When will I get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD after filing my claim?

The processing time can vary quite a bit depending on your specific situation. If your claim is straightforward with no complications, you might see your first payment within 2-3 weeks of filing. However, if there are any issues that need adjudication - like questions about why you left your job or conflicting employer information - it can take much longer, sometimes 4-6 weeks or more.

Have you been filing your weekly claims? Even if your initial claim is still processing, you need to keep filing those weekly claims to get paid for those weeks once your claim is approved. A lot of people miss this step and then wonder why they're missing payments.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to check on my claim status but can never get through. The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone who could explain what was happening with my claim.

ugh the waiting is the worst part!! i filed 3 weeks ago and still nothing, just says pending adjudication whatever that means. starting to panic about rent next month

The whole system is a joke. I filed in December and didn't get my first payment until February. Two months! Meanwhile bills keep coming and they act like it's no big deal. And don't even get me started on the job search requirements - 3 job contacts per week is ridiculous in this market.

Check your SecureAccess Washington account regularly for any correspondence or documents they might need. Sometimes they'll request additional information and if you don't respond quickly, it can delay processing even more. Also make sure you're meeting the work search requirements - that's another thing that can hold up payments.

For what it's worth, my claim was approved exactly 18 days after I filed. I was laid off from a tech company and had straightforward employment history. The waiting period was brutal but once it got approved, I received all the back payments at once. Just try to be patient and keep filing those weekly claims.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication hell for 5 weeks. Finally got through to someone at Washington ESD who explained that my previous employer had contested the claim but never provided any documentation. The ESD rep was able to move my claim forward that same day. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human being who can actually see what's happening in the system.

Keep in mind that even after your claim is approved, there might be additional delays depending on how they process payments. Mine was approved on a Wednesday but I didn't see the deposit until the following Tuesday. Just don't panic if there's a few extra days between approval and actual payment.

Has anyone else noticed that Washington ESD's website is super slow lately? Takes forever to load pages and sometimes kicks me out while I'm trying to file my weekly claim. Wonder if that's related to processing delays too.

If it makes you feel any better, most people I know who filed straightforward claims got their first payment within 3 weeks. The horror stories you hear about months-long delays are usually cases with complications or appeals. Since you were laid off and have been filing weekly claims, you're probably in good shape.

Just remember to keep track of your job search activities too. Even if you're not getting paid yet, you still need to be doing the required 3 job contacts per week and logging them in your WorkSourceWA account. Don't let that slide while you're waiting for approval.

The third time I tried Claimyr, I actually got through to someone who could see that my claim had been approved three days earlier but there was a system glitch preventing the payment from processing. They fixed it while I was on the phone and I had my money the next day. Sometimes these technical issues just need a human touch to resolve.

Update us when you hear something! Always curious to hear how long it actually takes for people. Seems like everyone's timeline is different but it helps to know what's normal vs. what's a red flag.

I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my claim about 8 days ago after being laid off and still showing "under review" status. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! It sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal for straightforward layoff cases, which gives me hope. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and job search logging, so hopefully that keeps things moving smoothly. The hardest part is just not knowing - I keep refreshing my account hoping for an update. Thanks for asking this question, it's exactly what I needed to read today!