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Andre Rousseau

Why is Washington ESD unemployment taking so long to process claims?

Filed my UI claim with Washington ESD back in early January and it's been over 3 weeks now with no updates. My claim status just says 'under review' and I can't get through to anyone on the phone. I've done everything they asked - submitted all my work history, completed the job search requirements, filed my weekly claims on time. But still nothing. Is this normal for Washington ESD right now? How long are people waiting to get their first payment? I'm starting to panic about rent and bills.

Same boat here, filed 4 weeks ago and still waiting. The automated system just keeps saying they're experiencing high call volumes. Super frustrating when you need the money.

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At least I'm not the only one. Did you try calling first thing in the morning? I heard that's the best time.

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Yeah tried at 8am sharp multiple times. Either busy signal or I get put on hold for 2+ hours then get disconnected.

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Washington ESD has been swamped lately. They're processing claims but it's taking 4-6 weeks minimum right now. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting - that's important for when your claim does get approved.

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Thanks, yeah I've been keeping up with the weekly claims. Just worried something is wrong with my application.

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If there were issues they would usually send you a letter or show something in your account. The waiting is brutal but most people do get approved eventually.

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I was in the same situation last month - couldn't reach Washington ESD by phone no matter what I tried. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me through to an actual agent in like 30 minutes. The agent was able to check my claim status and told me exactly what was holding it up. Turns out there was just a minor verification issue that got resolved right away. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

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Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point.

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Yeah it's legit, they just help you get through the phone system faster. Way better than spending hours trying to call yourself.

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How much does something like that cost though?

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It's worth it when you need answers about your claim. Much cheaper than missing another week of benefits.

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THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been waiting 2 MONTHS for my claim to process. Two months! How is this legal? People are losing their homes while Washington ESD takes their sweet time.

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I feel your frustration but yelling won't help. Have you tried contacting your state representative?

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Yes I've tried everything. The whole system needs to be overhauled.

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Washington ESD processing times have definitely increased since the beginning of the year. They're dealing with staffing shortages plus new federal requirements for verification. The key things to remember: keep filing weekly claims, respond immediately to any requests for information, and maintain your job search log. Most claims that seem 'stuck' are actually just in the normal review queue.

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That's helpful to know it's normal. I was worried they lost my application or something.

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What kind of verification requirements are they doing now?

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They're being more thorough with identity verification and employment history. Sometimes they need additional documents even if you submitted everything initially.

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Check your SecureAccess Washington account daily. Sometimes they request additional info and if you don't respond within 10 days your claim can get delayed even more.

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Good tip, I'll start checking more often. Haven't gotten any requests yet though.

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ugh this is exactly what happened to me in december. ended up waiting 7 weeks total but did eventually get all the back pay. just hang in there

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7 weeks?? That's insane. At least you got the back pay though.

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yeah it was rough but the lump sum helped catch up on everything

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My cousin used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and got through to Washington ESD the same day. The agent found out her claim was stuck because of some computer glitch that wasn't showing up in her online account. Got it fixed immediately.

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That's exactly the kind of thing I'm worried about - some hidden issue I can't see.

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How do we know these services are safe to use though?

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My cousin said they don't ask for any personal info, just help you get through on the phone. Seemed pretty straightforward.

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I work in HR and we've had several employees wait 5-6 weeks for their Washington ESD claims this year. It's unfortunately become the new normal. The good news is I haven't seen any claims actually get denied - they're just slow to process.

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That's reassuring to hear from someone who sees multiple cases. Thanks!

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Try calling right at 8am when they open. I got through after about 45 minutes on hold last week. The agent said they're processing claims from early January right now so yours should be coming up soon.

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I'll try that tomorrow morning. What number did you call?

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The main customer service line. Set your alarm for 7:55 and start dialing right at 8.

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This happened to my neighbor and she finally got someone on phone who told her there was an issue with her former employer not responding to their inquiry. Once she knew what the holdup was she could follow up. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human to find out what's really going on.

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That could be it! My old boss is terrible with paperwork. How did she get through to someone?

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She used some callback service that got her through faster. Can't remember the name but someone mentioned it earlier in this thread.

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Whatever you do, don't stop filing your weekly claims! I made that mistake thinking my claim was denied and had to start over. Keep filing even if you're not getting paid yet.

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Definitely still filing every week. That would be a nightmare to start over.

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Washington ESD is just overwhelmed right now. Between regular unemployment and all the people whose benefits ran out from other programs, they're processing way more claims than usual. Patience is hard when you need the money but most people do get approved.

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How do you know if your claim is actually being processed vs just sitting there?

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Usually the status will change from 'under review' to something more specific if there's an issue. No news is typically good news.

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I'm going to try that Claimyr service mentioned earlier. Been waiting 5 weeks and I need to know what's going on with my claim. Will report back if I learn anything useful.

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Please do! I'm seriously considering it too at this point.

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Yeah let us know how it goes. I'm curious if it actually works.

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The wait times are brutal but at least Washington ESD is still processing claims. Some states have way worse backlogs. Just keep doing what you're supposed to do and it will eventually come through.

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I guess that's something to be grateful for. Still doesn't help with bills though.

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Make sure your job search log is up to date in case they ask for it. Washington ESD has been doing more random audits lately and you don't want any delays because of that.

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Good reminder, I need to update mine with this week's applications.

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Following this thread because I'm in the exact same situation. Filed Jan 8th and still waiting. At least I know I'm not alone in this.

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Misery loves company I guess. Hope we both hear something soon.

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Update: I tried Claimyr this morning and got through to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Found out my claim was actually approved last week but there was a system glitch preventing the payment from processing. The agent fixed it on the spot and said I should see payment within 2-3 business days. Definitely worth trying if you're stuck waiting.

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That's amazing! I'm definitely going to try it now. Thanks for the update!

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This gives me hope. Going to call them today.

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Glad it worked out for you. These system glitches seem to be pretty common unfortunately.

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