< Back to Washington Unemployment

TechNinja

What happens if employer doesn't respond to Washington ESD unemployment claim?

I filed for unemployment two weeks ago and Washington ESD sent my employer a separation notice to fill out. My former boss is notorious for ignoring paperwork and never responds to anything on time. What happens if they just don't respond at all? Will my claim get approved automatically or does Washington ESD assume I'm lying? I'm worried this could drag out my claim for months because of their incompetence.

If your employer doesn't respond within the timeframe Washington ESD gives them (usually 10 business days), your claim will typically be processed based on the information you provided. The employer forfeits their right to contest if they miss the deadline.

0 coins

That's a relief! Do you know how long Washington ESD usually waits before making a decision?

0 coins

Usually about 2-3 weeks after the employer deadline passes, but it can vary depending on their workload.

0 coins

Same thing happened to me last year. My employer never responded and Washington ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks total. They sent me a letter explaining that since the employer didn't provide information, they went with my version of events.

0 coins

Did you have to provide any additional documentation when they didn't respond?

0 coins

Nope, just waited it out. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims though!

0 coins

honestly this is why i ended up using claimyr.com to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. was getting so frustrated waiting and the automated system wasn't giving me clear answers. they have this video demo thing too https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works

0 coins

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

0 coins

Yeah it got me connected within like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours. Was worth it to get a real person to explain what was happening with my claim.

0 coins

I'm skeptical of paying for something that should be free but if it actually works...

0 coins

There's actually a specific process Washington ESD follows when employers don't respond. They'll make a determination based on available information, which includes your initial claim, any documentation you provided, and their records. The employer can still contest later but they have limited appeal rights if they missed the initial response window.

0 coins

What kind of documentation should I have ready just in case?

0 coins

Keep your termination letter if you got one, any emails about your separation, and documentation of your last day worked and final pay.

0 coins

this is so typical of employers trying to screw us over even after they fire us!!! they dont want to pay higher unemployment taxes so they just ignore everything hoping we give up

0 coins

While that might happen sometimes, many employers just don't understand the process or have poor HR departments. Not everything is malicious.

0 coins

maybe but ive seen too many employers try to fight legitimate claims to give them benefit of the doubt

0 coins

How long do they usually give employers to respond? Seems like 10 days isn't very long

0 coins

It's 10 business days from when Washington ESD mails the notice. That's actually pretty standard across most states.

0 coins

I guess that makes sense. Just seems short when you're waiting for your benefits.

0 coins

My sister went through this exact situation. Employer never responded and her claim was approved. The key is to make sure you filed everything correctly on your end and keep doing your weekly claims.

0 coins

Good to hear another success story. Did Washington ESD send her any notification when they made the decision?

0 coins

Yeah she got a letter in the mail and her account online updated to show approved status.

0 coins

wait so if my employer responds late can they still fight my claim?

0 coins

They can try to appeal but their options are much more limited. Washington ESD generally doesn't look favorably on employers who miss deadlines without good cause.

0 coins

thats reassuring i guess. my old boss is the type to respond 3 weeks late then act like its no big deal

0 coins

I had the opposite issue where my employer responded with completely false information about why I was terminated. Took months to sort out through the appeal process.

0 coins

That sounds awful. At least if they don't respond I won't have to deal with lies.

0 coins

True. No response is definitely better than false accusations you have to fight.

0 coins

This is exactly why I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got through to Washington ESD to check on my appeal status instead of just waiting and wondering.

0 coins

Does Washington ESD send any reminders to employers who don't respond initially?

0 coins

Not usually. They send one notice and that's it. The employer is expected to respond within the timeframe or forfeit their chance to provide input.

0 coins

Seems harsh but I guess they have to draw the line somewhere.

0 coins

Been dealing with Washington ESD for years and this is pretty standard. Non-responsive employers usually result in claims being approved based on the claimant's information. Just keep filing your weeklies and be patient.

0 coins

Thanks for the reassurance. It's nerve-wracking when you're depending on these benefits.

0 coins

Totally understand. The waiting is the worst part of the whole process.

0 coins

what if the employer claims they never got the notice?

0 coins

Washington ESD sends notices by mail to the employer's address on record. If there's a legitimate delivery issue, the employer can usually request an extension, but they need to prove the problem.

0 coins

makes sense. cant just claim you didnt get it without proof

0 coins

This whole system is so stressful. Why can't Washington ESD just make decisions faster instead of waiting around for employers who obviously don't care?

0 coins

I get the frustration but they have to give employers due process. It's actually protecting your rights too in case there are disputes.

0 coins

I suppose that makes sense legally but emotionally it sucks when you need the money

0 coins

Pro tip: if you're worried about the timeline, that Claimyr thing actually worked for me to get real updates instead of just guessing. Way better than calling for hours and getting nowhere.

0 coins

How much does it cost? Seems like everyone who's tried it has good things to say.

0 coins

Not sure about the exact cost but it was worth it to get actual information about my claim status. Check out their site.

0 coins

In my experience non-responsive employers are actually a blessing in disguise. Much easier than dealing with employers who lie or provide misleading information to try to disqualify you.

0 coins

That's a good way to look at it. Better to have them ignore it than actively work against me.

0 coins

Exactly. Just be patient and keep doing everything you're supposed to do on your end.

0 coins

does this affect how long it takes to get your first payment?

0 coins

It can add 1-2 weeks to the process since Washington ESD has to wait for the employer response deadline to pass before making a final determination.

0 coins

ugh that sucks but i guess its not too bad in the grand scheme of things

0 coins

Just went through this exact situation last month. Employer never responded, Washington ESD approved my claim, and I got my first payment about 3.5 weeks after filing. Keep your chin up!

0 coins

Thank you so much for sharing your timeline. That gives me hope that this will resolve soon.

0 coins

No problem! The waiting is definitely the hardest part but it worked out fine in the end.

0 coins

I tried calling Washington ESD about this same issue but could never get through. Phone system is impossible.

0 coins

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get answers.

0 coins

might have to look into that if my claim takes much longer

0 coins

Bottom line is that employers who don't respond are basically giving up their right to contest your claim. Washington ESD will proceed based on your information and their own records. Stay patient and keep filing your weeklies.

0 coins

Perfect summary. I feel much better about my situation now. Thanks everyone for the helpful responses!

0 coins

Good luck with your claim! Should work out fine if you keep doing everything right on your end.

0 coins

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with my previous employer who was terrible about responding to anything official. Washington ESD gave them the standard 10 business days to respond, and when they didn't, my claim was approved automatically. The whole process took about 3 weeks from start to finish, and I received a letter explaining that since my employer failed to provide their side of the story within the required timeframe, they proceeded with my version of events. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this waiting period - that's super important. The silver lining is that non-responsive employers can't come back later and cause problems with your claim like some of the horror stories you hear about employers who lie or contest everything.

0 coins

Washington Unemployment AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today