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

It usually takes about 2-3 weeks from when you first file your claim to get your first payment, assuming there are no issues with your claim. Since you just filed last week, you're probably looking at another week or two. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't been paid yet - those weeks won't be paid if you don't file them.

The waiting period can vary a lot depending on your situation. If your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, it could take much longer - sometimes 4-6 weeks or more. Did you quit your job or were you laid off? If you quit, they'll need to determine if you had good cause, which adds time to the process.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I recently found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to an actual agent. They have a system that calls for you and gets you through the busy phone lines. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth trying if you need to talk to someone about your claim.

OMG the waiting is the worst part!! I'm going through the same thing right now. Filed 2 weeks ago and still nothing. My landlord is NOT happy and I'm surviving on ramen noodles. This system is so broken - how are people supposed to survive while waiting weeks for their first payment?

One thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD has a one-week waiting period for regular unemployment benefits. So even if your claim is approved immediately, you won't get paid for the first week you're unemployed. That week is just unpaid - it's not like you get it later or anything.

Check your online account regularly to see if there are any issues flagged that might be holding up your claim. Sometimes they need additional information or documentation and you won't know unless you log in and check. If there's an issue, it could significantly delay your first payment.

The whole system is a joke. I waited 7 weeks for my first payment last year because they said there was an issue with my previous employer information, but they never told me what the issue was or how to fix it. Finally got through to someone who said it was just a computer glitch and fixed it in 5 minutes. 7 WEEKS for a computer glitch!

If you need money right away, you might want to look into local food banks or emergency assistance programs while you wait for your unemployment to come through. Many counties have programs specifically for people waiting on unemployment benefits.

Are you getting any kind of confirmation that your weekly claims are being accepted? You should see something in your account showing that each weekly claim was filed successfully. If those aren't going through properly, it could delay everything.

just keep filing the weekly claims no matter what!!! I learned this the hard way when I stopped filing because I thought there was no point since I wasn't getting paid. Turns out you have to keep filing or you lose those weeks forever. such a stupid system but that's how it works

Timeline really depends on if you have any red flags in your work history. If you've had multiple jobs in the past year or if there are any discrepancies in your employment information, it could trigger additional review. But for straightforward layoff situations, 2-3 weeks is pretty typical for first payment.

Does anyone know if the payment timing is different if you choose direct deposit vs. the debit card option? I set up direct deposit but wondering if I should have gone with the debit card for faster access to funds.

Whatever you do, don't call the main customer service line expecting to get through easily. I spent 6 hours on hold last week and got disconnected right when someone picked up. It's beyond frustrating. The system is designed to discourage people from calling.

From my experience last year, once you get your first payment, the subsequent weekly payments come much more regularly. It's really just that initial processing period that takes forever. Hang in there!

Make sure you're meeting all the job search requirements from the beginning, even before you get your first payment. They can ask for your job search log at any time and if you don't have it, they can disqualify you retroactively.

If it helps with the anxiety, I got my first payment exactly 18 days after filing my initial claim. No issues, just a regular layoff situation. Kept filing weekly claims and everything went smoothly. Sometimes the system actually works like it's supposed to!