How long after filing for unemployment do you get paid in Washington?
Just submitted my initial unemployment claim through the Washington ESD website last Tuesday and I'm wondering when I can expect to see my first payment. I know I have to do the weekly claims but I'm not sure about the timing. My rent is due in 2 weeks and I'm starting to stress about it. Has anyone recently filed and can tell me how long the process took? I heard it can take forever but hoping that's not true.
49 comments


Ava Williams
It usually takes about 2-3 weeks from when you file your initial claim to get your first payment, assuming there are no issues with your claim. You'll need to file your weekly claims during this time too. The first week is typically a waiting period where you won't get paid even if approved.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Thanks! So I should expect my first payment around week 3 then? That's cutting it close for rent but manageable.
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Raj Gupta
•Make sure you're filing your weekly claims every week even while waiting for approval, otherwise you'll miss out on benefits for those weeks.
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Lena Müller
Filed mine 3 weeks ago and still haven't gotten anything. My claim is stuck in 'adjudication in progress' and I can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to find out what's going on. The phone just rings and rings or I get disconnected.
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TechNinja
•Same here! Been trying to call for days but can never get through. It's so frustrating when you need answers about your claim status.
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Keisha Thompson
•I had the same problem calling Washington ESD until I found claimyr.com. They help you get through to an actual agent - I was able to get my adjudication issue resolved in one call. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Lena Müller
•Never heard of that before but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible.
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Paolo Bianchi
The timing really depends on whether your claim needs adjudication or not. Simple claims where you were laid off through no fault of your own usually process faster. If you quit or were fired, it takes longer because they have to investigate.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•I was laid off due to company downsizing so hopefully that means it'll be straightforward. Fingers crossed!
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Yara Assad
•Even laid off claims can get flagged for adjudication sometimes. Mine did because of some confusion about my last day worked vs when I was notified.
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Olivia Clark
Don't forget you have to complete the WorkSourceWA registration within a certain timeframe too. That can delay your payments if you don't do it. Check your eServices account for any alerts.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Oh crap, I didn't know about that! Let me check my account right now.
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Ava Williams
•Yeah, that's a common thing people miss. You usually have to register within a few days of filing your claim.
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Javier Morales
•I missed that requirement and it held up my payments for an extra week. Make sure you do it ASAP!
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Natasha Petrov
In my experience, if everything goes smoothly, you get your first payment about 2-3 weeks after filing. But 'smoothly' is the key word here. Washington ESD seems to find issues with everything these days.
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Connor O'Brien
•Tell me about it. They questioned every single job I had in the past 18 months even though I had all the documentation.
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Amina Diallo
•The system is so backed up still. I think they're just overwhelmed and understaffed.
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GamerGirl99
Make sure you're checking your SecureAccess Washington account regularly for any correspondence or tasks you need to complete. Sometimes they send notices that you need to respond to quickly or your claim gets delayed.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Good tip, I'll make sure to check that daily. I definitely don't want any delays.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Also sign up for text alerts if they offer them. I almost missed an important deadline because I didn't check my account for a few days.
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Isabella Costa
The waiting can be really stressful, especially when you have bills due. If you're really struggling, you might want to look into emergency assistance programs while you wait for your UI benefits to start.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•That's a good idea. Do you know of any specific programs I should look into?
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Malik Jenkins
•Check with 211 for local emergency assistance programs. They can help with rent and utilities while you wait for unemployment.
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Freya Andersen
•Some food banks also have emergency assistance programs beyond just food. Worth checking out.
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Eduardo Silva
I got my first payment exactly 3 weeks after filing, but I had to call Washington ESD to clear up a question about my work history. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and actually got through to a real person who resolved it in 10 minutes.
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Leila Haddad
•Wow, 10 minutes? I've been trying to get through for weeks with no luck. Might have to try that service.
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Emma Johnson
•How much does Claimyr cost? Is it worth it?
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Eduardo Silva
•Honestly, for me it was worth it just to get my claim moving. The peace of mind alone was valuable.
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Ravi Patel
Just remember that even after you get approved, there's still the one-week waiting period where you don't get paid. So your first payment covers week 2 of your claim, not week 1.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Thanks for clarifying that. So if I filed this week, I'm looking at potentially 4 weeks before any money comes in?
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Astrid Bergström
•That's about right if everything goes smoothly. Week 1 is the waiting period, weeks 2-3 are processing, then payment in week 4.
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PixelPrincess
The key is to stay on top of your weekly claims and any requirements they give you. I've seen people miss payments because they forgot to file their weekly claim or didn't complete some requirement.
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Omar Farouk
•This is so important. The system is not forgiving if you miss deadlines or requirements.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•I'll make sure to set reminders for everything. This is all so nerve-wracking but I appreciate everyone's help!
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Chloe Martin
If you do run into problems and need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, don't waste hours on hold. I tried that Claimyr thing too after seeing it mentioned here and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent who explained exactly what was holding up my claim.
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Diego Fernández
•I'm getting desperate enough to try anything at this point. The hold times are just ridiculous.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•Same here. I've literally spent entire days trying to get through with no success.
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Sean Fitzgerald
Just want to add that payment timing can also depend on which bank you use for direct deposit. Some banks process ACH transfers faster than others. Credit unions are usually pretty quick.
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Zara Khan
•Good point. I use a major bank and it usually takes 1-2 business days for direct deposits to show up.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•I have a credit union so hopefully that helps speed things up a bit once the payment is issued.
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MoonlightSonata
One more thing - make sure your direct deposit info is correct in your Washington ESD account. I had a friend who had to wait an extra 2 weeks because there was a typo in his routing number.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•Oh no, that would be a nightmare! Definitely double-check all your banking information.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Just checked mine and it looks correct, but thanks for the reminder. These little details can really mess things up.
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Nia Williams
The whole process is just so stressful when you're already dealing with job loss. Hang in there - most people do eventually get their benefits, it just takes patience and persistence.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Thank you for the encouragement. It really does help to know others have been through this and made it out okay.
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Luca Ricci
•It really is stressful but you'll get through it. The uncertainty is the worst part.
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Aisha Mohammed
If anyone else is having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I'll echo what others have said about Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but it really does work. Saved me probably 20+ hours of calling and being on hold.
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Ethan Campbell
•I'm convinced. Going to try it tomorrow. This thread has been really helpful.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Same here. If I run into any issues I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks everyone for all the advice and support!
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