How often does Washington ESD pay unemployment benefits - weekly or biweekly?
I just got approved for unemployment after waiting 3 weeks for adjudication and I'm confused about the payment schedule. My friend told me Washington ESD pays every two weeks but I thought it was weekly? I filed my first weekly claim on Sunday and I'm not sure when to expect my first payment. Can someone clarify how often Washington ESD actually sends out payments? I really need to know so I can plan my budget.
116 comments


Aliyah Debovski
Washington ESD pays weekly, not biweekly. You file your weekly claim every Sunday and if everything processes correctly, you should get paid within 2-3 business days. So if you filed Sunday, expect payment Tuesday or Wednesday typically.
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Ally Tailer
•That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to wait two weeks between payments. Thanks for clarifying.
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Miranda Singer
•yeah its weekly but sometimes theres delays with the system processing
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Andre Rousseau
Washington ESD pays weekly, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday after you file your weekly claim on Sunday. So if you filed this past Sunday, you should see payment by Wednesday this week.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Thanks! Does the first payment usually take longer than normal payments?
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Andre Rousseau
•Yes, first payments can take 3-5 business days instead of the usual 2-3 days.
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Zoe Papadakis
weekly but sometimes there's delays. i've been getting mine every tuesday for the past month
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Carmen Ortiz
•Good to know, thanks for sharing your experience!
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Cass Green
Your friend might be thinking of a different state. Washington ESD definitely pays weekly benefits. The key is filing your weekly claim every week on time - usually Sunday through Saturday. Miss a week and you could lose that week's benefits permanently.
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Ally Tailer
•Good to know about not missing weeks. I set up a reminder on my phone to file every Sunday.
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Finley Garrett
•Wait, I thought you could file late and still get paid for that week?
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Cass Green
•No, Washington ESD is strict about this. If you don't file your weekly claim within the filing period, you lose that week's benefits. There's no backfiling for missed weeks.
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Jamal Carter
Washington ESD processes payments weekly, but here's what you need to know about the timing: You file your weekly claim by Sunday night for the previous week. Payment typically hits your account Tuesday-Wednesday. Your first payment might be delayed because they're setting up your payment method. Make sure your direct deposit info is correct in your account.
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Carmen Ortiz
•I did set up direct deposit when I first applied. Should I double check the routing number?
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Jamal Carter
•Yes, definitely verify your banking info is correct. Any errors will delay payment significantly.
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AstroAdventurer
•This is super helpful info, I was wondering about the same thing!
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Madison Tipne
I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my payment schedule. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Holly Lascelles
•How much does that cost though? I'm already broke waiting for benefits.
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Madison Tipne
•It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was cheaper than taking unpaid time off work to sit on hold all day when I was working part-time.
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Mei Liu
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your payment status, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent. I was on hold for hours trying to reach someone and this thing at claimyr.com basically holds your place in line. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time when I needed to verify my payment method.
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Carmen Ortiz
•That sounds too good to be true. Does it actually work?
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Mei Liu
•I was skeptical too but it really did get me through to someone in about 20 minutes instead of calling for hours.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•How much does something like that cost though?
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Malia Ponder
THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE IS THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES WITH WASHINGTON ESD. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my payments because they keep finding new reasons to put my claim back into adjudication. Weekly payments don't matter if they never actually pay you!!!
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Ally Tailer
•Oh no, what happened with your claim? I just got out of adjudication and I'm worried it could happen again.
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Malia Ponder
•First they questioned my job separation, then they wanted more documentation about my previous employer, now they're reviewing my work history from 2 years ago. It's like they're looking for any excuse not to pay.
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Amara Chukwu
Wait I'm confused. I thought unemployment was paid biweekly like most jobs? So you're saying I need to file something every single week?
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Jamal Carter
•Yes, you must file a weekly claim every week to get paid. It's not automatic - you have to report your job search activities and any work/income for that week.
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Amara Chukwu
•Oh wow, nobody told me that when I applied. What happens if I miss a week?
