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! 😊

Just want to confirm what everyone else said - been on unemployment multiple times over the years and never paid social security taxes on the benefits. Only regular income tax. The 1099-G form makes it easy to report at tax time too.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was in the exact same situation as Ethan - getting my weekly benefits and having no clue about the tax implications. It's such a relief to learn that there's no social security tax to worry about, just regular federal income tax. I think I'll start having the 10% withheld on my next weekly claim filing just to be safe. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'll definitely be reporting all my Instacart earnings each week when I do my UI claim. Better safe than sorry, especially after hearing about that overpayment nightmare. I appreciate all the advice!

Smart move asking this question upfront! I've been doing gig work (Uber Eats) while on UI for a few months now and learned this the hard way. Definitely report everything - gross earnings and hours worked. One tip that's helped me: I created a simple spreadsheet to track my daily earnings and hours from each platform, then I just add it up when filing my weekly claim. Makes it much easier than trying to remember or dig through payment emails later. Also, keep screenshots of your earnings summaries from Instacart's app as backup documentation in case ESD ever asks for proof. Good luck with the deliveries!

Thanks for posting this question! I've been wondering about the same thing with a potential settlement from a workplace accident (not workers comp related). Good to know these types of settlements generally don't affect unemployment benefits.

I went through something similar last year with a personal injury settlement from a slip and fall. Washington ESD didn't reduce my benefits at all since it wasn't work-related income. The key is being upfront about it when you file your weekly claim. I reported it under "other income" with a brief explanation that it was a personal injury settlement unrelated to employment. They reviewed it for about 10 days and then confirmed it wouldn't affect my benefits. Just make sure you keep all your settlement paperwork in case they ask for documentation later. The transparency really helps avoid any issues down the road.

Bottom line: Washington state law allows filing up to one year after unemployment begins, but benefits only start from your filing date. Don't wait another day - file immediately and start your weekly claims process.

As someone who went through this exact same situation, I can't stress enough how important it is to file RIGHT NOW. I waited 10 weeks thinking I'd find something quickly and ended up losing over $4,000 in benefits that I could never get back. The Washington ESD system is frustrating but the online application really isn't that bad - just gather your last employer's info, your SSN, and rough employment dates for the past 18 months. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good here. File today with whatever info you have and fix details later if needed. Every single day you wait is more money down the drain.