Who handles unemployment claims at Washington ESD - confused about the process

That makes sense! So when my claim shows 'adjudication in progress' that means it's with a specialist, not just the regular UI division?

Exactly. Adjudication specialists review claims that need additional documentation or investigation before they can be approved or denied.

Did you eventually get it resolved? I'm worried I'm going to be stuck in this loop forever.

Yeah but it took forever. The key is getting to the right department instead of just the general customer service line.

Is that legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

Yeah it's legitimate. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy. Just helps you navigate the phone system to reach the right Washington ESD agents.

I've heard good things about Claimyr too. My friend used it when her claim got stuck and she was able to talk to someone within a day.

This is super helpful! So my claim probably got flagged because I was laid off from a temporary position. Does that usually take longer to review?

Temporary positions can sometimes trigger additional review, especially if Washington ESD needs to verify the separation reason with your employer. They may need to contact your employer for more details.

Ugh I hate when they have to contact employers. My old boss never responds to anything promptly.

Good to know. I definitely don't want to accidentally end up with the fraud team!

As long as you're honest on your application and weekly claims, you shouldn't have any issues with fraud investigation.

I've been tracking everything in a spreadsheet. How detailed do the records need to be?

You need company name, position applied for, date, and method of contact. More detail is better if they audit you.

I just write 'applied online' for everything. Is that specific enough?

You can't request specific adjudicators, but you can ask to speak with a supervisor if you're getting inconsistent information.

That's what I figured. The inconsistency is so frustrating though.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. They know which departments handle what and can get you to the right person instead of bouncing around between different agents who may not know your specific issue.

Standby claims are processed by the same UI division, but they have specific requirements. You need union verification and your employer has to confirm the temporary layoff status.

That makes sense. My union rep said they handle the paperwork on their end, so I just have to wait.

Oh wow, so my delay might not even be about me specifically, but about my employer not responding quickly?

Exactly. Washington ESD gives employers a certain timeframe to respond, and if they don't, the claim usually gets processed in the claimant's favor.

How long do employers typically have to respond?

That's actually reassuring. I was laid off due to lack of work, so there shouldn't be any dispute from my employer's side.

Lack of work layoffs are usually pretty straightforward once the employer confirms it. Your claim should process soon.

Great, another thing to worry about! Is there any way to know if that's happening?

You'd get a notice if your claim was selected for quality review, so no news is good news on that front.

I feel your frustration. The inconsistency is maddening.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. When the regular system is this confusing, sometimes you need help navigating it.

At this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks for the suggestion.

How do you reach them directly? Every time I call I just get the main customer service line.

That's the tricky part. The main line is supposed to transfer you, but sometimes the agents don't know the right department either.

I'll try that tomorrow morning. Been calling in the afternoons mostly.

Yeah afternoons are the worst. Everyone's calling during lunch breaks.

I sent a message last week but haven't heard back yet. How long do they usually take to respond?

Usually 3-5 business days, but it can be longer if they're backed up.

I've waited over two weeks for message responses before. Phone is still faster if you can get through.

That makes sense. I should probably ask for a supervisor when I call tomorrow.

It can't hurt, especially if you're not getting clear answers from the first-level agents.

Good to know for future reference. Hopefully I won't need to go that route.

Yeah, appeals can take months, so it's better to get issues resolved at the adjudication level if possible.

Thankfully I've only worked in Washington, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

That'll definitely keep things simpler for your situation.

I'm definitely going to check that out. This thread has been super helpful in understanding the process, but it sounds like getting to the right person is still the biggest challenge.

Exactly. Understanding the process is half the battle, but actually reaching the right department is the other half. Good luck with your claim!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. At least now I understand who does what and have some strategies for getting through to the right people.