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Final advice: file today, file your weekly claims on time every week, keep good records of your job search, and don't stress too much about the process. Thousands of people go through this every week in Washington.
One thing I wish someone had told me when I first filed - don't get discouraged if the Washington ESD website seems overwhelming or confusing. Just focus on getting that initial claim submitted with your basic info, and you can always call or use services like Claimyr to clarify details later. The most important thing is getting your claim date established by filing right away. I spent way too much time trying to understand every single detail before filing and almost missed out on benefits because of it. Sometimes you just have to take that first step and figure out the rest as you go!
btw if u do decide to switch from direct deposit to the card or vice versa you can do it online through ur eServices account. go to UI claim > settings > payment options. takes effect for the next payment after u make the change.
Just wanted to add another perspective - I've been using the ReliaCard for about 6 months and while the speed is great, there are some hidden costs to consider. The "free" ATM withdrawals are only at specific ATMs (mostly 7-Eleven and some bank ATMs), and if you need cash elsewhere you're looking at $2.50+ fees. Also learned the hard way that international transactions (even online purchases from some foreign websites) get blocked automatically and you have to call to unlock your account. The 2-3 day wait for direct deposit might be worth it if you do most of your banking online and don't need immediate cash access.
Does anyone know if this affects standby status? I'm on standby with my employer and worried this could mess that up too if I had to change my bank account.
Banking changes wouldn't affect your standby status. Standby is related to your relationship with your employer and your availability to return to work. The adjudication from a banking change is purely an identity verification measure, not a reassessment of your benefit eligibility or employment status.
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Changed my bank account info and immediately got thrown into adjudication - it was so stressful. The good news is that it really is just a routine identity verification process. In my case, it took about 8 business days to resolve, and I got all my back payments in one lump sum once it was cleared. One thing that helped me was making sure to check my ESD messages every single day - they sometimes request additional documents or clarification through the messaging system rather than calling. Also, when I called, I made sure to have my claim number, Social Security number, and all the documents I'd uploaded ready to reference. The waiting is the worst part, but try to stay calm - this is actually a good sign that the system is working to protect your benefits from fraud!
Congrats again! Just remember you can always reopen your claim later if needed - unemployment isn't a one-time thing if your employment situation changes.
Congratulations on the new job! I went through this same process last year. The key thing is to make sure your final weekly claim is 100% accurate about when you started work. I'd also suggest keeping a screenshot of your final claim submission just in case there are any questions later. Washington ESD makes it pretty straightforward - once you're working full-time, you're no longer eligible anyway, so just stop filing and you should be all set. Best of luck with the new position!
A Man D Mortal
my freind did appeal in january took almost 10 weeks!! but she won and got all back pay. bring all ur evidence to hearing they wont believe u otherwise
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Diego Castillo
•That's so long! Glad she eventually won though. What kind of evidence did she bring that helped her case?
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A Man D Mortal
•she had emails showing when she worked and bank statements. judge was impressed she was so organized. make sure u have everything in order by date!
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Ana Rusula
I'm in a similar boat right now - filed my appeal 2 weeks ago for a disqualification and still waiting to hear back from OAH. The stress is killing me! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and terrifying. Some people got hearings in 3-4 weeks, others waited months. I've been keeping meticulous records of everything since filing the appeal and continuing to file my weekly claims like everyone suggests. Does anyone know if the current wait times are longer than usual because of the holidays or is this just the normal pace? Also wondering if anyone has tips for staying sane during this waiting period - the uncertainty is the worst part.
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