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Andre Rousseau
•You can file for missed weeks but there might be delays. Don't skip weeks or you won't get paid for those weeks.
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Giovanni Conti
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIDICULOUS. Why do we have to jump through hoops every week just to get money we already qualified for??? And then they make you wait days to actually get paid.
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AstroAdventurer
•I feel your frustration but at least it's better than some states that pay biweekly
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Giovanni Conti
•I guess but it's still annoying having to remember to file every single Sunday
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Aliyah Debovski
To answer your original question more specifically: Washington ESD processes weekly claims Sunday through Saturday. Most people file on Sunday for the previous week. Payments are usually deposited Tuesday or Wednesday if you have direct deposit set up. If you're getting a debit card it might take an extra day or two.
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Ally Tailer
•I set up direct deposit during my application. Glad to hear it's faster than the debit card option.
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Kyle Wallace
•the debit card is such a hassle, definitely go with direct deposit if you can
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Andre Rousseau
Pro tip: Set a reminder on your phone for Sunday evenings to file your weekly claim. The system usually opens at 6 PM on Saturday and you have until 11:59 PM Sunday to file. Don't wait until the last minute though - the system can be slow on Sunday nights.
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Carmen Ortiz
•That's smart, I'll set up a reminder right now. What time do you usually file yours?
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Andre Rousseau
•I do mine around 8 PM on Sunday. Early enough to avoid the rush but after dinner.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
Does anyone know if there's a maximum number of weeks you can collect? I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and worried I'm running out of time.
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Jamal Carter
•Standard unemployment in Washington is up to 26 weeks, but it depends on your earnings history. You can check your remaining balance in your account.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
•Thanks, I'll check my account balance. I didn't know there was a limit.
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Miranda Singer
just make sure you do your job search activities too or they might stop your payments even if youre filing weekly
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Ally Tailer
•How many job search activities do I need to do each week?
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Aliyah Debovski
•You need 3 job search activities per week in Washington. These can be applications, interviews, networking events, or other approved activities. Keep detailed records in case they audit your job search log.
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NeonNova
I've been getting my payments every Tuesday like clockwork. Been on UI for 12 weeks now. The key is filing your weekly claim early on Sunday and making sure you complete the job search requirements properly.
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Carmen Ortiz
•What job search requirements do you mean? I thought I just had to look for work.
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NeonNova
•You need to log your job search activities - 3 job contacts per week minimum. It's all tracked in the system.
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Dylan Campbell
weird question but do they pay for holidays? like if there's a monday holiday does that affect the payment schedule?
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Andre Rousseau
•Bank holidays can delay payments by a day but you still get paid for that week if you filed your claim.
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Dylan Campbell
•ok good to know, was worried about memorial day coming up
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Sofia Hernandez
I had issues with my first few payments being delayed and used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Really helped me get through to an agent who explained that my payment method verification was holding things up. Worth checking out if you're having payment timing issues.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Did they help you fix the payment method issue?
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Sofia Hernandez
•Yeah, the agent walked me through updating my direct deposit info and my next payment came through normally.
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
For what it's worth, I've found that payments usually hit my account around 2 AM on Tuesday. I check first thing in the morning and it's always there.
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Carmen Ortiz
•That's helpful to know the specific timing. I'll stop checking my account 20 times on Monday!
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Ava Thompson
•lol I do the same thing, refreshing my bank app constantly
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Holly Lascelles
I'm on standby status and I'm still confused about whether I get paid weekly or if it's different for standby claims. Anyone know?
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Cass Green
•Standby payments are still weekly, but you don't have to do job search activities. You just need to file your weekly claim and confirm you're still on standby with your employer.
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Holly Lascelles
•Thanks! I was worried standby worked differently.
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Finley Garrett
Does anyone know if the waiting week still applies? I heard some states got rid of it but I'm not sure about Washington.
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Cass Green
•Washington still has a waiting week. Your first week of unemployment is unpaid, then you start receiving benefits from the second week onward.
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Finley Garrett
•Ugh, I forgot about that. So even though I file weekly, my first week won't get paid?
