How does Washington ESD unemployment pay you - confused about payment methods

Washington ESD uses direct deposit if you set it up, otherwise they send you a prepaid debit card called ReliaCard. Most people prefer direct deposit because it's faster - usually hits your account within 1-2 business days after your weekly claim is processed.

How do I set up direct deposit? Is it in my SecureAccess Washington account somewhere?

Yes, log into your SAW account and look for payment options under your profile. You'll need your bank routing and account numbers.

the reliacard is annoying tbh, lots of fees if you use it wrong. definitely set up direct deposit if you can

What kind of fees? I just got mine in the mail yesterday.

ATM fees if you don't use their network, balance inquiry fees, that kind of stuff. Read the fine print they send with it.

Just went through this myself last month. After your first weekly claim gets approved, it usually takes 2-3 business days for payment. But if there are any issues with your claim or if it needs review, it can take longer. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims every Sunday and meeting your job search requirements.

What happens if I miss filing a weekly claim? Do I lose that week's benefits?

You have to file within 4 weeks or you forfeit that week's payment. Washington ESD is pretty strict about this deadline.

I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD for over a week about my payment method but their phone lines are impossible. Does anyone know a better way to contact them? I keep getting hung up on after waiting for hours.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work for getting through to real agents?

Yeah it worked for me. Got connected to an agent within like 20 minutes instead of spending all day trying to call.

Washington ESD payment system is so outdated compared to other states!! Why can't we just get Venmo or Cashapp payments lol

Because unemployment benefits are government payments that need to be tracked and documented. Direct deposit and prepaid cards are the most secure options.

I guess that makes sense but still annoying

Does anyone know if the payment amount changes based on how you receive it? Like do you get less if you use the ReliaCard vs direct deposit?

No, the payment amount is exactly the same regardless of how you receive it. The difference is just in fees - the ReliaCard has usage fees but direct deposit doesn't.

Thanks, that's what I thought but wanted to make sure.

Make sure your bank account info is correct when you set up direct deposit! I made a typo in my account number and it took Washington ESD 3 weeks to figure out why my payments weren't going through. Had to call them multiple times to get it fixed.

Yikes, what happened to the money during those 3 weeks?

They held it and then did a lump sum payment once we corrected the account info. But it was stressful not knowing what was happening.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you report any work and earnings on your weekly claim even if you choose direct deposit. I know someone who got an overpayment notice because they didn't report part-time work properly. Washington ESD will find out eventually and you'll have to pay it back with penalties.

How much can you earn and still get partial benefits?

In Washington you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 and still get partial benefits. Anything over that reduces your benefit dollar for dollar.

The ReliaCard actually isn't that bad if you know how to use it. You can get cash back at most grocery stores without fees, and there are tons of fee-free ATMs if you use their network. Just don't use random ATMs.

Good point, I probably should have read the instructions better before complaining about fees

Yeah they send a whole pamphlet with it that explains the fee-free options. Most people just throw it away without reading it.

Question - do you have to file your weekly claim at a specific time or just sometime during the week? I've been doing it Sunday mornings but wondering if there's a deadline.

You need to file between Sunday and the following Saturday. Most people do it Sunday because that's when the new week opens up, but you have all week.

Ok good, sometimes I can't get to it until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Has anyone had issues with Washington ESD saying they overpaid you? I got a letter saying I owe back $2,800 from last year but I followed all the rules. I'm so confused and can't get through to anyone to explain it.

You need to appeal that immediately if you think it's wrong. You only have 30 days from the notice date. Don't wait to get through on the phone - file the appeal online or by mail first.

I had a similar issue and used Claimyr to finally reach an agent who could explain what happened. Turned out it was a system error on their end. The service saved me from having to pay back money I didn't actually owe.

Just want to add that if you're on standby status with your employer, the payment process is the same but you don't have to do job searches. Still need to file your weekly claims though.

What's standby status? I've never heard of that.

It's when your employer temporarily lays you off but expects to call you back within a certain timeframe. You still get unemployment but different rules apply.

Washington ESD really needs to modernize their whole system. I've dealt with unemployment in other states and this is by far the most confusing and outdated process I've encountered.

At least it works most of the time now. During COVID it was a complete disaster with people waiting months for payments.

True, I guess we should be grateful it functions at all after that mess.

Pro tip: take screenshots of your weekly claim submissions. I had an issue where Washington ESD said I didn't file for a certain week but I had proof that I did. Screenshots saved me from losing that week's benefits.

Smart advice! I'm going to start doing this just in case.

Yeah, their system glitches sometimes and it's good to have backup proof of what you submitted.

Does the payment timing change if you file your weekly claim late in the week vs early? Like if I file Sunday vs Friday?

No, as long as you file within the week, the processing timeline is the same. Payments typically process on the same schedule regardless of when during the week you submit.

Good to know, thanks!

I switched from ReliaCard to direct deposit after the first month and it's so much better. No more worrying about ATM fees or keeping track of a separate card. Just goes straight to my checking account.

How long did it take for the switch to take effect?

About one payment cycle. I made the change on a Tuesday and the following week's payment went to direct deposit instead of the card.

For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD about payment issues, I found success using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got through to an agent who helped me sort out why my payments were delayed. Way better than spending entire days trying to call.

How much does something like that cost?

I'd rather pay a small fee to actually talk to someone than waste weeks trying to get through for free. Worth it when you need answers about your benefits.

Just remember that Washington ESD payments are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld automatically or pay them when you file your return. I learned this the hard way last year.

Oh no, how do I set up tax withholding? I don't want a huge tax bill next year.

It's an option when you're setting up your claim or you can change it later in your account. They'll withhold 10% for federal taxes if you choose that option.

The whole payment system seems complicated but once you get it set up it's pretty straightforward. File your weekly claim, wait 2-3 days, money shows up. Just don't miss any deadlines or mess up your job search requirements.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about navigating this now.

You're welcome! The Washington ESD system has a learning curve but you'll get the hang of it quickly.