When you file for unemployment how long does it take - Washington ESD timeline?

Thanks! So I should start filing weekly claims right away even though my initial claim isn't approved yet?

Yes exactly. You file for each week you're unemployed starting the week after you lost your job. Don't wait for approval or you'll lose those weeks.

What does adjudication mean exactly? Should I be worried about that happening to me?

Adjudication is when they need to investigate something about your claim - like if you quit vs were laid off, or if there are questions about your work history. If you were clearly laid off you probably won't have issues.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth it when you're dealing with claim issues. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through on your own.

What kind of complications cause delays? I want to make sure I haven't missed anything.

Things like if you quit your job (even for good reasons), if your employer contests the claim, if you had multiple jobs, or if there are questions about your availability to work. Also if you made any mistakes on your application.

Have you checked your account online to see what status your claim shows? If it's been 4 weeks there might be an issue that needs attention.

It just says 'claim under review' but no details about what they're reviewing or how long it will take. So frustrating!

Good to know about business days vs calendar days. That makes more sense with what others are saying about 3-4 weeks.

Yeah and holidays can add even more time to that. I filed right before Labor Day and it definitely took longer.

Make sure you're doing your weekly claims and job search requirements while you wait. Don't let anything lapse.

yeah doing the weekly thing but the job search stuff is confusing, how many jobs do I need to apply to?

You need to make 3 job search contacts per week and log them in WorkSource. Can be applications, networking, interviews, etc.

Seriously? I might have to try that. I'm so tired of the runaround from their phone system.

That's great that you got it resolved! Identity verification makes sense as something that would hold up a claim.

So even after approval there's more waiting? This is taking longer than I thought.

Yeah Washington ESD pays on Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually. So depending on when your claim processes you might wait a few extra days for the actual money.

I think I got everything right but now I'm second-guessing myself. Is there a way to check or correct information after you submit?

You can log into your account and review what you submitted. If you find errors you'll need to call Washington ESD to correct them, which is another reason why services like Claimyr can be helpful.

Wow 2-3 months sounds terrible. What would cause it to take that long?

Usually disputes with employers about whether you were fired for misconduct vs laid off. Or complex situations with multiple jobs or self-employment. The investigations take forever.

That's such a relief! I was worried about similar issues with my employer since they just went through a merger.

See, I told you Claimyr works! Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get things moving.

Thanks for the reminder. I've been doing the weekly claims but I should probably get more serious about the job search logging.

Exactly. Washington ESD will check your WorkSource account to verify you're doing the required 3 job contacts per week. Keep good records.

Good point about direct deposit. I did set that up but I'll double-check that it went through correctly.

That's really helpful to have those timeframes laid out clearly. Sounds like I should prepare for 3-4 weeks realistically.

Yeah and remember you'll get paid retroactively for all the weeks you filed for once it's approved, so the waiting isn't lost money, just delayed money.

Wait, what's a waiting week? Nobody mentioned that before.

Washington has a one-week waiting period. So your first week of unemployment you file a claim but don't get paid for it. You start getting paid from your second week forward.

Oh man, so even in the best case scenario I'm looking at almost a month before any money comes in.

Thanks, it helps knowing others have been through the same stress. I'll try to be patient but definitely follow up if needed.

I'm bookmarking that for sure. Hopefully I won't need it but good to know it's an option if my claim gets stuck.

Definitely worth having as a backup plan. The regular phone system is just brutal to deal with.

You're welcome! Hope your claim processes smoothly and quickly.

Good luck! The waiting is stressful but you'll get through it.