How do you get paid from unemployment in Washington ESD?

Thank you! I'll look for the payment section. I was worried I missed something important during the application process.

Make sure you have your routing and account numbers ready. Double check them because if you mess up the bank info your payment gets delayed big time.

Is there a fee for the debit card? I have a bank account so direct deposit is probably better for me.

No fee for the card itself but there might be ATM fees depending on where you use it. Direct deposit is usually the fastest option.

When do I need to file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day of the week?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way. Don't wait too long though because if you miss the deadline you lose that week's payment.

I learned this the hard way and missed my first week because I didn't know about the deadline. Now I set a reminder on my phone every Sunday.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke waiting for my unemployment to start.

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was better than spending whole days trying to get through to Washington ESD and never reaching anyone.

Good to know about holidays. I was already worried about timing and rent due dates.

Yeah Christmas week was weird last year, everything was delayed by a couple days.

Is it better to have them withhold taxes or pay later? I'm not sure what makes more sense.

Depends on your situation but most people find it easier to have them withhold 10% for federal taxes so you don't get hit with a big bill at tax time.

Definitely withhold if you can afford the smaller payment. I didn't my first time and owed like $1200 in taxes.

How many jobs do I need to apply to each week? I haven't seen specific numbers anywhere.

I think it's 3 job search activities per week but check the Washington ESD website to be sure. Could be applications, interviews, networking events, stuff like that.

Check your claim history page - it should show if your weekly claim was processed and when payment will be issued.

I see 'processed' but no payment date. Should I be worried?

If you're still having trouble getting answers, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier might help you get through to someone who can explain your specific situation. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

What other deductions are there besides taxes?

Could be child support, previous overpayments, or other state debts. Check your payment history for details.

I'll look for that option. Thanks for all the help everyone, this is way more complicated than I thought it would be.

It gets easier once you get into the routine. Just don't miss your weekly filings and keep looking for work.

How long do unemployment benefits last in Washington?

Usually 26 weeks but it can vary based on your work history and the unemployment rate. Check your claim details for your specific benefit year.

That's reassuring. I was worried I'd be waiting forever for payments to start.

My first payment took about 10 days after I filed my first weekly claim. After that it was regular every week.

Did you have to give them your personal information to use the service?

They just need your phone number so they can connect you when they get through to Washington ESD. Pretty straightforward process.

What if I do some freelance work? Do I need to report that too?

Yes, report all income including freelance, gig work, or cash jobs. They calculate your benefit reduction based on how much you earn each week.

I'll look for that calendar. Thanks for mentioning it.

Yeah that calendar saved me from calling Washington ESD every time I thought my payment was late. Turns out it was just a holiday delay.

I decided to have them withhold federal taxes. Should I also save for state taxes?

Washington doesn't have state income tax so you only need to worry about federal taxes.

Same here! I was so confused when I first got approved. Everyone's advice really helped clear things up.

That's what these forums are for. We've all been through the unemployment process and it helps to share what we've learned.

Good point. I'll start saving everything to a folder on my computer.

I keep a notebook with dates and amounts too. Old school but it's saved me a couple times when I needed to reference something quickly.

Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. I feel much more confident about navigating this process now.

Feel free to post again if you run into any issues. Lots of people here have been through similar situations and can help troubleshoot problems.

I'm planning to stay in Washington but good to know for the future.

Yeah it's not something most people think about but it can cause payment delays if you don't handle it right.