Got APPROVED for FMLA benefits - when will ESD deposit to my ReliaCard?

congrats on getting approved! when i was on pfml last year they usually deposited my $ about 3-4 days after showing approved. the card takes like 7-10 business days to arrive but they'll still send the $ to it even if u dont have it yet. u can activate it when it comes

I think you might be confusing terminology a bit here. FMLA is the federal unpaid leave protection, while Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is Washington's program that provides the actual benefit payments. Just want to clarify that so you're using the correct terms when dealing with ESD. As for your question, in my experience, they typically process payments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Once your weekly claim shows as "approved," you should see the deposit within 24-48 hours on those processing days. The ReliaCard typically arrives within 7-10 business days after your first payment is processed, but as the other commenter mentioned, the funds will be on the card waiting for you once you activate it.

THE ESD SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE!!! Just because it says approved DOESNT MEAN U WILL GET PAID ON TIME!!! I was on paid leave in march and they said approved but then took TWO MORE WEEKS to actually put money in my account!!! Don't count on any regular schedule with them!!!

Have you been able to check your benefit calculation? Make sure they got your wages right. My first PFML claim they somehow missed one of my jobs and calculated my benefit at like 60% of what it should have been. Had to call and get it fixed. That might explain why some people see delays too.

Just a heads up about the ReliaCard - make sure you activate it as soon as it arrives. Also, be aware there are some fees associated with certain types of transactions. You get free ATM withdrawals at U.S. Bank ATMs, but there may be fees at other ATMs or for certain types of transfers. Check the fee schedule that comes with the card so you don't lose any of your benefit money to unnecessary fees.

I was in your exact situation back in January! Once my claim showed approved, the money was on my ReliaCard the next business day (it was a Wednesday approval, had money Thursday). But then I had trouble when I tried to reach someone at ESD to ask about transferring money from the card to my bank. Had to wait on hold for hours and got disconnected twice. I finally tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to ask questions about my card and benefits.

my sister just went on leave last month and she said her benefits hit the reliacard every wednesday like clockwork. maybe they do different days for different people?? idk the system is weird

Waiting week is required for all new PFML claims in 2025. Glad to hear your second week is approved! My experience with PFML last summer was that I got my ReliaCard about 10 days after filing my first claim, but they didn't tell me they'd mailed it so it just showed up randomly. The payment hit the card about 3 days after approved status. Oh and dont forget u still gotta file weekly even on PFML!

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I started PFML in February and had a similar timeline. My ReliaCard arrived exactly 8 business days after my first approved week, and the funds were already loaded on it when I activated it. One thing I didn't realize at first is that you can check your card balance online at reliacard.com even before the physical card arrives, as long as you have your SSN and the card gets issued. That helped me know the money was there while I was waiting for it in the mail. Also, if you're planning to transfer money to your bank account regularly, consider setting up the free transfer option through the ReliaCard website rather than using ATMs - it takes 1-2 business days but saves on fees.

Hey Michael! I went through this same process about 6 months ago and can share what worked for me. After my claim showed "approved," I typically got the deposit on the ReliaCard within 2-3 business days, usually on a Wednesday or Friday. The card itself took about 9 business days to arrive in the mail, but like others mentioned, the money was already loaded and waiting when I activated it. One thing that really helped me was downloading the ReliaCard mobile app once I got the card - it made checking balances and managing transfers much easier than the website. Also, if you end up needing to contact ESD about anything related to your PFML claim, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. The wait times are usually shortest first thing in the morning. Hope your card arrives soon and everything goes smoothly with your leave!

I'm currently going through this same process and it's been really stressful not knowing when to expect the money! Reading through everyone's experiences here is so helpful. It sounds like most people get their payments within 2-4 days of approval, which gives me hope since my claim just switched to approved yesterday. One question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues with their employer not properly reporting wages to ESD? I'm a little worried my benefit amount might be calculated wrong since I had a job change earlier this year. Should I be proactive about checking that or just wait and see what the first payment amount is? Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips about the ReliaCard fees and mobile app - this community is a lifesaver when you're trying to navigate all this for the first time!

