How to track my Washington ESD unemployment card in the mail - need help
I got approved for unemployment about 2 weeks ago and Washington ESD said they mailed my debit card but I still haven't received it. Is there a way to track where it is? I'm getting worried because I have bills due and really need access to my benefits. Has anyone dealt with this before? Should I be calling Washington ESD or the bank that issues the cards?
46 comments


Ravi Kapoor
The unemployment debit cards are issued by KeyBank for Washington ESD. You should have gotten a tracking number when your claim was approved, but if not you can call KeyBank customer service at 866-295-2955. They can tell you the status of your card shipment.
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CosmicVoyager
•Thank you! I don't remember getting a tracking number but I'll call KeyBank tomorrow.
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Freya Nielsen
•Mine took 3 weeks to arrive last year, the mail has been really slow lately
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Omar Mahmoud
ugh same thing happened to me!! i was calling washington esd for days trying to figure out where my card was and they kept saying it was mailed but couldn't tell me anything else. so frustrating when you need the money
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Chloe Harris
•Did you eventually get it? I'm in the same boat right now and starting to panic about rent.
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Omar Mahmoud
•yeah but it took forever. if you need to talk to someone at washington esd about it i found this service called claimyr.com that actually got me through to an agent. there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works
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Diego Vargas
You can also request a replacement card if it's been more than 10 business days. KeyBank will expedite it for a fee but sometimes Washington ESD will cover the cost if there was a processing delay on their end.
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CosmicVoyager
•Good to know! How much is the expedited shipping usually?
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Diego Vargas
•I think it's around $15-20 for overnight delivery, but like I said sometimes Washington ESD reimburses it if the delay wasn't your fault.
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NeonNinja
Make sure you didn't move recently without updating your address with Washington ESD. That's a common reason cards get lost in the mail.
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CosmicVoyager
•No I've been at the same address for 3 years, so that's not it unfortunately.
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Anastasia Popov
I work for the post office and we've been having issues with mail delivery times. A lot of stuff is getting delayed 1-2 weeks beyond normal timeframes. Your card might just be stuck somewhere in the system.
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CosmicVoyager
•That's reassuring to know it's not just me. I was worried it got lost or stolen.
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Ravi Kapoor
•Good point about postal delays. That's why it's worth calling KeyBank to see if they can at least confirm it was actually shipped.
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Sean Murphy
Once you get your card, you can set up text alerts for when payments are deposited. Makes it easier to track your weekly benefits.
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CosmicVoyager
•Oh that's a great tip! I'll definitely do that once I finally get the card.
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Zara Khan
If you're really desperate for the money, you might be able to get Washington ESD to do a direct deposit instead, but you'd have to talk to them about canceling the card first.
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CosmicVoyager
•Is that complicated to switch? I'd rather just wait for the card if it's going to be a hassle.
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Zara Khan
•It can be a pain because you have to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD to make the change. The online system doesn't let you switch payment methods easily.
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Chloe Harris
•This is where that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be helpful. Getting through to Washington ESD is nearly impossible otherwise.
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Luca Ferrari
CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER! I almost missed my card notification email because it went to spam. The email has tracking info and everything.
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CosmicVoyager
•Just checked and nothing there either. But good suggestion!
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Nia Davis
Two weeks isn't that unusual honestly. Mine took 12 business days and I was freaking out too. The waiting is the worst part when you're counting on that money.
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CosmicVoyager
•Yeah the stress is killing me. Thanks for the reassurance though.
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Mateo Martinez
You can also check if your neighbors got it by mistake. Happened to my friend - the mailman delivered it to the wrong apartment number.
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CosmicVoyager
•Good idea, I'll ask around. Our mail delivery has been sketchy lately.
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QuantumQueen
When you do get your card, write down the customer service number somewhere safe. You'll need it if you ever have issues with the card or need to check your balance.
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CosmicVoyager
•Will do! I'm making a list of all these tips for when it arrives.
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Aisha Rahman
I had to wait 3 weeks for mine and then when it finally came the envelope was all beat up. Make sure to check that the card actually works when you get it - mine was damaged and I had to get a replacement.
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CosmicVoyager
•Oh no, that would be my luck! How long did the replacement take?
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Aisha Rahman
•Only about 5 days because I paid for expedited shipping that time. Lesson learned.
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Ethan Wilson
the washington esd website should show your payment method somewhere in your account. if it shows the card was issued you know they at least processed it on their end
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CosmicVoyager
•I looked but it just says 'debit card' with no other details. Not very helpful.
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Yuki Sato
Try calling early in the morning like 8 AM when KeyBank opens. That's when you're most likely to get through quickly instead of being on hold forever.
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CosmicVoyager
•Good strategy! I'll set an alarm and call first thing tomorrow.
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Carmen Flores
I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when my card was delayed and they were able to confirm it had been mailed and give me the tracking info that somehow never made it to my email. Worth trying if you can't get answers from KeyBank.
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CosmicVoyager
•I'm definitely considering it if the KeyBank call doesn't help tomorrow. Thanks!
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Andre Dubois
Just an FYI - once you activate your card you can access your account online at www.key2benefits.com to track transactions and stuff. Helpful for budgeting your unemployment payments.
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CosmicVoyager
•I'll bookmark that for when I finally get the card. Thanks for all the help everyone!
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CyberSamurai
Hope you get it soon! The waiting is awful but it almost always shows up eventually. Keep us posted on what KeyBank says.
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CosmicVoyager
•Will do! I'll update this thread once I hear back from them tomorrow.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Fingers crossed for you! We've all been there with the card anxiety.
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Jamal Carter
If all else fails and you need emergency assistance while waiting for the card, some food banks and assistance programs can help tide you over. Just a thought if bills are really pressing.
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CosmicVoyager
•That's really thoughtful, thank you. Hopefully it won't come to that but good to know there are options.
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GalaxyGuardian
I went through the exact same thing last month! My card took 16 business days to arrive and I was panicking about rent too. Definitely call KeyBank first thing in the morning - they were actually really helpful and could tell me exactly when it shipped and the expected delivery date. Also, if you have a regular mail carrier, try catching them on their route and ask if they've seen anything from KeyBank. Mine actually remembered delivering it to my neighbor by mistake! The waiting is so stressful when you're counting on that money, but hang in there - it will come.
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Fiona Gallagher
•That's such a relief to hear from someone who went through the same thing! 16 days is longer than I've been waiting so far, so maybe there's still hope. I'm definitely calling KeyBank at 8 AM sharp tomorrow. And that's a great idea about asking the mail carrier - I never would have thought of that. Our building has had some delivery mix-ups before so it's totally possible it went to the wrong apartment. Thanks for sharing your experience, it really helps to know I'm not alone in this!
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