I'm dealing with adjudication too and wanted to share something that might help! I was stuck for almost 6 weeks earlier this year after my tech company did mass layoffs. The thing that finally got my case moving was when I realized I needed to upload EVERYTHING that proved it was a legitimate layoff - not just the termination letter. I ended up uploading: the original layoff notice, emails about company restructuring, news articles about the layoffs (if there were any), and even LinkedIn posts from coworkers who were also let go. Basically anything that showed this was a business decision affecting multiple people, not just me. The other thing that helped was calling ESD and specifically asking them to put a note on my file about the urgency due to financial hardship. I explained that I was about to miss rent and they flagged my case for expedited review. Got approved within 5 days after that call. I know it's frustrating when you can't get through on the phone, but keep trying different times. Early morning (8-9 AM) on weekdays seemed to work better than afternoons. You've got this - legitimate layoffs almost always get approved, it just takes way longer than it should unfortunately.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! Adjudication is unfortunately ESD's way of investigating discrepancies in your claim before they can approve benefits. From what you've described - being laid off when your entire department was eliminated - this sounds like a clear-cut case that should resolve in your favor once they review the evidence. The most important thing right now is to keep filing those weekly claims no matter how pointless it feels. When you do get approved, you'll receive backpay for all the weeks you claimed during adjudication. Also, make sure you're checking your ESD Letters section daily - sometimes they request additional information and missing those requests can delay your case even longer. Since you mentioned having the layoff documentation, get that uploaded to your account ASAP if you haven't already. The sooner they have proof that this was a business decision rather than performance-related, the faster they can make their determination. I know the financial stress is overwhelming when rent is coming due, but hang in there. Most legitimate layoff cases do get approved - it just takes way longer than anyone should have to wait. You're definitely not alone in this frustrating process!

Just wanted to add my experience with intercepts - I had one for unpaid state taxes that I completely forgot about from 2019. Washington ESD sent me a notice about 2 weeks before the intercept started, which gave me time to understand what was happening. They took $100 per week from my $450 weekly benefit for about 6 weeks. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I knew what to expect. The key thing is they can't leave you with nothing - there are minimum amounts they have to let you keep for basic living expenses.

I've been dealing with intercepts myself and wanted to add some perspective. The system actually works pretty fairly once you understand it. I had an intercept for old unemployment overpayments from 2020 that I honestly forgot about. They sent me a detailed notice explaining they'd take $50 per week from my $380 weekly benefit until the $400 debt was paid off. What I appreciated was that the notice clearly showed I'd still get $330 per week, which was enough to cover my basic expenses. The whole thing was resolved in 8 weeks and now my benefits are back to the full amount. The key is just making sure you report your work hours accurately when filing your weekly claims so you don't create new overpayments.

One more tip - keep copies of everything you submit for your new claim. You never know when you might need to reference it later.

I went through this exact situation last year and here's what I learned: Start checking your ESD account regularly about 6-8 weeks before your benefit year ends - they'll post instructions specific to your case. The key is having enough qualifying wages during your current benefit year. If you worked even part-time, collect all your pay stubs and W-2s now. I had worked a temp job for 3 months and that was enough to qualify for a new claim. The online application takes about 45 minutes if you have all your documents ready. Don't wait for the last minute - I filed mine 2 weeks early and had zero gap in payments.

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who successfully got through to ESD last week after dealing with a similar nightmare! Reading through this thread brings back all the frustration I felt, but I'm happy to report there is hope. I tried the Spanish line transfer method that several people mentioned and it absolutely works - got through in about 30 minutes on a Wednesday morning at exactly 8:00 AM. The agent was super helpful and explained that these "able and available" flags are often triggered by the most random things - in my case, it was because I had logged into my eServices account from a different computer than usual (I was at the library). She cleared the flag immediately and all my pending payments were released within 24 hours. For anyone still struggling, here's my step-by-step approach that worked: 1) Call the main ESD number at exactly 8:00 AM, 2) Select the Spanish language option, 3) When someone answers, politely explain you need English assistance, 4) They'll transfer you to an English-speaking agent. The wait time on the Spanish line is SO much shorter than the main English line. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and the specific week that got flagged ready when you call. The more details you can provide, the faster they can resolve it. Don't give up - these flags really are just system glitches most of the time and the actual people at ESD do want to help once you can reach them!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I've been trying to reach ESD for 2.5 weeks about an "able and available" flag that makes absolutely no sense. Like everyone else here, I answered all the questions correctly and have been actively job searching the whole time. After reading all these success stories, I'm definitely going to try the Spanish line transfer method tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM sharp. It's amazing how many people have had success with that approach compared to the regular English line. I also filled out the Contact Us form on the website after reading Taylor's experience - figured it can't hurt to try multiple approaches at once. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I noticed my flag appeared the same week I updated my resume on Indeed and applied to jobs in a neighboring county. Based on what Evelyn mentioned about the system being sensitive to different search areas, I wonder if that's what triggered mine. It's so frustrating that legitimate job search activities can cause these automatic flags! Thanks to everyone for sharing your strategies and experiences. Just knowing that other people are dealing with this and actually getting it resolved gives me hope. Will definitely update here once I (hopefully) get through!

I'm also in adjudication right now (week 4) and this thread gives me so much hope! @ApolloJackson congrats on finally getting approved and your payment! The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when bills are piling up. I've been following a lot of the advice mentioned here - keeping detailed records, checking the secure messaging option, and I even reached out to my landlord about a payment extension just in case. It's really encouraging to see that once the approval comes through, the payment follows pretty quickly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - this community has been a lifeline during this stressful time!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this - I had a similar situation where my first payment showed "paid" but took about 3 days to actually hit my account. Turns out my credit union had a policy of holding larger deposits (anything over $2,500) for an extra business day for verification. When I called them directly, they were able to explain exactly when the funds would be available. If you're worried about timing, it might be worth calling your bank to ask about their deposit policies, especially for larger amounts like back-pay unemployment benefits. Also, keep in mind that if your payment gets issued on a Friday, you might not see it until Monday or Tuesday depending on weekend processing. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when bills are due, but it almost always works out within a few business days!