How long does it take to get first unemployment payment from Washington ESD?
Filed my unemployment claim with Washington ESD about 10 days ago after getting laid off from my warehouse job. My claim got approved and I've been doing my weekly claims, but I still haven't received any money. The website just shows 'paid' but nothing in my bank account yet. Is this normal? How long does it usually take to get that first payment? I'm getting really stressed about rent coming up next week.
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Hassan Khoury
Usually takes 2-3 weeks for the first payment after your claim is approved. The 'paid' status means Washington ESD processed it, but it takes a few business days to hit your account depending on your payment method. Did you set up direct deposit or are you getting a debit card?
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Alice Fleming
•I signed up for direct deposit when I filed. Should I be worried that it's taking this long?
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Hassan Khoury
•No, 10 days is actually pretty normal for the first payment. Direct deposit usually takes 2-3 business days once it shows 'paid
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Victoria Stark
mine took almost 3 weeks for the first payment even though my claim was approved quickly. the waiting period plus processing time really adds up. hang in there
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Alice Fleming
•Three weeks?? That's crazy. How are people supposed to survive that long without income?
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Benjamin Kim
•That's exactly why so many people end up in financial trouble during unemployment. The system isn't designed for people who live paycheck to paycheck.
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Samantha Howard
There's typically a one-week waiting period for your first payment, then processing time on top of that. If you filed 10 days ago and it shows 'paid', you should see the money within the next few days. Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while waiting for the money.
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Alice Fleming
•Yeah I've been filing every week like I'm supposed to. Just nerve-wracking waiting for that first payment.
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Megan D'Acosta
•I had to call Washington ESD to check on my first payment because I was so worried. Turns out there was a small issue with my direct deposit info that was causing the delay.
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Alice Fleming
•How did you get through to them? I've tried calling but can never get past the busy signal.
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Sarah Ali
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person. They have this system that keeps calling for you and connects you when someone picks up. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Site is claimyr.com. Really saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Alice Fleming
•That sounds helpful! Did they charge you a lot for that service?
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Sarah Ali
•It was worth it for me because I was able to get my payment issue resolved quickly instead of waiting weeks. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Ryan Vasquez
•I'm skeptical of these third-party services. Can't you just keep trying to call Washington ESD yourself?
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Sarah Ali
•You can, but I was calling for days without getting through. This got me connected in like 20 minutes.
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Benjamin Kim
The whole Washington ESD system is a joke. They make you jump through hoops, wait weeks for payments, and then act like they're doing you a favor. I've been dealing with unemployment claims for years and it never gets easier.
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Alice Fleming
•It's definitely frustrating. I just wish there was more transparency about timelines.
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Victoria Stark
•At least the system works better now than it did during COVID. Back then people were waiting months for their first payments.
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Hassan Khoury
One thing to double-check is your payment method in your Washington ESD account. If there's any issue with your bank routing number or account number, that could delay your payment even after it shows 'paid' on their end.
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Alice Fleming
•Good point, I'll log in and verify those details are correct.
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Samantha Howard
•Also make sure your bank doesn't have any holds on government payments. Some banks flag unemployment deposits as suspicious.
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Alice Fleming
•I didn't even think about that. I'll call my bank too just to be sure.
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Megan D'Acosta
When I was waiting for my first payment, I kept checking my account obsessively. It finally showed up on a Wednesday morning, exactly 14 days after I filed my claim. The waiting is the worst part but it does come eventually.
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Alice Fleming
•14 days isn't too bad. I'm at 10 days now so hopefully just a few more days to go.
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Avery Saint
•same here, mine was about 2 weeks too. just keep filing your weekly claims and it'll show up
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Ryan Vasquez
Are you sure you completed all the requirements? Sometimes there are job search requirements or other steps that can delay payments even after your claim is approved.
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Alice Fleming
•I've been doing my job search activities and logging them like I'm supposed to. Maybe I missed something though.
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Samantha Howard
•You can check your account on the Washington ESD website to see if there are any pending requirements or issues that need to be resolved.
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Alice Fleming
•I checked yesterday and didn't see any issues listed, but I'll look again.
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Victoria Stark
if it makes you feel better, once you get that first payment, the weekly ones usually come much faster. mine come every wednesday like clockwork now
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Alice Fleming
•That's reassuring! The uncertainty is killing me right now.
