Does Washington ESD send you a debit card for unemployment benefits?
Hi everyone - I just got approved for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD and I'm wondering about payment methods. Do they automatically send you a debit card or do I need to request one? I set up direct deposit but I'm not sure if that went through properly. How long does it take to get the card if they do send one? Thanks!
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CosmicCadet
Yes, Washington ESD will send you a KeyBank debit card automatically once your first payment is processed. Even if you signed up for direct deposit, they still send the card as a backup. It usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive in the mail.
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Omar Farouk
AuthorThat's good to know! Do I need to activate it even if I have direct deposit set up?
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CosmicCadet
You should activate it just in case there are any issues with your direct deposit. It's always good to have a backup payment method.
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Chloe Harris
i got mine like 2 weeks after my first payment went through, def activate it because sometimes direct deposit gets messed up and they switch you to the card automatically
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Diego Mendoza
Wait, they can switch you without telling you? I've been waiting for my direct deposit and it's been 3 weeks!
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Chloe Harris
yeah if theres an issue with your bank info they just put it on the card instead. check your account to see if payments are showing up there
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Anastasia Popova
The KeyBank ReliaCard comes automatically but there can be delays. If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to check on your payment status, I used Claimyr.com recently - they help you get through to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.
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Omar Farouk
AuthorThat sounds helpful! I've been trying to call for days to check if my direct deposit info is correct.
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Sean Flanagan
I tried that service too and it actually worked! Got through to someone at Washington ESD in like 20 minutes instead of calling all day.
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Zara Shah
Be careful with that debit card - they charge fees for ATM withdrawals at non-KeyBank ATMs. There's a list of fee-free ATMs on the ReliaCard website. Also, you can transfer money from the card to your regular bank account for free online.
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NebulaNomad
Good point about the fees. I didn't know about the free transfer option - that's really useful!
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Zara Shah
Yeah, just log into the ReliaCard website and you can move the money to your checking account. Takes 1-2 business days.
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Luca Ferrari
Does anyone know if you can opt out of getting the card if you definitely want direct deposit only?
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CosmicCadet
I don't think you can opt out - they send it automatically. But you don't have to use it if your direct deposit is working fine.
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Nia Wilson
Even if you don't plan to use it, keep the card somewhere safe. I had a bank account issue once and was glad I had the backup.
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Mateo Martinez
Mine took forever to show up and when I called Washington ESD they said it was sent to an old address even though I updated my info. Make sure your address is correct in your account!
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Omar Farouk
AuthorOh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about. How did you get it resent?
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Mateo Martinez
I had to call KeyBank directly (the number on the ReliaCard website) and they sent a replacement. Washington ESD couldn't help with that part.
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Aisha Hussain
Same thing happened to me but I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to Washington ESD and they helped update my address properly.
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Ethan Clark
Just got my card yesterday and it came with instructions on how to set up a PIN and everything. Pretty straightforward process.
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StarStrider
Did you have to wait for the PIN to come separately or could you set it up online?
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Ethan Clark
You can set it up online or by calling the number on the card. I did it online and it was activated immediately.
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Yuki Sato
For what it's worth, the direct deposit usually works fine once it's set up correctly. I've been getting mine that way for months with no issues. But yeah, they still send the card anyway.
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Omar Farouk
AuthorThat's reassuring! I'm hoping my direct deposit goes through without any problems.
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Carmen Ruiz
Just make sure your bank routing and account numbers are entered exactly right. One wrong digit and it'll bounce to the debit card.
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Andre Lefebvre
the card is actually pretty convenient even if you have direct deposit set up, you can use it at stores and stuff if you need cash right away
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Zoe Alexopoulos
True, and some people prefer having their unemployment money separate from their regular checking account anyway.
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Jamal Anderson
Washington ESD should really make this clearer on their website. I was confused about the payment methods too when I first filed.
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Mei Wong
Agreed! The whole process could be explained better. I ended up calling just to understand how payments work.
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Anastasia Popova
That's exactly why services like Claimyr are helpful - sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clear answers about this stuff.
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Laila Prince
Just wanted to add that if you're still waiting for your first payment to process, you can check the status in your eServices account under "Payment Information." The debit card usually ships within a few days of your first payment being issued, not when you're approved. So there might be a bit of a delay between approval and actually getting the card. Also, if you move during this time, make sure to update your address with both Washington ESD AND KeyBank separately - they handle different parts of the process.
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