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Cass Green
•Correct. The waiting week is still required in Washington. You'll get paid starting with your second eligible week.
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Ryder Ross
This reminds me of when I first filed in 2023. I was so confused about everything - when to file, when I'd get paid, how much I'd get. The Washington ESD website isn't exactly user-friendly for figuring this stuff out. I spent hours trying to understand the whole process.
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Ally Tailer
•Yeah, the website is pretty confusing. I'm still trying to figure out all the different sections and what they mean.
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Ryder Ross
•It gets easier once you get into the routine. Just focus on filing your weekly claim every Sunday and keeping track of your job search activities.
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Miguel Ramos
Quick question - if I start a part-time job, do I still get paid weekly or does that change anything? I might have some work lined up but don't want to mess up my benefits.
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Jamal Carter
•You still file weekly and get paid weekly, but you have to report any wages earned. Your benefit amount might be reduced based on how much you earn.
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Miguel Ramos
•Thanks, that makes sense. Better to have some work than none I guess.
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Zainab Ibrahim
Washington ESD payment schedule is pretty consistent once you get used to it. File Sunday, get paid Tuesday/Wednesday. Just don't forget to file or you'll miss that week's payment entirely.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Thanks everyone for all the info! This has been really helpful.
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StarSailor
•This thread helped me too, I was confused about the timing as well
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Connor O'Brien
One more thing - if you're on standby status the payment schedule is the same but you don't have to do job search activities. Just make sure you're available for work when your employer calls you back.
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Carmen Ortiz
•I'm not on standby but good to know for others who might be.
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Yara Sabbagh
Honestly the weekly filing gets to be routine after a few weeks. Set a reminder, file on Sunday evening, check your bank account Tuesday morning. Simple once you get the hang of it.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Yeah I think I was just overthinking it. Weekly payments make sense now that I understand the process.
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Keisha Johnson
•We all overthink it at first! The system works pretty well once you know what to expect.
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Paolo Rizzo
Just want to add that if you ever have issues reaching Washington ESD about payment problems, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is legit. I used it when my payments stopped coming and couldn't get through on the phone for days. Got connected to an agent who found an issue with my claim that I never would have known about otherwise.
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Carmen Ortiz
•Good to know there are options if I run into problems. Hopefully everything goes smoothly from here.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Yeah, hopefully you won't need it but it's good to know it exists as a backup option.
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Madison Tipne
Another thing about payment timing - if there's a bank holiday, your payment might be delayed by a day. I learned this the hard way when I was expecting my payment on a Tuesday but it didn't come until Wednesday because of Presidents Day.
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Ally Tailer
•Good point about holidays. I'll keep that in mind for my budgeting.
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Gianni Serpent
Weekly payments are standard but what really matters is making sure your claim doesn't get flagged for any issues. I had a problem where Washington ESD thought I was working when I wasn't, and it took weeks to resolve. During that time, no payments came through even though I was filing weekly.
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Ally Tailer
•How did you resolve that issue? I'm worried about something similar happening to me.
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Gianni Serpent
•I had to submit documentation proving I wasn't working during that period. It was a pain but eventually got sorted out and I received all the back payments.
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Madison Tipne
That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr really helps. When I had payment issues, I couldn't get through to Washington ESD no matter how many times I called. Claimyr got me connected to an actual person who could look at my account and explain what was happening. Saved me weeks of stress.
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Malia Ponder
•Maybe I should try that. I'm getting desperate trying to reach someone about my adjudication issues.
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Madison Tipne
•Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck. The video demo on their site shows exactly how it works.
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Henry Delgado
quick question - do they pay the same amount every week or does it vary?
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Aliyah Debovski
•It's the same weekly benefit amount unless you have earnings from part-time work that need to be reported. If you work part-time, your benefit amount gets reduced based on how much you earned.
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Henry Delgado
•gotcha, thanks. i was wondering if it changed week to week
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Cass Green
One important thing to remember about Washington ESD's weekly payment schedule - you're always filing for the previous week. So when you file on Sunday, you're certifying for the week that just ended. This trips up a lot of new claimants who think they're filing for the upcoming week.