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Taylor Chen
•Yeah the first one is always the longest wait. After that it's pretty predictable.
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Keith Davidson
I remember being in the exact same situation last year. Filed my claim, got approved, did everything right, but still had to wait what felt like forever for that first payment. It's completely normal but incredibly stressful when you need the money.
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Alice Fleming
•Exactly! I know it's coming but bills don't wait for Washington ESD processing times.
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Benjamin Kim
•That's the problem with the whole system - they don't understand that people need money immediately when they lose their jobs.
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Ezra Bates
Try checking your account early in the morning or late at night. Sometimes the payments post overnight and you'll see it before you get any notification.
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Alice Fleming
•I've been checking multiple times a day lol. I'll try checking really early tomorrow morning.
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Hassan Khoury
•Banks usually process ACH transfers overnight, so early morning is often when you'll see it appear.
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Ana Erdoğan
The waiting period is required by law, but the processing delays are just Washington ESD being slow. I had to use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through and check on my payment status. The agent was able to tell me exactly when it would be deposited.
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Alice Fleming
•That's the second person to mention Claimyr. Maybe I should try that if I don't see my payment by Friday.
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Sarah Ali
•Yeah it's definitely worth it if you need answers quickly. The peace of mind alone was worth it for me.
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Sophia Carson
Don't panic yet. I've seen people wait up to 3 weeks for their first payment with no issues. As long as your claim shows approved and you're filing weekly, the money will come.
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Alice Fleming
•Thanks for the reassurance. I'm trying not to stress but it's hard when you're broke.
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Elijah Knight
•Been there. The anticipation is worse than the actual wait once you know it's normal.
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Brooklyn Foley
Make sure you're not confusing your claim being 'filed' with being 'approved'. Sometimes people think they're approved when they're actually still in adjudication or waiting for verification.
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Alice Fleming
•No, it definitely says approved and my weekly claims show as 'paid'. Just waiting for the actual money now.
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Samantha Howard
•If it shows 'paid' then you're good. The money is coming, just be patient a little longer.
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Jay Lincoln
I work at a bank and see unemployment deposits all the time. Washington ESD usually sends them out Tuesday nights and they post Wednesday mornings. If you filed 10 days ago and it shows paid, I'd expect to see it by tomorrow or Thursday at the latest.
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Alice Fleming
•That's super helpful insider info! I'll definitely check Wednesday morning then.
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Victoria Stark
•That matches my experience - my payments always show up on Wednesdays.
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Jessica Suarez
•Mine come on Thursdays but I have a different bank. Might depend on when your bank processes ACH transfers.
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Marcus Williams
The first payment includes back pay from when you filed, so it should be larger than your regular weekly amount. That might cause additional processing delays at some banks.
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Alice Fleming
•I didn't think about that. Good to know it might be more than I expected.
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Hassan Khoury
•Right, if you had a waiting week, your first payment will cover multiple weeks at once.
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Lily Young
Just to add another data point - my first payment took exactly 15 days from when I filed. Approved quickly but still had to wait for the money. Every day felt like forever but it did eventually come through.
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Alice Fleming
•15 days seems to be pretty typical based on what everyone's saying. I'm at day 10 so hopefully just a few more days.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Yeah hang in there, you're probably almost there.
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Wesley Hallow
If you're really worried, you could try using that phone service to call Washington ESD and get a definitive answer. I used Claimyr when I was in a similar situation and the agent confirmed my payment date and amount. Really put my mind at ease.
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Alice Fleming
•That's the third recommendation for Claimyr. I might give it a shot if I don't see anything by Thursday.
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Justin Chang
•At this point it's probably worth it just for the peace of mind. The unknown is the worst part.
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Grace Thomas
Update us when you get your payment! I'm curious to see how long it actually takes. These timelines help other people know what to expect.
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Alice Fleming
•Will do! I'll post back here once I see the money in my account.
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Hunter Brighton
•Yes please update! I'm filing my claim next week and want to know what timeline to expect.
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Dylan Baskin
The waiting is brutal but try to stay positive. Washington ESD has gotten much better at processing payments compared to a few years ago. Your money is coming!
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Alice Fleming
•Thanks for the encouragement! I'm trying to stay patient but it's tough when you're counting every dollar.
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Lauren Wood
•I feel you. Been there myself and know how stressful it is. But based on what you're describing, everything sounds normal.
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