How to get unemployment card from Washington ESD - lost mine weeks ago

The unemployment debit cards are issued by KeyBank for Washington ESD. You should have received it within 7-10 business days after your first payment was processed. If you haven't gotten it by now, you'll need to contact KeyBank directly at 1-866-295-2955 to report it as lost or stolen and request a replacement.

I had the same problem last month! My card never showed up and I was freaking out. Turns out it was sent to my old address even though I updated everything on my Washington ESD account. When I called KeyBank they expedited a new one to my correct address for free.

Have you tried calling Washington ESD during off-peak hours? I know everyone says to call at 8am but honestly I've had better luck around 2-3pm. The wait times are still brutal though. You might want to try claimyr.com - they help people get through to Washington ESD agents faster. I used them last week and actually got connected within 20 minutes instead of waiting hours.

While you're waiting for your card, you should be able to check if your payments are being processed through your SecureAccess Washington account. Log into eServices and look at your payment history. If the payments are showing as 'paid' but you don't have the card, then it's definitely a card delivery issue.

the whole debit card system is so stupid why cant they just do direct deposit like normal people

I went through this exact situation in December. My card was stolen from my mailbox and I didn't realize it until I tried to use it. KeyBank was actually really helpful - they cancelled the old card immediately and sent me a new one with expedited shipping. The whole process took about 3 business days.

Same thing happened to my neighbor. She called KeyBank and they told her the card was mailed but never activated. Sometimes they get lost in the mail or delivered to the wrong address. The replacement took less than a week once she called.

Just a heads up - when you do get your card, make sure to activate it right away! I made the mistake of letting mine sit for a week before activating and then had issues with my account being flagged for suspicious activity.

I had to get a replacement card twice because the first replacement also got lost. KeyBank was still helpful the second time but they did ask more questions about my address and delivery preferences. Just be prepared for that if you have ongoing mail issues.

The waiting game is awful. I remember checking my mailbox every single day for two weeks straight. At least once you get the card, you can access all your back payments immediately. It's not like you lose the money while waiting.

Pro tip: if you're having trouble getting through to KeyBank, try calling right when they open at 7am PST. Their hold times are much shorter first thing in the morning. I learned this the hard way after spending hours on hold during peak times.

While you're dealing with this, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims! I know it's frustrating not having the card but you still need to certify each week or you'll lose your benefits. The payments will just stack up on the card once you get it.

I remember when I first got my unemployment card I was so paranoid about losing it that I took a photo of both sides and stored it in my phone. Obviously don't share those photos with anyone, but it's helpful to have the card number written down somewhere safe.

Does anyone know if you can check your card balance online before you receive the physical card? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if there's a way to at least see that the money is there.

Another option if you're really struggling - some credit unions or banks will give you a small emergency loan if you can show proof of your unemployment benefits. Not ideal but it might help bridge the gap until your card arrives.

I know this is frustrating but try to stay calm when you call KeyBank. I got really worked up during my call and the representative was less helpful than they could have been. A friendly tone goes a long way with customer service.

Just wanted to mention that if you end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason related to this, Claimyr really does work. I was skeptical at first but after waiting 3 hours on hold one day, I tried it and got through in under 30 minutes. Definitely worth checking out if the KeyBank route doesn't work.

Update us when you get your card! I'm curious to hear how long the whole process takes. Always helpful for others who might be in the same situation.

One last thing - once you get your card, you can set up text alerts for when payments are deposited. It's really helpful for tracking your benefits and making sure everything is processing correctly.

I went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago! My card was supposedly mailed but never arrived. I called KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 and they were able to see that the card was indeed mailed but never activated, which usually means it got lost in transit. They sent me a replacement with expedited shipping at no charge and I had it within 4 business days. Make sure you have your SSN, DOB, and claim number ready when you call. Also, I found calling right when they open at 7am PST gets you through much faster than calling during peak hours. Don't worry - all your back payments will be available as soon as you activate the new card!