Hey! I'm also navigating this for the first time and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I just wanted to add that when I called ESD last week about a different question, the representative mentioned that they've been having some delays with ReliaCard processing due to high volume, so it might take a bit longer than the typical 7-10 days right now. She suggested allowing up to 14 business days for the card to arrive. Also, for anyone worried about budgeting - I found that setting up text alerts through the ReliaCard system once you get it really helps with tracking when deposits hit. You can get notified immediately when funds are added to your card, which takes away some of the anxiety of constantly checking your balance! Michael, since you mentioned budgeting around bills, you might want to call your creditors and let them know you're on leave - many are willing to work with you on payment dates if you're proactive about communicating the situation.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same situation last month! My PFML claim was approved on a Tuesday and I saw the deposit hit my ReliaCard the following Thursday - so about 2 business days. The card itself took exactly 10 business days to arrive, but like everyone else mentioned, the money was already loaded when I activated it. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - you can actually call the ReliaCard customer service line (number is on the ESD website) to check if your card has been issued and get an estimated delivery date. I called on day 8 and they confirmed it was in the mail, which gave me peace of mind instead of just waiting and wondering. Also, make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even while you're waiting for the card! I almost forgot to file one week because I thought since I was approved I didn't need to, but you definitely still have to maintain those weekly filings to keep getting paid. Good luck with everything!

I'm going through this same process right now and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! My claim just got approved yesterday and I was panicking about when I'd actually see the money. Reading everyone's experiences here is giving me so much peace of mind - it sounds like most people see deposits within 2-4 business days of approval, which is way better than I was expecting. I'm definitely going to use that tip about calling ReliaCard customer service to check if my card has been issued once it's been about a week. And I had no idea about being able to check the card balance online before the physical card arrives using your SSN - that's going to save me so much anxiety while I wait! One quick question for anyone who's been through this - did you get any kind of notification from ESD when your ReliaCard was shipped, or does it just show up? I'm trying to figure out if I should be watching for an email or if it's just going to appear in my mailbox one day. Thanks again to everyone sharing their experiences and timelines. This community is amazing for helping first-timers like me navigate this whole process!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm also navigating PFML for the first time and was getting really anxious about the timing of everything. It's so reassuring to see that most people are getting their deposits within 2-4 business days of approval - that's much faster than I expected! I love all the practical tips people have shared here, especially about checking the ReliaCard balance online before the physical card arrives and setting up text alerts. The fee structure advice is really important too since I don't want to lose any of my benefit money to unnecessary charges. One thing I'm curious about - for those who chose ReliaCard over direct deposit, do you think it was the right choice? I'm second-guessing myself now and wondering if I should have gone with direct deposit to my regular bank account instead. Did anyone find the ReliaCard to be more hassle than it was worth, or has it generally worked well for people? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is invaluable when you're trying to figure out this system for the first time!

I'm also new to the PFML process and this thread has been incredibly informative! I just wanted to add my recent experience for anyone else who might be in a similar situation. My claim was approved last Friday and I received my first deposit on the ReliaCard this past Tuesday - so it was 2 business days, which matches what a lot of people are reporting here. One thing I learned that might help others is that you can actually sign up for email notifications through your Paid Leave account to get alerts when your weekly claim status changes. It saved me from constantly logging in to check if my status had updated from "pending" to "approved." You can find this option under account settings if anyone is interested. Also wanted to echo what others have said about keeping up with your weekly filings - it's easy to think you're all set once you see "approved" but you definitely need to keep filing every week to continue receiving benefits. The system will remind you, but it's good to stay on top of it. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - it really helps reduce the anxiety when you're dealing with this for the first time and just want to know when you can expect some financial relief!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm actually going through my first PFML claim right now and was feeling so lost about the whole process. My claim just switched to "approved" status yesterday and I was panicking about when I'd actually see any money. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope - it sounds like I should expect to see a deposit within the next few days if the 2-4 business day pattern holds true. I chose the ReliaCard option too and was starting to wonder if I made the right choice, but based on what people are sharing here it seems like it actually might be faster than direct deposit in some cases. The tips about checking the balance online before the card arrives and setting up text alerts are game changers - I had no idea those options existed! I'm definitely going to look into those email notifications in my account settings that Malik mentioned, and I'll remember to call ReliaCard customer service if I don't see the physical card within a week or so. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to share their timelines and practical advice. This is exactly what I needed to hear to calm my nerves about budgeting during this leave. It's so much better getting real experiences from people who've actually been through this recently!