How long does it take to get unemployment check from Washington ESD?

Thanks! I filed it Sunday morning so should be good. Do they send any notification when the payment is processed?

You'll see it in your online account first, then get the payment. Check your SecureAccess Washington portal.

Thanks! I've been doing my weekly claims religiously. Just wasn't sure about the timeline.

Make sure you're checking your payment history on the Washington ESD website to see if there are any issues with your weekly claims.

I have direct deposit so that's good news. Fingers crossed for Wednesday!

How much does that cost? I'm already strapped for cash waiting for my first payment.

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was better than spending entire days trying to get through the phone lines.

I've heard of services like this but never tried one. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they don't ask for your personal info, just help you get connected to Washington ESD. Worked for me when I needed to resolve an adjudication issue.

Oh no! I did log my job searches but now I'm worried I did it wrong. How many do you need per week?

Three job search activities per week minimum. Has to be actual applications or interviews, not just browsing job sites.

The job search requirements are confusing. Some people say networking events count, others say they don't. Washington ESD needs to be clearer about this.

That's reassuring! Do you file Sunday nights or Monday mornings?

Sunday evenings usually. I set a reminder so I don't forget.

What does adjudication mean exactly? My status just says approved so I think I'm good.

Adjudication is when they review your claim for eligibility issues. Since yours is approved you should be fine.

Interesting, never heard of that. How much does it cost?

It's reasonable for what you get - way better than spending hours on hold. The main thing is it actually works to get you through to someone who can check your payment status.

I've used Claimyr too and it's legit. Got connected to Washington ESD right away when I couldn't get through myself.

Good to know. I was worried something was wrong since it's been 2 weeks already.

Two weeks is normal. I think mine was exactly 16 days from approval to first payment hitting my bank account.

At least it's predictable though. Some states have way more issues with their systems.

True, I guess I should be grateful it works at all after hearing some horror stories from other places.

I feel your pain but 3 weeks isn't that unusual unfortunately. The system is definitely overwhelmed.

Still ridiculous when people need money for rent and food. They should have better systems in place.

Good luck getting through to them on the phone! I've been trying for weeks to ask about my adjudication.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - the regular phone lines are impossible. Got through in minutes instead of spending days trying.

Maybe I should look into that. This is so frustrating.

How do you check that? I think mine is right but want to be sure.

log into your SecureAccess Washington account and go to payment methods. you can update it there if needed

Yeah I'm definitely anxious! Did you have any issues with your first payment?

Nope, went smooth. As long as you filed everything correctly and your claim is approved, should be fine.

Already did that during the application process. Banking info is all set up.

Direct deposit usually takes 1-2 business days once Washington ESD processes the payment. Much faster than mail.

At least we're not alone in this! Sounds like it's normal to wait this long.

Hang in there, it should come through soon. The waiting is the worst part.

I check that obsessively lol. Still shows no payments issued but my weekly claims are all there.

That's normal until they process the first batch. Once it starts you'll see payments show up there before they hit your bank.

Is there any way to track the payment status while it's processing?

Your online account will show payment issued before it hits your bank account, but there's not really real-time tracking.

Yeah I've heard good things about it. Seems like a lot of people are having success with that service.

Might be worth trying if I don't get my payment in the next few days.

Hopefully no issues since my status shows approved. Just the waiting game now I guess.

If you're approved you should be good. The system just takes time to process everything.

Exactly! The anticipation is killing me. Need that money ASAP.

The first payment is always the most stressful. After that it becomes routine.

Definitely doing that. Not missing any weekly claims for sure.

Smart move. Some people forget to keep filing and then have to go back and do back claims.

Good point! I should focus on applications instead of refreshing my bank account.

Yeah the job search requirement keeps you busy while waiting for payments. Kind of works out that way.

18 days puts me right around where I am now. Hopefully mine comes through this week then.

Tuesdays are usually when Washington ESD processes weekly payments. Check your account on Tuesday afternoons.

Good to know it's reliable once it starts. That's reassuring at least.

Yeah the ongoing payments are much more predictable than that initial wait.

Yeah I tried calling a few times and just got busy signals or hung up on. Will definitely consider Claimyr if needed.

Their phone system is completely overwhelmed. Third party services like that are really the only way to get through reliably.

Thanks for the encouragement. Just gotta hang in there a bit longer I guess.

You got this! The first payment is always the hardest wait.

Regular UI, I was laid off permanently. What's the difference with standby?

Standby is for temporary layoffs where you expect to return to the same job. Different requirements and sometimes different payment timing.

Standby people don't have to do job searches I think? Lucky them.

That's smart! I'll set that up right now.

Yeah I do this too. Way less stressful than refreshing the app every hour.

Good point! Martin Luther King Day is coming up next month so that could affect timing.

Exactly. Washington ESD follows federal holiday schedules for processing.

Mine shows $445 so I'll look for that amount. Does that include taxes taken out?

That's before taxes. You can elect to have federal and state taxes withheld if you want, but it's optional.

I wish I had elected tax withholding from the start. Now I'm worried about owing a bunch at tax time.

How did you find out about the hold? Did they notify you or did you have to call?

It showed up in my online account under correspondence. That's another reason to check your account regularly.

When I had payment issues I used Claimyr to get through to someone quickly instead of waiting for correspondence. Sometimes talking to an agent is faster than waiting for the system to update.

What happens if you forget to file one week? Can you make it up?

You can file late claims but there's a process and you might need to provide explanation. Better to just file on time every week.

Set up calendar reminders! I file every Sunday at the same time so I never forget.

I hope so! This whole unemployment thing is stressful enough without worrying about payment timing.

It gets easier. Focus on your job search and the payments will come regularly as long as you follow the rules.

I'm getting desperate enough to try anything. The hold times are ridiculous.

Yeah, that's exactly why I tried it. Much easier than the regular calling process.

Thanks everyone! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much better about what to expect.

This is what I love about this forum. People actually help each other figure out this confusing system.