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Elijah Knight

How long until I get my unemployment payment from Washington ESD?

Filed my initial claim with Washington ESD about 10 days ago and still haven't received any payment. My claim status shows 'processed' but I don't see any pending deposits in my account. I've been doing my weekly claims on time through the online portal. Is this normal? How long does it usually take to get your first unemployment payment after filing? Getting really anxious about bills coming due.

took me about 2 weeks to get my first payment when i filed last year. make sure you're checking the right account - sometimes they send it to a different routing number than expected

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I've been checking my main checking account every day. Should I be looking somewhere else?

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check your bank account info in your washington esd portal, sometimes there are typos

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The typical timeframe is 2-3 weeks for your first payment after filing your initial claim with Washington ESD. However, this can be delayed if there are any issues with your claim that require adjudication. Check your SecureAccess Washington account for any pending issues or correspondence. Also verify that you've completed all required steps including work search registration if applicable.

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What kind of issues would cause delays? I thought I filled everything out correctly.

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Common issues include employer disputes, questions about your separation reason, or missing documentation. Check for any flags in your account or letters from Washington ESD.

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I had the same problem last month - claim showed processed but no payment for 3 weeks. Turns out there was an adjudication issue I didn't know about. You should call Washington ESD to check but good luck getting through. I used claimyr.com after reading about it here and got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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Never heard of claimyr before, is it legitimate? I'm desperate to talk to someone at this point.

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Yeah it's legit, they just help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phone lines are busy. Saved me hours of calling.

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I can vouch for claimyr too. Used it when I had an overpayment issue and couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD for weeks.

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THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been waiting 6 weeks for my payment and they keep giving me the runaround. Filed correctly, did everything right, and still nothing. They're holding our money hostage while we can't pay rent!

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I feel your frustration but 6 weeks is definitely not normal. There must be an issue with your claim that needs to be resolved.

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That's what they keep saying but nobody will tell me what the issue is! I call every day and get disconnected.

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This is exactly why I ended up using claimyr - the phone system is impossible otherwise.

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Most people get their first payment within 2-3 weeks if there are no complications. Since you filed 10 days ago, you're still within the normal timeframe. However, I'd recommend checking a few things: 1) Verify your direct deposit information is correct in your account, 2) Look for any correspondence from Washington ESD about your claim, 3) Make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time every week.

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I've been doing my weekly claims religiously every Sunday. Direct deposit info looks right to me.

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Good, sounds like you're doing everything correctly. Give it another week and if nothing shows up, definitely call to check for any issues.

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depends on your situation honestly. regular UI claims usually process faster than if you have complications. what was your reason for unemployment?

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I was laid off due to company downsizing. Nothing complicated about it, just budget cuts.

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that should be straightforward then. probably just normal processing time

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Same boat here! Filed 12 days ago and getting anxious. At least I'm not the only one waiting. This is so stressful when you have bills due.

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Right?? I keep checking my bank account multiple times a day like that's going to make it appear faster.

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Exactly! I've probably checked 20 times today alone. This waiting is killing me.

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For reference, Washington ESD typically processes payments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If your weekly claim is filed by Sunday night, you should see payment by Thursday if there are no issues. First-time filers often experience a delay of 2-3 weeks while their initial claim is fully processed and verified.

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Good to know about the Tuesday/Thursday thing. I'll keep watching for those days specifically.

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I didn't know about the specific days either. Thanks for the info!

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my cousin went through this last year and it took forever because washington esd kept asking for more documentation. make sure you uploaded everything they requested

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I haven't gotten any requests for additional documentation. Should I be worried that I haven't heard anything?

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not necessarily, sometimes no news is good news with these government agencies

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I remember my first unemployment claim took about 18 days to see the first payment. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims on time even if you haven't received payment yet. Missing a weekly claim can delay everything further. Also, check your spam folder for any emails from Washington ESD - sometimes important notices end up there.

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Good point about the spam folder! Let me go check that right now.

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Yeah, I almost missed an important adjudication notice because it went to spam. Always worth checking.

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This is exactly why I hate dealing with government agencies. They make you jump through hoops and then keep you waiting forever. At least with private companies you get faster service.

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I understand the frustration but Washington ESD handles thousands of claims. Some delay is normal for verification purposes.

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Still doesn't make it right when people are struggling to pay bills. The system needs to be faster.

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just wait it out, these things take time. i got mine after 16 days

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16 days isn't too bad. I'm at 10 now so hopefully soon.

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One thing to be aware of - if you're required to do work search activities, make sure you're logging them properly in WorkSourceWA or whatever system Washington ESD requires. Failure to meet work search requirements can delay payments even if your claim is otherwise approved.

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I haven't gotten any work search requirements yet. Is that something that comes later?

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It depends on your situation. Some people have to start immediately, others have a waiting period. Check your account for any requirements.

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I had to start work search activities right away when I filed. Check your messages in the portal.

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I remember being in your shoes. The waiting is the worst part because you don't know if something's wrong or if it's just normal processing. In my case, everything was fine and I got paid after 2.5 weeks. Try to stay patient if you can.

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Thanks for the reassurance. It's hard not to worry when money is tight.

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I totally get it. Bills don't stop just because unemployment takes time to process.

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Have you tried calling the Washington ESD customer service line? Sometimes they can give you a status update over the phone. The number is usually busy but if you call right when they open you might get through.

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I've tried calling but can never get through. The line is always busy or I get disconnected.

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This is exactly why services like claimyr exist - the phone system is basically unusable during normal hours.

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Yeah, the phone system is terrible. I usually try calling at 8 AM sharp when they open.

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make sure your bank account can receive direct deposits. some banks block government payments if they think its suspicious

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I use a major bank so that shouldn't be an issue, but I'll call them to double-check.

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good idea to verify. sometimes there are holds on new accounts or something like that

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From what I've seen, first payments usually take 2-3 weeks. If you're at 10 days, you're probably looking at getting it within the next week or so. The hardest part is the uncertainty - you never know if there's a problem until you call or get a letter.

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Exactly! The not knowing is driving me crazy. I wish they had better status updates online.

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Yeah, their online system is pretty basic compared to what it could be. More transparency would help a lot.

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I'm in a similar situation - filed 8 days ago and checking my account obsessively. At least I found this thread so I know I'm not alone. Sounds like 2-3 weeks is normal for first payments.

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It's definitely reassuring to know others are going through the same thing. The waiting game is brutal.

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Seriously! Every day feels like forever when you're waiting for money you need for basic expenses.

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Right there with you both. This is the most stressful part of being unemployed.

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Pro tip: set up text alerts with your bank so you'll know immediately when the deposit hits. That way you're not constantly checking your account balance.

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That's actually a great idea. I'll set that up right now. Thanks!

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No problem! Saved my sanity when I was waiting for my first payment. Much better than checking the app 50 times a day.

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Keep filing your weekly claims even if you haven't been paid yet. I made the mistake of thinking I should wait until I got my first payment and it caused a whole mess with my claim. Don't skip any weeks!

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Good to know! I've been filing every week like clockwork. Glad I didn't skip any.

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Smart! Consistency is key with these weekly filings. Missing even one can complicate things.

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This is correct - continue filing weekly claims regardless of payment status. Missing a filing can disqualify you for that week's benefits.

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