How often does Washington ESD unemployment pay out - weekly or biweekly schedule?

Washington ESD pays unemployment benefits weekly, but you need to file your weekly claim every week to get paid. The payment usually comes 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim, assuming there are no issues with your claim.

It's weekly payments but there can be delays. I've been waiting 2 weeks for my first payment even though I filed everything correctly. Super frustrating.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent without sitting on hold for hours. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used it last month when my payments were delayed and finally got answers.

The weekly payment schedule is standard, but the TIMING of when you actually receive the money can vary. Direct deposit is usually faster than a paper check. If you haven't set up direct deposit yet, do it ASAP through your SecureAccess Washington account.

WEEKLY PAYMENTS BUT DONT EXPECT THEM ON TIME!!! I've been dealing with Washington ESD for 3 months and payments are ALWAYS late. Sometimes they skip weeks entirely for no reason. The system is broken.

Don't panic from that last comment - most people get their payments on schedule. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims correctly and on time. If you work any hours during the week, make sure you report them accurately or it can delay your payment.

been getting mine every tuesday for 2 months now. direct deposit, no issues. maybe it depends on your bank?

Just want to share my experience - I was laid off in November and have been getting weekly payments like clockwork. The first payment took about 5 days to arrive, but after that it's been every Tuesday. Washington ESD isn't perfect but the payment schedule is pretty reliable once you're in the system.

Watch out for holidays too - payments can be delayed when Washington ESD offices are closed. MLK Day delayed my payment by an extra day last month.

One more thing about payment timing - if your weekly claim gets flagged for any reason (like if you forgot to answer a question or there's a discrepancy), the payment will be held up until it's resolved. That's when having a way to contact Washington ESD quickly becomes really important. I mentioned Claimyr earlier but seriously, being able to reach an agent when you need to can save you weeks of delayed payments.

For budgeting purposes, I always assume my payment will arrive by Wednesday but don't count on it until Tuesday. That way I'm not stressed if there's a small delay.

If you're new to the system, make sure you understand the difference between filing your weekly claim and actually receiving payment. Filing just means you've told Washington ESD you're still unemployed and eligible. The payment processing happens after that.

My cousin works for Washington ESD and she says the payment system is pretty automated once your claim is approved. Most delays are either from people not filing correctly or technical issues on the state's end, not the actual payment processing.

The weekly payment schedule is definitely standard but I've noticed some variation in timing based on which day of the week you file your claim. I file on Sundays and usually get paid by Tuesday, but friends who file later in the week sometimes don't get their payment until Thursday or Friday.

Just remember you have to keep filing weekly claims even if you don't get paid right away. Don't skip weeks thinking the system is broken - you'll miss out on benefits you're entitled to.

One last tip - keep track of your payment dates and amounts. If something seems off, you'll want to have records when you call Washington ESD. Sometimes payments get processed incorrectly and you need to advocate for yourself.

To summarize for OP: Washington ESD pays weekly, usually 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim. First payment might take a bit longer. Set up direct deposit, file your claims on time every week, and report any work hours accurately. Most people get their payments on schedule once everything is set up properly.

I know people already mentioned this but seriously consider that Claimyr service if you run into payment delays. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and stress when my payments got held up for adjudication. Being able to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD made all the difference.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you're on standby status instead of regular unemployment, the payment schedule can be different. But sounds like you're on regular UI so you should be good with the weekly schedule everyone described.

washington esd payments are weekly but dont stress if your first one is a few days later than expected. mine took 6 days the first time, then was regular after that. system just needs time to process new claims sometimes.

Hope this thread helped! Washington ESD gets a lot of criticism but the payment system actually works pretty well for most people. Just follow the rules, file on time, and you should be fine. Good luck with your claim!