When will unemployment rates go up in Washington - worried about my claim timing

Rising unemployment rates don't directly affect individual claim approvals through Washington ESD. Your eligibility is based on your work history and reason for separation, not on how many other people are filing claims. The adjudication process might take longer if claim volume increases, but your approval chances remain the same if you meet the requirements.

ive been watching the job market too and its definitely getting tighter. more layoffs in tech and construction around seattle. but like the other person said your claim shouldnt be affected by that

If you're stuck in adjudication for 2 weeks, that's actually pretty normal timing. However, if you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your specific case, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through their phone lines. They have a system that calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me when I was anxious about my claim status.

The real issue isn't unemployment rates going up, it's that Washington ESD gets overwhelmed when claim volume spikes. During COVID the system was a mess for months. But they've improved their capacity since then.

Economic predictions are just that - predictions. Nobody knows exactly when or how much unemployment will rise. Focus on your own situation instead of worrying about things outside your control.

Since you mentioned being in adjudication, make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while waiting. Many people stop filing thinking their claim is on hold, but you need to keep certifying to receive back pay once approved.

if unemployment does spike youll probably see job search requirements get stricter. right now you need 3 job contacts per week but they might increase that

Two weeks in adjudication isn't bad at all. Mine took 5 weeks last year and there wasn't even a recession happening. The Washington ESD just moves slowly sometimes.

THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY OVERWHELMED! I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for THREE WEEKS about an overpayment notice that makes no sense. The phone system is broken and the online messaging never gets responses.

my cousin works for the state and she says they're expecting higher claim volume this year but they've been preparing for it. more staff and better computer systems

I'm in the same boat - filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting. But I'm trying not to stress about economic predictions. My claim is based on my specific work history, not what might happen to the job market.

unemployment rates going up might actually mean more resources get allocated to the washington esd. during downturns they usually get more funding and staff

Honestly I think you're worrying about the wrong thing. The real question is whether your job separation qualifies you for benefits, not what the overall unemployment rate is doing.

Been following economic news too and yes, unemployment will probably tick up this year. But Washington's economy is more diverse now than it used to be, so hopefully any increase will be gradual rather than a sudden spike.

i work in hr and weve been asked to prepare layoff scenarios for q2. not saying it will happen but companies are definitely being more cautious about headcount

Check your Washington ESD account online regularly while in adjudication. Sometimes they need additional documentation and you might not get notified right away. The sooner you respond to any requests, the faster your claim gets processed.

My brother used that Claimyr service last month when he couldn't get through about his standby claim. Worked great - he was on the phone with Washington ESD within an hour instead of spending all day redialing.

honestly the bigger concern isnt unemployment rates its inflation. benefits amounts havent kept up with cost of living increases

Two weeks in adjudication really isn't that long based on what I've seen in this forum. Some people wait 6-8 weeks. Just keep filing your weekly claims and try to be patient.

The Washington ESD has actually gotten much better at handling volume spikes since the pandemic. Their new systems can scale up capacity more easily when needed.