What does open status mean on Washington ESD unemployment claim?

Oh thank god, I was panicking thinking something was wrong. So I should keep filing my weekly claims then?

Yes definitely keep filing! Missing weekly claims can cause issues later even if you haven't been paid yet.

6 weeks?? That seems really long. Did you have to do anything special or did it just eventually process?

It was during a busy period so that might have been why. I didn't have to do anything extra, just kept filing weekly.

I checked and don't see any to-do items. My account looks pretty clean except for the open status.

That's good then. Open status with no pending items usually means you're just waiting for normal processing.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate at this point.

They basically handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent becomes available. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Well yeah but I wanted to make sure it didn't mean there were issues or anything.

Nothing wrong with asking! The Washington ESD website isn't always clear about what different statuses mean.

This is super helpful! I was worried open meant there was some kind of problem.

What about 'under review' status? I've seen that mentioned before.

Under review typically means there's an adjudication issue being investigated. That's when you might need to provide additional documentation.

Thanks, that makes me feel better. I guess I just need to be more patient.

Yeah the waiting is the worst part but once it starts flowing it's usually pretty consistent.

Agreed! For something so important they really should make the information more accessible.

I think they assume everyone just knows what these terms mean but obviously that's not the case.

Good point. I've been logging my job searches and haven't worked since I filed so I think I'm good there.

Perfect. As long as you stay compliant, open status should remain and payments should start flowing soon.

3 weeks isn't unusual especially for new claims. The system has to verify employment history, calculate benefit amounts, etc. If there were actual issues you'd typically see them in your account.

i guess ill give it another week but this is really stressful when you have bills to pay

I totally understand the stress. Maybe try that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier if you want to talk to an agent directly about your timeline.

That's reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the whole process.

Yeah the beginning is definitely the most stressful part because you don't know what to expect.

It can change automatically if you become ineligible (like if you report income that makes you ineligible for that week) or if there are issues that need investigation. But typically it stays open as long as you're eligible and filing.

Makes sense. So open is basically the normal ongoing status then.

Oh wow that would definitely freak me out too. Good to know it can change temporarily.

Yeah anytime you report changes it might temporarily affect your status while they process the information.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Got tired of wasting hours trying to reach someone the normal way.

might have to look into that. this system shouldn't be this complicated

Yeah I'm starting to realize that. I was overthinking it because I was nervous about the whole process.

Totally understandable! Unemployment can be really stressful when it's new to you.

Good advice. I'll make sure to log in regularly and not just assume everything is fine.

Exactly. Better to be proactive than miss something important.

Glad this was helpful! These kinds of questions come up a lot so it's good to have clear answers.

Agreed! I feel so much better about my situation now.