, so don't freak out if it takes longer than expected.

What happens if it goes to adjudication? That sounds scary.

Adjudication just means they need to investigate something further - could be your separation reason, wage discrepancies, or other eligibility issues. It's not necessarily bad, just takes longer.

Never heard of that service before, is it legit? I'm desperate to talk to someone about my claim.

Yeah it's real, they basically keep calling Washington ESD for you until they get through. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

How much does it cost though? I'm already tight on money waiting for my claim to process.

I get the frustration but the status is actually normal processing. They're just overwhelmed with claims right now.

same here, filed 3 weeks ago and still awaiting processing. at least we're not alone i guess

Do they contact your employer during this phase? I'm worried about my former boss knowing I filed for unemployment.

Yes, they typically send a notice to your employer asking them to verify your separation reason and wages. It's standard procedure.

What kind of complications would cause delays? I'm worried mine might have issues.

Common delays include missing wage information, employer disputes about separation reason, or if you worked in multiple states recently.

That's reassuring to hear! Did you get backpay for the weeks you were waiting?

yep got backpay for all the weeks i was waiting, as long as u keep filing ur weekly claims

You should definitely keep filing your weekly claims even during awaiting processing. If you're approved, you'll get backpay for those weeks. If you don't file, you lose those weeks forever.

This is important - I missed filing for 2 weeks thinking I had to wait for approval and lost those weeks permanently.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - they handle all the calling for you and actually get through to agents. Worth checking out if you're tired of the runaround.

I might have to try that service too. This is getting ridiculous.

That makes sense about batch processing. I noticed a bunch of people on Facebook groups saying their claims all got approved on the same day last week.

Mine's been processing for 12 business days now so hopefully I'm in the next batch!

Thank you for clarifying that! I was worried awaiting processing meant there was already a problem with my claim.

What does it mean if your claim goes straight to adjudication without showing awaiting processing first?

If it goes straight to adjudication, that usually means Washington ESD identified a potential issue immediately - like if you were fired for misconduct or there's a wage discrepancy.

I totally understand that anxiety. The waiting is the worst part. Have you tried using the online messaging system to ask for an update?

I sent a message through the system but it just says they'll respond within 5-7 business days. That was 6 days ago.

Good advice but how do you actually get through to talk to someone? I've tried calling dozens of times.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and they got me through to an agent who told me exactly what Washington ESD was waiting for. Turned out they needed additional wage verification from a previous employer.

I believe it's business days since Washington ESD doesn't process claims on weekends. But I'm not 100% sure about that.

It's definitely business days. I counted and mine took exactly 15 business days to move from awaiting processing to approved.

Agreed! The lack of communication is really frustrating. Even a generic timeline would help manage expectations.

I think they don't give timeframes because it varies so much depending on your situation and their workload. But yeah, some guidance would be nice.

That's actually really helpful to know. I'm coming up on 2 weeks so maybe mine will change status soon.

Mine took 3 weeks the first time and only 10 days the second time, so I think it really depends on how busy they are when you file.

Congratulations! Did you get backpay for all those weeks you were waiting?

Yes, I got backpay for all the weeks I filed claims during the waiting period. So glad I kept filing even though I wasn't sure if I should.

Same here! I was getting really worried but now I feel much better knowing this is just part of the normal process.

Glad this helped! The waiting is definitely stressful but sounds like most people do get approved eventually.