< Back to Washington Unemployment

Ruby Blake

ESD debit card delivery time? Approved after 10-week wait but card hasn't arrived

Finally got my unemployment benefits approved after fighting with ESD for over 10 weeks (yay!) but now I'm stressed about when my debit card will actually show up. I requested the ReliaCard on January 20th and it's been almost two weeks with nothing in my mailbox. The money is showing as paid in my ESD account but I can't access it without the card! Anyone know how long these typically take to arrive? I've got rent due next week and my landlord isn't exactly the patient type 😑 Has anyone received a ReliaCard recently? Did you have to do anything special to speed up delivery?

In my experience, the ReliaCard usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive after requesting it. Since you requested it on the 20th, you should receive it any day now. Keep in mind mail delivery can sometimes be delayed. If you don't receive it by the end of this week, you can call U.S. Bank ReliaCard customer service directly at 1-888-964-0359 to check the status or request an expedited replacement (though there may be a fee for that).

0 coins

Ruby Blake

•

Thanks for the info! That's actually really helpful. Do you know if there's any way to see if it's been mailed out yet? I've been checking my account online but there's nothing there about the card status.

0 coins

Ella Harper

•

mine took for EVER to come!!! like 3 weeks and i was freakin out the whole time. ESD is the WORST with communication about this stuff. they dont tell u anything!

0 coins

Ruby Blake

•

3 weeks?? Omg I hope mine doesn't take that long. Did you call anyone about it or just wait?

0 coins

Ella Harper

•

i just waited cuz everytime i tried calling ESD i got hung up on after being on hold for like 2 hrs. it was so frustrating!!!

0 coins

PrinceJoe

•

You might want to try Claimyr if you need to reach an ESD agent about your card status. I was having the same issue with my ReliaCard not arriving, and after weeks of trying to call on my own with no luck, I used Claimyr.com and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They were able to verify my card had been mailed and gave me the exact date to expect it. Saved me a lot of stress! You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

0 coins

Does that actually work? I've been trying to call ESD for 2 days straight with no luck.

0 coins

PrinceJoe

•

It worked for me! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for days. The service connected me with an agent who helped track my card's status.

0 coins

Owen Devar

•

Have you checked if direct deposit is an option for you? I had issues with my ReliaCard last year and switched to direct deposit instead - WAY better. You can set it up in your eServices account under "Update Payment Information." It doesn't help with the card you're waiting for now, but might be better for future payments.

0 coins

Ruby Blake

•

I didn't even know direct deposit was an option! I'll definitely set that up for future payments. Thanks for the tip!

0 coins

Daniel Rivera

•

I know this doesnt help ur immediate problem but in 2025 they still haven't figured out how to get people their $ faster?? The whole system is designed to make ppl suffer i swear. I waited 12 weeks for approval then another 3 for my card back in 2023. And my cousin just went through the same thing last month. ESD needs to get their act together!!

0 coins

Same experience here. The worst part is you can see the money in your account but can't touch it. So frustrating!

0 coins

One important thing to know: once your ReliaCard arrives, you need to activate it immediately by calling the number on the sticker and setting up a PIN. Also, if you need funds urgently and your card arrives right before a weekend, be aware that ATM withdrawals have daily limits (usually $500-1000) that reset at midnight. Some people don't realize this and get stuck without enough cash if they have large payments to make.

0 coins

Ruby Blake

•

That's really helpful to know about the ATM limits. My rent is $1,875 so I might need to plan for that. Do you know if I can use the card directly to pay bills online once I activate it?

0 coins

Yes, you can use the ReliaCard for online bill payments just like a regular debit card. There's also a ReliaCard app you can download to manage your account, check your balance, and set up alerts. For large payments like rent, you might want to transfer the money to your personal bank account first, which usually takes 2-3 business days.

0 coins

my roomate just got a reliacard last month and it showed up in exactly 8 business days. but he said they dont send any tracking # or notification when they mail it so its just a waiting game

0 coins

Daniel Rivera

•

Hey I just remembered something important - when my card finally came, it was in a super plain white envelope that looked like junk mail! Almost threw it away. Keep an eye out for boring looking mail from "Indiana" (that's where US Bank sends them from for some reason).

0 coins

Ruby Blake

•

Omg thank you for this!! I definitely would have missed it. I'll check my mail more carefully now. Really appreciate the heads up!

0 coins

Connor Rupert

•

Actually just went thru this last month. My advice - call US Bank directly (not ESD) at 855-279-1270. They can tell you exactly when your card was mailed. Mine took 9 business days to arrive. If it's been more than 10 business days, they can cancel that one and expedite a new card to you in 3 days.

0 coins

Ruby Blake

•

Thank you! I'll try calling US Bank tomorrow. That's such a relief to have a direct number to check on this.

0 coins

CosmicCaptain

•

I went through the exact same thing last year! The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you can see the money sitting there but can't access it. In my case, the ReliaCard took about 12 business days to arrive, which was longer than the 7-10 days they usually quote. What really helped was calling US Bank (the number Connor mentioned is correct) because they could actually track the card and confirm it was mailed. Also, just as a backup plan, you might want to contact your landlord and explain the situation - many are understanding about unemployment delays since it's so common. Some will accept a screenshot of your ESD account showing the pending payment as proof that money is coming. Hang in there, it should arrive soon!

0 coins

Washington Unemployment AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today