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Hope this helps future people too who are wondering about timing. This is exactly the kind of info I wish I had when I first filed.
I'm in week 2 of waiting myself and this thread has been super reassuring! It's so stressful when you don't know what's normal timing. The advice about continuing to file weekly claims is especially important - I almost forgot to do that this week thinking I should wait for approval first. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in this waiting game.
Thanks everyone for all the numbers and tips. I'm going to start with trying the 8 AM approach tomorrow and if that doesn't work I'll check out the Claimyr option. This thread has been more helpful than anything I found on the official ESD website!
I've been dealing with the same frustrating phone situation for weeks now! After reading through all these comments, I'm going to try a combination approach - start with the 8 AM sharp method on the main 800-318-6022 line, and if that doesn't work after a few days, I'll give that Claimyr service a shot. It's encouraging to see multiple people had success with it. Has anyone tried calling later in the evening, like after 4 PM? Sometimes government offices are less busy toward the end of the day when people are getting off work.
That's a smart combination approach! I hadn't thought about trying later in the evening - that's actually a really good point about people getting off work. The ESD lines are open until 4:30 PM on weekdays, so calling around 3:30-4:00 PM might catch that sweet spot when the morning rush has died down but before they close. Let me know how the 8 AM method works out for you first though - I'm planning to try that myself this week!
Update: I attended my WorkSource appointment today. For anyone else who gets one of these letters, here's what happened: It was about an hour long, first in a group setting where they explained all the services (job search help, training opportunities, workshops) and then we had individual meetings with a counselor. They reviewed my job search activities so far and suggested some industries I hadn't considered that match my skills. They also scheduled me for a resume workshop next week. Overall not as stressful as I feared and actually somewhat helpful!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad to hear it was helpful. The resume workshops can be particularly valuable - they often have insights about what employers in your area are specifically looking for. Make sure to keep documenting your job search activities each week (the 3 required activities) separate from these WorkSource appointments.
I'm new to unemployment benefits and just received a similar WorkSource appointment letter. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful! Quick question - do they provide any assistance with interview skills or just job searching? I haven't interviewed in over 5 years since I was at my last job for so long, and I'm feeling pretty rusty. Also, should I bring anything specific besides my job search log that was mentioned earlier?
I went through a similar situation last year and what finally worked for me was contacting my state senator's office. They have a constituent services team that can make inquiries on your behalf with Washington ESD. I was stuck in adjudication for 9 weeks with no communication, called my senator's office on a Friday, and by the following Wednesday I had a call from ESD with my approval. It's a free service and they're used to helping with unemployment issues. Worth trying if the phone system keeps failing you!
Oliver Schulz
One more thing - make sure you're meeting the job search requirements even while your claim is pending. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities retroactively.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Yes! Keep track of every application, job fair, networking event, etc. They can ask for this information at any time.
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Carmen Vega
•The job search requirement is 3 qualified job search activities per week in Washington state. Make sure you understand what qualifies as a valid search activity.
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Natalie Khan
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my claim 7 weeks ago and still showing pending with no updates. What's really frustrating is that I can't even tell if there's a problem or if it's just slow processing. I've tried calling multiple times but like others mentioned, it's nearly impossible to get through. At this point I'm considering trying that Claimyr service people have mentioned just to get some answers. The financial stress of waiting this long without any communication from Washington ESD is really taking a toll. Has anyone had success with any other methods for getting status updates?
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