How long does it take to get your first unemployment payment from Washington ESD?

Thanks! So I should expect my first actual payment around week 3 then? That helps me plan better.

That's assuming no adjudication issues come up. Mine took 6 weeks because they had to verify my employment history.

How much does that cost? I'm already broke waiting for my unemployment to kick in.

It's worth it if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Way better than spending all day redialing and getting nowhere.

Never heard of this but might be worth looking into if my claim gets stuck in adjudication like my friend's did.

What kind of things trigger adjudication? I was laid off pretty straightforward, no misconduct or anything.

Usually things like quit vs fired disputes, incomplete work history, or if you have wages from multiple states. Since you were laid off clearly, you should be fine.

Check your SecureAccess Washington account to see if there are any outstanding issues that need to be resolved. Sometimes there are action items that aren't obvious.

already checked, nothing there. so frustrating

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr to get through. The phone system is just impossible during busy periods.

Good point! I've been doing that religiously. Better safe than sorry.

Yes! I learned this the hard way. Missed one week thinking it didn't matter since I wasn't approved yet. Had to file an appeal to get that week back.

Already set up direct deposit when I filed. Hopefully that speeds things up.

Direct deposit usually processes 1-2 days faster than the prepaid debit card in my experience.

That's really helpful, thank you. I'll look into what's available in my area.

211 is a good resource for finding local assistance programs

That's reassuring to hear a success story! Hopefully mine goes that smoothly.

That's a good timeline for an uncomplicated claim. The key is having all your employment documentation ready when you file.

There are some exceptions for quitting with good cause, but yes, generally you need to be separated through no fault of your own.

Yeah I was definitely laid off due to company downsizing, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

How many job contacts do I need per week? I've been applying to a few places but wasn't sure if there was a specific number.

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements in your SecureAccess Washington account as it can vary based on your situation.

And keep detailed records! Names, dates, contact methods, everything. They can ask for this documentation at any time.

Washington ESD doesn't typically expedite claims, but you should definitely try to get through to them to check what's causing the delay.

This is another situation where Claimyr really helped me. I was able to actually speak to someone and find out what was holding up my claim instead of just wondering.

might have to look into that claimyr thing if i cant get through this week

While the wait is frustrating, Washington ESD is actually processing claims at a reasonable pace compared to the pandemic years. The system has improved significantly.

doesn't feel improved when you're the one waiting and cant pay bills

The verification process is important to prevent fraud, which was a huge problem during COVID. I'd rather wait a bit longer for a secure system.

Good to know! I'll keep that in mind when my payment should arrive.

Yeah, my credit union sometimes holds the deposit an extra day for 'verification' even though it's a government payment.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm trying to stay organized with everything from the start.

Good strategy. Being proactive about documentation saves so much hassle later on.

Yeah, it's not going to cover all my expenses but it'll help keep me afloat while I find something new.

That's the right attitude. It's meant to be temporary assistance, not full income replacement.

Is there a way to double-check that I completed everything correctly? I want to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and check for any pending actions or correspondence. Also make sure your WorkSourceWA registration is complete if required.

WorkSourceWA registration is required for most claimants and can definitely delay payments if not completed properly.

That's encouraging to hear! 3 weeks seems to be pretty typical from what everyone's saying.

im at 3 weeks now and still nothing. getting worried

def try to get through to them if you can. my friend had to call like 50 times but finally got through and found out there was a simple issue holding things up

Wow, that's faster than most people are reporting! You must have had everything in order.

I think it helped that I had all my employment documentation ready and my claim was very straightforward. No complications at all.

That's about as fast as the system can process when everything goes perfectly. Most people should expect 2-3 weeks though.

Yes, I figured that out from reading the instructions. Filing the weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week, right?

Exactly! And don't skip weeks even if your initial claim is still pending. You can't go back and claim those weeks later.

This is so important. I've seen people lose weeks of benefits because they didn't understand this distinction.

That's a good idea. My former employer is pretty small but they might know of some resources. Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone!

Community resources are often underutilized. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help - that's what they're there for.

Hope your claim processes smoothly! Come back and update us when you get your first payment.