How long does it take for the first unemployment check to arrive from Washington ESD?

Usually takes 2-3 business days after your weekly claim is processed. Since you just got approved, your first payment should arrive within a week of filing that weekly claim. Make sure you set up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's much faster than waiting for a debit card.

I'm in the same boat - just got approved after adjudication hell. Been trying to call Washington ESD to confirm my payment timeline but can't get through to anyone. The phone system is impossible!

For me it was exactly 3 business days from when I filed my weekly claim to when the money showed up in my checking account. This was back in October though, so processing times might be different now.

Make sure you're checking your account online regularly. Sometimes there are issues with the first payment that require verification. Better to catch problems early than wait around wondering where your money is.

ugh the waiting is the worst part!! I remember when I first filed it felt like forever to get that first check. Now I'm used to the weekly routine but those first few weeks were stressful as hell trying to pay bills

One thing to watch out for - if you worked at all during your first week of claiming, even just a few hours, it can delay your payment while they verify everything. Washington ESD is really strict about reporting all work.

From what I've seen, first payments are usually processed within 2-4 business days if everything is clean. The key is making sure you filed your weekly claim correctly and there are no outstanding issues on your account.

Update: I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to Washington ESD! The agent confirmed my first payment would be processed within 3 business days. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone.

Just remember that the first payment includes your waiting week if you had one, so it might be a bit larger than your regular weekly amount. Don't panic if the number looks different than expected.

Pro tip: set up text notifications if you can. I get a text whenever a payment is processed which helps me keep track of timing.

If your payment doesn't show up within a week, definitely call or use one of those services to get through. Sometimes payments get stuck for random reasons and you need an agent to release them.

honestly the whole system is so slow and frustrating. like why can't they just tell you exactly when to expect payment instead of making everyone guess??

For what it's worth, Washington ESD has actually gotten better about processing times in the last year. First payments used to take a full week or more, now it's usually 2-3 days.

Make sure your bank info is correct in the system. I had a friend who waited weeks for her first payment only to find out they had the wrong routing number.

Another update - my first payment just hit my account this morning! Filed my weekly claim on Sunday and got paid Wednesday. So about 3 business days like everyone said.

The waiting game is definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money. But in my experience Washington ESD is pretty reliable once you get past the initial approval hurdles.

Final thought - keep records of everything. Screenshot your weekly claim submissions and payment confirmations. Makes it way easier to resolve any issues that come up later.

Hope you get your payment soon! The first one is always the most stressful but it sounds like you're doing everything right.

Just to summarize what everyone said: 2-4 business days is typical for first payment, make sure your bank info is correct, and don't panic if it takes the full week. You should see your money soon!

One last tip - if you do need to contact Washington ESD for any reason, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work well. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.