Why is it taking so long for my Washington ESD unemployment to be approved?

Adjudication delays are unfortunately common right now. Washington ESD has to verify your work history, reason for separation, and eligibility. The process can take 6-8 weeks or longer depending on complexity. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting - you'll get backpay once approved.

Same thing happened to me earlier this year. Took 7 weeks before I got my first payment. The waiting is the worst part but they do eventually process it.

I was stuck in adjudication for months last year and couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Within a week of talking to someone, my claim was approved.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been waiting 10 weeks and still nothing. Meanwhile my landlord is threatening eviction. Washington ESD doesn't care about us at all.

Check your correspondence inbox in your Washington ESD account. Sometimes they send requests for additional information that you might have missed. Also verify your identity documents are all uploaded correctly.

mine took forever too but turned out my former employer was disputing it

I feel your pain. Been there myself. The uncertainty is almost worse than not having the money.

One thing that might help is documenting everything. Keep screenshots of your claim status and any communications. If you do need to appeal later, having that documentation will be important.

Try calling first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp. Sometimes you can get through then before the lines get jammed.

What was your reason for separation? If it was anything other than a clear layoff, they might be investigating further.

I remember when I was waiting for my claim to be approved, every day felt like an eternity. Hang in there - it will get resolved.

Are you sure you're eligible? Did you work enough hours in your base period? Sometimes people apply thinking they qualify but don't meet the requirements.

washington esd is the worst. took them 3 months to approve mine and no explanation why

If you're really concerned, you can try contacting your state representative's office. They sometimes have better luck getting through to Washington ESD on behalf of constituents.

Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what. Even if it feels pointless, you have to maintain your claim to get the back pay.

My friend used some service to get through to Washington ESD when she was stuck. I think it was called Claimyr or something like that. She said it was worth it just to finally talk to someone.

The waiting is brutal but try not to stress too much. I know easier said than done when you need the money.

Have you checked if there's a hearing scheduled? Sometimes they need to have a hearing before they can approve your claim.

I'm going through the same thing right now. Filed 5 weeks ago and still nothing. At least I know I'm not the only one.

Try to stay positive. I know it's hard when you're waiting for money you need, but the vast majority of legitimate claims get approved. The waiting is just part of the process.

I went through something similar last year - filed in January and didn't get approved until March. The "adjudication in progress" status is frustrating because it gives you no real information about what's happening. In my case, they were just verifying my employment dates and wages with my former employer, which took forever because the company was slow to respond to their requests. The good news is that once it's approved, you'll get all your back payments at once. I ended up getting about $4,000 in one lump sum for all the weeks I'd been waiting. Keep filing those weekly claims and try to hang in there - I know how stressful the waiting can be when you're counting on that money.