What does issue closed level 3 mean for unemployment claim in Washington ESD system?

Level 3 closure usually means the adjudication issue has been resolved in your favor. It's their internal coding system - level 1 would be minor issues, level 2 moderate complexity, and level 3 indicates they had to do a thorough investigation but concluded you're eligible for benefits.

I had the exact same thing happen last month. Issue closed level 3 meant they finished investigating my quit vs termination situation and determined I was eligible. You should get your money soon.

Actually I think you might be getting ahead of yourselves. Level 3 could also mean they're escalating it to a higher review level. Have you tried calling Washington ESD to get clarification? I know the wait times are brutal though.

Wait I'm confused about these level numbers. My claim just says 'under review' - does that mean mine is still level 1 or 2? This is so frustrating that they don't explain their own system clearly.

LEVEL 3 IS GOOD NEWS! I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims all the time. When Washington ESD closes an issue at level 3, it means they did a comprehensive review and the claimant won. You should celebrate!

whatever it means i hope you get your money soon. this whole system is such a mess. been waiting 2 months for mine to get sorted out

I'm a former Washington ESD employee and can clarify this. Level 3 closure means the adjudicator completed a complex fact-finding investigation. The level number indicates the time and resources spent on the case, not the outcome. You need to check your determination letter for the actual decision.

Update us when you find out the actual decision! I'm curious because I have a level 2 closure and still don't know what it means for my claim.

I swear they make this system confusing on purpose. Why can't they just say 'approved' or 'denied' like normal people? All these cryptic codes and levels just stress everyone out unnecessarily.

Just curious - what was your separation issue about? Mine is related to a workplace injury and I'm wondering if that affects the level designation.

Hey I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked! Got through to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of hours of busy signals. They explained my issue status right away. Definitely worth checking out if you need to talk to someone there.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you! The waiting game is brutal but sounds like you're close to resolution. Level 3 closure is definitely movement in the right direction.

Man I remember when I got my level 3 closure - I was so nervous about what it meant. Turned out to be approved and I got like $4800 in back pay. Hope yours works out the same way!

Quick question - are you still filing your weekly claims while waiting for this to resolve? I made the mistake of stopping when mine was under review and it complicated things.

This thread is super helpful. I'm screenshot-ing it for future reference since Washington ESD doesn't explain any of this stuff clearly on their website. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

OP please update us when you get your determination letter! I have a level 3 pending too and would love to know how yours turns out.

One more vote for trying Claimyr if you need to talk to Washington ESD directly. I was skeptical at first but it really does work better than calling yourself. The video demo on their site shows exactly how it works too.

Fingers crossed your level 3 closure means good news is coming! The whole adjudication process is such a black box but at least there's movement on your case now.

I work in unemployment law and level 3 designations typically indicate cases that required extensive fact-finding, witness interviews, or document review. The complexity level doesn't predict the outcome, but it does suggest they took your case seriously and did a thorough investigation.

Really hoping this works out for you! Keep us posted on what the determination letter says when it arrives.

I'm in a similar situation - got a level 3 closure notification two days ago and have been anxiously waiting to see what it means. From reading all these responses, it sounds like most people with level 3 closures end up getting approved, which gives me some hope. The fact that they did such a thorough investigation suggests they're taking these cases seriously. Has anyone here had experience with how long it typically takes for the determination letter to arrive after seeing the level 3 closure status?