How do I receive my unemployment money from Washington ESD?

I think I chose direct deposit but I'm not 100% sure. How can I check which option I selected?

Log into your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account and check your payment preferences under your profile settings. You can change it there if needed.

Just got my ReliaCard last week and it works fine. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted or get cash from ATMs.

be careful with the ATM fees though, some charge like $3 per transaction

What kind of issues could stop payment? I thought once you're approved, the money comes automatically.

Things like not completing your job search requirements, working hours you didn't report, or if Washington ESD needs additional information about your availability to work.

Same issue here. I've tried calling dozens of times and either get a busy signal or wait on hold for hours just to get hung up on.

I had the same frustration until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Is that legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

It's real. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration.

What's the deadline for filing weekly claims? I don't want to mess this up.

You can file your weekly claim starting Sunday for the previous week, and you have until Saturday to file it. Don't wait until the last minute though.

This is helpful! I filed my claim on Monday and was wondering why I hadn't been paid yet.

Yeah, timing matters. Also remember that holidays can delay processing by a day or two.

Wait, so even if I file right away, I won't get paid for the first week?

Correct. The first week you file is your waiting week - you don't get paid for it, but you still need to file the claim to maintain your benefits.

That's so frustrating when you're already struggling financially. Why do they do this?

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth checking their website for current info. For me, it was worth it just to get my payment issue resolved quickly instead of losing days trying to call.

Good point. I moved recently and forgot to update my address. Had to wait an extra two weeks for my card.

You can update your address through SecureAccess Washington pretty easily. Just make sure to do it before they send out any cards or correspondence.

This makes me feel better. I was starting to worry that something was wrong with my claim.

Yeah, the waiting is the worst part. But once you get into the routine, it's pretty straightforward.

Happened to me! Had to call Washington ESD to fix it and then wait another week for the payment to go through.

That's when services like Claimyr really come in handy - getting through to fix those kinds of issues without spending hours on hold.

Ugh, I forgot unemployment is taxable income. Do they take taxes out automatically?

You can choose to have taxes withheld when you set up your claim, but it's optional. If you don't, you'll owe taxes when you file your return.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much better about the process now.

This thread should be pinned - so much useful info for new unemployment claimants!