ESD payment shows 'paid' status but funds not in bank yet - typical timeframe?

Thanks for the quick response! I did choose direct deposit, so that's good news. Fingers crossed it comes through by tomorrow then! This is my first time on unemployment so everything is new to me.

This is SO true! My credit union processes ESD payments super fast (usually next business day), but when I was using Wells Fargo last year they would hold the deposit for like 2-3 days sometimes. It was infuriating because I could SEE the pending deposit but couldn't access the funds! 😡 Might be worth calling your bank to ask about their specific processing times for government deposits.

That's weird for BECU! I'm with them too and mine always posts by midnight the day after ESD shows 'paid'. Did you double-check your account/routing number was entered correctly in eServices? Sometimes one wrong digit can cause delays or returns that need to be reprocessed.

While the system certainly has its challenges, the payment timeframes are actually quite consistent once you understand the factors involved. The "paid" status simply means ESD has processed the payment on their end. After that, ACH transfer times depend on: 1) When the payment was initiated (cutoff times matter), 2) Your specific bank's processing schedule, 3) Whether it's a first payment or subsequent one, and 4) Any federal holidays or weekends that may delay processing. For anyone struggling to contact ESD by phone, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an ESD agent without spending hours redialing. I used it last month when I had an adjudication issue, and they got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 - much better than calling 47 times!

Great news! Glad it came through quickly for you. Just remember for future reference that payment processing follows this pattern each week as long as you file your weekly claims on time. If you file on Sunday (which I recommend), the payment typically processes Monday and deposits Tuesday or Wednesday depending on your bank. If you wait until later in the week to file your claim, everything gets pushed back accordingly.

ya i noticed that 2!! thought it was just me but makes sense now

That's super helpful advice - thank you! I've set a recurring reminder on my phone for every Sunday morning. Do I need to report any job search activities when filing the weekly claim? I've heard conflicting things about job search requirements.

Yes, you absolutely need to report job search activities. The current requirement is 3 job search activities per week (as of 2025). These can include submitting applications, attending interviews, going to WorkSource workshops, working on your resume with a career counselor, etc. Make sure you record all the details in your job search log - employer name, contact information, position applied for, application method, and date. ESD can audit your job search log at any time, so keep good records! The only exception is if you've been approved for "standby" status, which temporarily waives the job search requirement.