How long does it take to receive first unemployment check from Washington ESD?
Filed my unemployment claim with Washington ESD about 10 days ago and I'm wondering when I should expect my first payment. My claim shows as active but I haven't received anything yet. I know I have to file weekly claims but I'm not sure if there's a waiting period or processing time. Has anyone else experienced delays with their first unemployment check? I'm getting worried about my bills coming up next week.
53 comments
Join the conversation
Miranda Singer
It usually takes 2-3 weeks from when you file your initial claim to receive your first payment. You need to complete your weekly claims and there's typically a one-week waiting period for new claims. As long as your claim isn't stuck in adjudication, you should see payment soon.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•Thanks for the info! My claim status just says 'active' so hopefully that means no adjudication issues.
0 coins
Cass Green
•Yeah active is good. Mine took exactly 3 weeks but that was because I had some job separation issues they had to review.
0 coins
Finley Garrett
I've been waiting 4 weeks now and still nothing! Washington ESD keeps saying they're processing but I can't get anyone on the phone to explain what's happening. This is ridiculous - how are we supposed to pay rent?
0 coins
Madison Tipne
•Have you tried calling early in the morning? I had luck getting through around 8:05 AM when they first open.
0 coins
Finley Garrett
•I've tried every time of day. Either busy signal or I get disconnected after waiting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Holly Lascelles
•I was having the same issue until someone told me about claimyr.com. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent the same day and found out my claim was stuck because of a missing form.
0 coins
Miranda Singer
The waiting period depends on when you file your weekly claims too. If you miss filing your weekly claim on time, it can delay everything. Make sure you're filing every week by the Sunday deadline.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•I've been filing every week religiously. Do they pay for the waiting week eventually or is that just lost?
0 coins
Miranda Singer
•The waiting week is never paid in Washington. It's just how the system works - first week is always unpaid.
0 coins
Malia Ponder
ugh the whole system is so slow... took me almost a month to get my first check and that was with no complications
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•A whole month?? That's terrifying. Did they at least backpay you for all the weeks you were waiting?
0 coins
Malia Ponder
•yeah they backpaid but only after the waiting week. so lost that first week forever
0 coins
Cass Green
Check your payment method too. If you're getting a debit card it takes longer than direct deposit. My first payment was delayed an extra week because the card took forever to arrive in the mail.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•I signed up for direct deposit during the application. Should I double-check that in my account?
0 coins
Cass Green
•Definitely check. Sometimes the bank routing info gets messed up and they default back to the debit card.
0 coins
Miranda Singer
•Yes, log into your Washington ESD account and verify your payment preferences are set correctly.
0 coins
Kyle Wallace
WASHINGTON ESD IS THE WORST! I waited 6 weeks and when I finally got through they said there was an 'issue' with my employer verification. Nobody told me this for 6 weeks!!! How are we supposed to know if they don't communicate??
0 coins
Madison Tipne
•That's exactly why I use claimyr now. They actually get you to talk to real people instead of just checking the website that never updates properly.
0 coins
Kyle Wallace
•Never heard of that but at this point I'll try anything. The regular phone system is completely broken.
0 coins
Madison Tipne
For anyone still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD, I highly recommend checking out claimyr.com. It's a service that helps you actually reach agents instead of getting the busy signal runaround. Worth every penny when you're dealing with delayed payments.
0 coins
Finley Garrett
•Is it legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point but don't want to get scammed.
0 coins
Madison Tipne
•Totally legit. They have a video demo that shows exactly how it works. I was skeptical too but it actually got me through when I couldn't reach anyone for weeks.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•I was skeptical about using a third party service but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that this was my only option. Worked great and finally got my payment issue resolved.
0 coins
Holly Lascelles
The key thing to remember is that your first payment will always be delayed because of the waiting week, plus whatever processing time Washington ESD needs. If your claim is straightforward with no adjudication needed, expect 2-3 weeks total. If there are any complications with your job separation or eligibility, it could be much longer.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•How do I know if my claim needs adjudication? Is there a way to check besides calling?
0 coins
Holly Lascelles
•Your claim status in the Washington ESD portal will show 'adjudication in progress' if there are issues. If it just says 'active' you should be good.
0 coins
Gianni Serpent
been waiting 3 weeks myself... getting really stressed about money. at least good to know 2-3 weeks is normal
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•Hang in there! Sounds like we're both in the normal timeframe hopefully.
0 coins
Miranda Singer
•If you hit 4 weeks definitely try to get in touch with Washington ESD to make sure nothing's wrong with your claim.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
I got mine in exactly 14 days but I think I got lucky. Filed on a Tuesday and got my payment the Tuesday two weeks later. Had direct deposit set up from the beginning which probably helped.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•That gives me hope! I'm at day 10 now so maybe I'll see something by this weekend.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
•Yeah keep checking your bank account. Mine showed up overnight on a Tuesday morning.
0 coins
Olivia Kay
Just want to add that holidays can delay things too. I filed right before Memorial Day last year and it added an extra week to my processing time. Something to keep in mind if you're counting days.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•Good point! I didn't file near any holidays so hopefully that won't be an issue.
0 coins
Cass Green
Make sure you're checking both your bank account AND the Washington ESD payment history. Sometimes there's a delay between when they say they paid you and when your bank processes it.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•Where exactly do I find the payment history in my account? I've been looking but can't seem to locate it.
0 coins
Cass Green
•Log into your account and look for 'Payment Information' or 'Payment History' in the main menu. It should show all your payments and their status.
0 coins
Joshua Hellan
The waiting is the worst part honestly. Once you get that first payment though, the weekly ones usually come pretty regularly as long as you file on time.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•That's reassuring to hear. Just need to get over this first hurdle!
0 coins
Joshua Hellan
•Exactly. The first one is always the hardest because you don't know what to expect.
0 coins
Jibriel Kohn
Does anyone know if the amount of your first check is different? Like do they pay you for multiple weeks at once or is it just for one week?
0 coins
Miranda Singer
•It depends on how many weekly claims you've filed by the time they process your first payment. Each weekly claim you filed will get paid (except the waiting week).
0 coins
Jibriel Kohn
•So if I filed 3 weekly claims before getting approved, would I get 2 weeks pay at once? (minus the waiting week
0 coins
Miranda Singer
•Exactly right! That's why some people get larger first payments - it's catching up on all the approved weeks.
0 coins
Edison Estevez
I remember when I first applied I was checking my account every single day multiple times LOL. The anxiety is real when you're waiting for that first payment.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•Haha that's exactly what I'm doing! Good to know I'm not the only one.
0 coins
Edison Estevez
•We've all been there! Once you get into the routine it gets much less stressful.
0 coins
Holly Lascelles
Final tip - make sure you have all your job search activities documented from week one. Even though you're waiting for your first payment, Washington ESD still expects you to be looking for work and keeping records. Don't let that slide while you're waiting.
0 coins
Aliyah Debovski
•Good reminder! I've been so focused on the payment I almost forgot about the job search requirements.
0 coins
Holly Lascelles
•Yeah they can ask for your job search log at any time, so better to stay on top of it from the beginning.
0 coins
Emily Nguyen-Smith
•How many job searches do we need to do per week? I keep seeing different numbers.
0 coins
Holly Lascelles
•It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Can be applications, networking, interviews, etc.
0 coins