Can I get a payday loan while on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Most payday loan places will accept unemployment as income, but the interest rates are absolutely brutal. I got one last year when I was on UI and regretted it big time.

Yes, unemployment benefits typically qualify as income for payday loans. However, you should be extremely cautious. These loans can create a debt cycle that's very difficult to escape, especially when your income is already limited. Have you looked into emergency assistance programs through DSHS or local churches?

Before you go the payday loan route, have you tried calling Washington ESD directly to see if there are any emergency assistance options? Sometimes they have resources or can expedite payments in urgent situations. I know it's hard to get through to them, but there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get connected to Washington ESD agents faster. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

payday loans are a trap!! dont do it. i made that mistake and it took me months to get out of debt even after i found a job

I understand you're in a tough spot, but payday loans while on unemployment can be financially devastating. Your Washington ESD benefits are probably around $300-700 per week depending on your previous wages. Taking out a high-interest loan against that limited income often leads to a cycle where you can't pay it back and need another loan. Have you considered asking family or friends for help, or looking into community assistance programs?

Check with your bank or credit union first. Even if you have bad credit, they might offer a small personal loan with much better terms than a payday place.

Another option - can you get the car repair financed directly through the shop? A lot of mechanics offer payment plans that are way cheaper than payday loans.

Whatever you do, make sure taking a loan won't affect your job search requirements for Washington ESD. You still need to be actively looking for work and available for employment.

I was in a similar situation last year. Instead of a payday loan, I ended up calling around to different auto repair shops and found one that was $200 cheaper. Also sold some stuff on Facebook Marketplace to come up with the cash.

One more suggestion - if you do decide you absolutely need to borrow money, look into online lenders that cater to people with lower income. Some have much better rates than payday loans. But honestly, calling Washington ESD through Claimyr to see if they have any emergency assistance programs would be my first step.

seriously though avoid payday loans if you can. i know someone who lost their car because they couldnt keep up with the payments on the loan they took out to fix it in the first place

Before making any decisions, create a budget with your Washington ESD payments and see exactly how much you could realistically afford to pay back monthly. If you can only afford $50/month payments, a payday loan requiring $200+ payments in two weeks will just create bigger problems.

Also check if your state has any laws about payday lending. Some states have caps on interest rates that make them less predatory.

Don't forget that if you're on unemployment, you might qualify for other assistance programs like SNAP, which could free up grocery money to put toward the car repair.

Just wanted to add - if you do end up needing to borrow money, read ALL the fine print. Some payday places have automatic renewal clauses that can trap you in debt cycles.

Update us on what you decide to do! I'm curious if Claimyr helps you get through to Washington ESD about emergency assistance.

One last thought - have you looked into rideshare or public transit options for job interviews while you save up for the car repair? It might buy you some time to explore better financing options.

good luck with whatever you decide. just please be careful with those payday places

Keep us posted on how the Claimyr call goes. I'm curious if Washington ESD has any emergency transportation assistance programs that aren't well publicized.

Really hope you find a better solution than payday loans. Those things are designed to keep people trapped in debt cycles, especially people on fixed incomes like unemployment.

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from researching this. Yes, Washington ESD unemployment benefits do count as income for payday loans, but like others have said, the interest rates are predatory - often 400% APR or higher. At $485/week, you'd be looking at potentially paying back $1200+ on an $800 loan. Before going that route, I'd strongly suggest: 1) Getting multiple repair quotes (prices can vary significantly), 2) Asking the repair shop about payment plans or financing, 3) Checking with your credit union for a personal loan (even at 15-20% APR it's way better than payday rates), 4) Calling 211 for local emergency assistance programs, and 5) Using that Claimyr service others mentioned to see if Washington ESD has any emergency transportation assistance. You might also consider selling items you don't need or doing some gig work like food delivery on weekends to raise part of the money. I know it's stressful when you need transportation for job interviews, but a payday loan could make your financial situation much worse in the long run.