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.
65 comments


Brooklyn Foley
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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Elijah Knight
•I've been checking my main checking account every day. Should I be looking somewhere else?
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Brooklyn Foley
•check your bank account info in your washington esd portal, sometimes there are typos
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Jay Lincoln
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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Elijah Knight
•What kind of issues would cause delays? I thought I filled everything out correctly.
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Jay Lincoln
•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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Jessica Suarez
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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Elijah Knight
•Never heard of claimyr before, is it legitimate? I'm desperate to talk to someone at this point.
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Jessica Suarez
•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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Marcus Williams
•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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Lily Young
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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Kennedy Morrison
•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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Lily Young
•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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Jessica Suarez
•This is exactly why I ended up using claimyr - the phone system is impossible otherwise.
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Wesley Hallow
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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Elijah Knight
•I've been doing my weekly claims religiously every Sunday. Direct deposit info looks right to me.
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Wesley Hallow
•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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Justin Chang
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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Elijah Knight
•I was laid off due to company downsizing. Nothing complicated about it, just budget cuts.
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Justin Chang
•that should be straightforward then. probably just normal processing time
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Grace Thomas
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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Elijah Knight
•Right?? I keep checking my bank account multiple times a day like that's going to make it appear faster.
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Grace Thomas
•Exactly! I've probably checked 20 times today alone. This waiting is killing me.
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Jay Lincoln
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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Elijah Knight
•Good to know about the Tuesday/Thursday thing. I'll keep watching for those days specifically.
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Hunter Brighton
•I didn't know about the specific days either. Thanks for the info!
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Dylan Baskin
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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Elijah Knight
•I haven't gotten any requests for additional documentation. Should I be worried that I haven't heard anything?
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Dylan Baskin
•not necessarily, sometimes no news is good news with these government agencies
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Marcus Williams
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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Elijah Knight
•Good point about the spam folder! Let me go check that right now.
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Marcus Williams
•Yeah, I almost missed an important adjudication notice because it went to spam. Always worth checking.
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Lauren Wood
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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Kennedy Morrison
•I understand the frustration but Washington ESD handles thousands of claims. Some delay is normal for verification purposes.
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Lauren Wood
•Still doesn't make it right when people are struggling to pay bills. The system needs to be faster.
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Ellie Lopez
just wait it out, these things take time. i got mine after 16 days
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Elijah Knight
•16 days isn't too bad. I'm at 10 now so hopefully soon.
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Wesley Hallow
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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Elijah Knight
•I haven't gotten any work search requirements yet. Is that something that comes later?
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Wesley Hallow
•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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Chad Winthrope
•I had to start work search activities right away when I filed. Check your messages in the portal.
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Paige Cantoni
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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Elijah Knight
•Thanks for the reassurance. It's hard not to worry when money is tight.
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Paige Cantoni
•I totally get it. Bills don't stop just because unemployment takes time to process.
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Kylo Ren
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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Elijah Knight
•I've tried calling but can never get through. The line is always busy or I get disconnected.
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Jessica Suarez
•This is exactly why services like claimyr exist - the phone system is basically unusable during normal hours.
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Kylo Ren
•Yeah, the phone system is terrible. I usually try calling at 8 AM sharp when they open.
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Nina Fitzgerald
make sure your bank account can receive direct deposits. some banks block government payments if they think its suspicious
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Elijah Knight
•I use a major bank so that shouldn't be an issue, but I'll call them to double-check.
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Nina Fitzgerald
•good idea to verify. sometimes there are holds on new accounts or something like that
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Jason Brewer
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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Elijah Knight
•Exactly! The not knowing is driving me crazy. I wish they had better status updates online.
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Jason Brewer
•Yeah, their online system is pretty basic compared to what it could be. More transparency would help a lot.
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Kiara Fisherman
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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Elijah Knight
•It's definitely reassuring to know others are going through the same thing. The waiting game is brutal.
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Kiara Fisherman
•Seriously! Every day feels like forever when you're waiting for money you need for basic expenses.
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Grace Thomas
•Right there with you both. This is the most stressful part of being unemployed.
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Liam Cortez
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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Elijah Knight
•That's actually a great idea. I'll set that up right now. Thanks!
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Liam Cortez
•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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Savannah Vin
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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Elijah Knight
•Good to know! I've been filing every week like clockwork. Glad I didn't skip any.
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Savannah Vin
•Smart! Consistency is key with these weekly filings. Missing even one can complicate things.
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Jay Lincoln
•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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