It’s now my fifth week filing unemployment with only response of “in progress”.

What “In Progress” Often Means

• Review/Adjudication: Your state’s unemployment office is likely reviewing your eligibility. This often involves comparing information from your application and your former employer(s).
• Missing Information: Sometimes, the office is waiting for a response from a former employer, or they might need more documentation from you.
• High Volume: While five weeks is long, during periods of high claim volume, processing times can be significantly delayed.

Recommended Next Steps

1. Review Your Account/Inbox:
   • Thoroughly check your online unemployment portal, including any message centers, inboxes, or sections for “alerts” or “pending actions.” They may have sent a request for clarification or documentation that you missed.
2. Check for Contact Information:
   • Look on your state’s official unemployment website (Department of Labor or Workforce Commission) for a specific phone number or email address for claim-specific inquiries or an adjudication unit. General help lines are often difficult to get through.
3. Contact Your State Legislator:
   • This is often an effective strategy when your claim is stuck for an unusually long time. Contact your local State Representative or State Senator. They often have a constituent services team that can reach out directly to the unemployment office on your behalf to inquire about the delay.
4. Confirm Your Weekly Filings:
   • Ensure you have been correctly filing your required weekly (or bi-weekly) claims every week as instructed by your state. Failure to file these can stall your entire process, even if your initial claim is “in progress.”

Since every state has a different system and set of rules, the best course of action is always to look for the official contact information for the unemployment agency in the state where you filed.