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Ally Tailer
•That makes sense. So I'm always one week behind in my filing?
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Cass Green
•Exactly. You file for the week that just ended, not the week that's starting.
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Olivia Kay
The weekly schedule is definitely better than biweekly. I used to live in a state that paid every two weeks and it made budgeting so much harder. At least with weekly payments you don't have to stretch your money as far.
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Ally Tailer
•Yeah, I can see how biweekly would be tough when you're already on a tight budget.
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Miranda Singer
just dont forget to report any work you do during the week or they'll come after you for overpayment later
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Ally Tailer
•Good reminder. I'm not working right now but I'll make sure to report anything if I do pick up odd jobs.
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Aliyah Debovski
•Yes, always report all work and earnings. Even small amounts need to be reported on your weekly claim.
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Joshua Hellan
The timing of payments can be really stressful when you're counting on that money for rent and groceries. I always tell people to file their weekly claim as early as possible on Sunday so there's no chance of missing the deadline.
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Ally Tailer
•That's smart. I'll make it a Sunday morning routine.
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Joshua Hellan
•Exactly. Make it part of your weekly routine and you'll never have to worry about missing a filing deadline.
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Jibriel Kohn
Sometimes the Washington ESD system goes down for maintenance and you can't file your weekly claim. When that happens, don't panic - they usually extend the deadline or make accommodations. But it's another reason why filing early on Sunday is smart.
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Ally Tailer
•Has that happened recently? I'd hate to miss filing because of technical problems.
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Jibriel Kohn
•It happens occasionally, usually during scheduled maintenance windows. They typically announce these in advance on their website.
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Madison Tipne
If you ever do run into technical issues or have questions about your payment schedule, that's another time when Claimyr comes in handy. When the website was down once and I couldn't figure out if I had filed properly, I used their service to get through to someone who could check my account status.
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Ally Tailer
•It sounds like that service could really help with peace of mind when dealing with Washington ESD issues.
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Madison Tipne
•Definitely. It's nice to be able to talk to an actual person instead of guessing whether everything is processing correctly.
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Edison Estevez
Bottom line: Washington ESD pays weekly, you file weekly (usually Sunday for the previous week), and payments typically arrive Tuesday or Wednesday with direct deposit. Keep it simple and consistent and you shouldn't have any problems with the payment schedule.
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Ally Tailer
•Perfect summary, thank you! I feel much more confident about the whole process now.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•This thread has been super helpful. I was confused about the same thing.
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Abby Marshall
I went through the exact same confusion when I first started collecting! Washington ESD definitely pays weekly, not biweekly. The schedule is pretty reliable once you get used to it - file your weekly claim on Sunday (I usually do mine around 7 PM to avoid any last-minute rushes), and then your payment hits your account Tuesday or Wednesday if you have direct deposit set up. Just make sure you don't skip any weeks because you can't go back and file for missed weeks later. Set up a phone reminder if you need to - it becomes second nature after a few weeks!
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Emma Thompson
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I was so stressed about the whole process but knowing that it becomes routine after a few weeks makes me feel better. I'm definitely going to set up that phone reminder - probably for Sunday evenings like you suggested. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Lola Perez
I was in the same boat when I first started collecting! Washington ESD definitely pays weekly - your friend might be thinking of how regular paychecks work, but unemployment is different. The routine is pretty straightforward: file your weekly claim every Sunday (I do mine right after dinner), and you'll typically see the payment in your account by Tuesday or Wednesday if you have direct deposit. The first payment might take an extra day or two while they get everything set up, but after that it's very consistent. Just don't forget to do your 3 job search activities each week and report them when you file - they can audit your job search log at any time. Good luck with everything!
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Zara Ahmed
•This is really helpful, thank you! I had no idea about the 3 job search activities requirement - nobody mentioned that when I got approved. Do you know if there's a specific format for reporting those activities or can I just list what I did? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly from the start.
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