For anyone else reading this thread, I used Claimyr last month to get through to Washington ESD about a similar question. Saved me hours of trying to call directly. The service connected me with an agent who could give me specific guidance about my substitute teacher situation. Worth checking out if you're having trouble reaching them.

As someone who's been through this process, I can confirm that substitute teachers can often qualify for unemployment benefits during summer break in Washington. The key factor is that you don't have "reasonable assurance" of work for the next school year - which most subs don't since you're typically called on an as-needed basis. I'd recommend gathering all your wage statements from any districts you worked for, being completely honest on your application about your substitute status, and making sure you're ready to document your job search efforts. The process can take a few weeks, but it's definitely worth applying. Don't let the difficulty reaching Washington ESD by phone discourage you - just file online and let them make the determination.

I'm glad this thread exists because I was in the exact same situation a few months ago! Yes, you can absolutely receive both unemployment and SNAP benefits simultaneously in Washington. Your UI payments will count as income for SNAP calculations, but at $380/week you'll likely still qualify for food assistance. I ended up getting about $140/month in SNAP benefits while receiving similar UI payments. The key is being upfront about all your income on both applications and reporting any changes promptly. Also, make sure to save copies of your Washington ESD payment notices - you'll need them for your SNAP application. The process took about 3 weeks for me, but it was worth it to have that extra help with groceries while job searching.

I'm currently going through this exact situation myself! Just lost my job last month and have been navigating both the unemployment and SNAP systems. Can confirm that you can absolutely receive both benefits at the same time - they're completely separate programs administered by different agencies. Your $380/week in UI benefits will count as income for SNAP purposes, but based on what others have shared here, you should still qualify for meaningful food assistance. I'd recommend applying for SNAP sooner rather than later since the processing time can be 2-3 weeks. Also, when you do your SNAP interview (which can be done by phone), just be completely transparent about your unemployment income - they're used to working with people in this situation. Having both programs has been a lifesaver for me during this job search period!

One more important thing: while your appeal is in process, you should continue looking for work and documenting your job search activities. The appeal process doesn't pause your job search requirements if you're still claiming benefits on weeks you're eligible for. Also, make sure to request a payment plan application right away, even before your appeal. This shows good faith on your part and starts the process in case your appeal is unsuccessful. ESD has reasonable payment plans that can be as low as $25-50 per month depending on your financial situation. Having your employer not contest the appeal is a huge advantage, but remember the burden of proof is still on you to show you met all eligibility requirements. Be prepared to explain why you qualified for benefits initially.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - I know exactly how overwhelming it feels when ESD suddenly demands money back that you've already spent on necessities. A few key points that might help: **Don't panic about the $8,700** - Even if your appeal doesn't go perfectly, ESD cannot force you to pay back money you don't have. They're required to offer payment plans based on your ability to pay, which could be as low as $10-25/month if you have no income. **Your employer saying they won't contest is actually huge** - This suggests they may have initially contested automatically (which many employers do to protect their UI rates) but realized it wasn't warranted. Definitely get this in writing though. **You have good options even without a lawyer:** - File your appeal through eServices before June 15th - Request an overpayment waiver form (separate from the appeal) - Apply for a payment plan as backup **Pro tip:** When you file your appeal, be very specific about WHY you initially qualified. The hearing officer needs to understand what changed between your initial approval and this reversal. The fact that you were approved initially and your employer won't fight the appeal puts you in a much better position than many people facing overpayments. Take it one step at a time and don't let them intimidate you into paying before exhausting your appeal rights.

OP, curious how your application went? Did you run into any issues with the online system? I know some people have trouble with the SAW login process.

Just wanted to add that if you have any trouble with the SAW (SecureAccess Washington) login when filing, try using a different browser or clearing your cache. I had issues with Chrome but Firefox worked fine. Also, the system sometimes gets overloaded on Sunday evenings when everyone files their weekly claims, so if you hit errors tonight, try again early Monday morning. The important thing is you're finally getting this started - better late than never!

I'm on day 14 waiting for my ReliaCard and this entire thread has been such a godsend! I was getting really anxious after passing that 10 business day mark from ESD's estimate, but seeing everyone's real experiences here - especially @Luca getting theirs on day 18 - has really helped manage my expectations. I can see about $1,420 in approved payments just sitting there that I can't access, which is definitely nerve-wracking with bills coming due. But knowing this 2-3 week timeline is completely normal makes it so much more bearable. I'm planning to follow everyone's advice and call US Bank at 1-888-964-0359 next week if my card still hasn't arrived by then. The automatic transfer feature everyone mentioned sounds absolutely perfect! I had no idea you could set that up with zero fees to bypass the ReliaCard for future payments. That's definitely going to be my first move once this card finally shows up. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative community here. It really makes all the difference when you're navigating this stressful process for the first time! 😊

I'm on day 6 waiting for my ReliaCard and this thread has been incredibly reassuring to find! I was already starting to get a bit anxious about the timeline since ESD's website made it sound like 7-10 business days was pretty reliable, but clearly that's way too optimistic based on everyone's real experiences here. Reading through all these stories - especially @Luca's 18-day timeline and seeing that pretty much everyone waits 2-3 weeks minimum - has really helped set proper expectations. I've got about $580 in my first payment sitting there that I can see but can't touch yet, which is frustrating but at least now I know this is totally normal! I'm definitely saving that US Bank number (1-888-964-0359) for if I need it around the 3-week mark, and wow - the automatic transfer setup with no fees sounds like absolute magic! Had no idea that was even possible. That's going straight to the top of my priority list once this card finally arrives so I never have to deal with this waiting game again. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real timelines and creating such a helpful community here. It's such a relief to know what to actually expect versus what ESD tells you to expect! 😊