Is unemployment paid weekly in Washington state - confused about payment schedule

Yes, Washington unemployment benefits are paid weekly. You file your weekly claim every week and if approved, you get paid for that week. The payment usually comes 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim, assuming there are no issues with your claim.

The weekly claim filing is usually due by the end of the week (Sunday I think?) for the previous week. So if you're claiming benefits for the week of Jan 1-7, you'd file that claim sometime during the week of Jan 8-14. Payment comes a few days after that if everything looks good on your claim.

I've been getting my Washington ESD payments every week for about 2 months now. The timing is pretty consistent - I file my weekly claim on Sunday evening, and the money hits my bank account on Wednesday usually. Sometimes Tuesday if it's a good week lol.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your payment schedule, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

One thing to watch out for - if you work any hours during a week, even just a few, you need to report that on your weekly claim. It might reduce your payment for that week but you still need to report it honestly.

Just wanted to add that the weekly claim questions are pretty straightforward. They ask if you worked, if you were available for work, if you looked for work, etc. Takes like 2 minutes to complete online.

I think the standard is you need to make 3 job contacts per week to qualify for your weekly unemployment payment. That could be applications, interviews, job fairs, etc. Keep track of everything.

The job search thing stressed me out at first but it's really not that bad once you get into a routine. I usually apply to jobs Monday-Wednesday so I have my 3 contacts done early in the week.

Quick question - do we file weekly claims on the Washington ESD website or is there a separate portal? I'm new to this too.

Been collecting for about 6 months now and yes, it's weekly payments. The amount stays the same each week unless you work or have other income to report. Pretty predictable once you get used to the schedule.

Make sure you file your weekly claim even if you think you might not qualify that week (like if you worked too many hours). Let Washington ESD make the determination rather than just skipping a week.

Does anyone know if there's a maximum number of weeks you can collect? I thought I heard it was 26 weeks but not sure if that's still accurate.

The weekly filing deadline is important. I missed it once and had to call Washington ESD to see if I could still claim that week. Wasn't fun trying to get through on the phone.

I set a reminder on my phone to file my weekly claim every Sunday. Makes it automatic so I don't forget.

One more tip - if your payment seems delayed one week, don't panic immediately. Sometimes there are system issues or holidays that can delay things by a day or two. But if it's been more than a week, then definitely look into it.

The direct deposit option is definitely the way to go if you can set it up. Much faster than waiting for a check in the mail.

Just want to emphasize again - report ALL work, even if it's just a few hours. I know someone who got in trouble for not reporting small amounts of work. Washington ESD takes that stuff seriously.

Hope this helps OP! The weekly system actually works pretty well once you understand it. Just stay consistent with filing your claims and keep good records.

Actually, I just remembered - if you ever need to speak with Washington ESD directly about payment issues or questions, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me from spending half a day trying to get through their phone system.

Welcome to the weekly unemployment routine! It becomes second nature pretty quickly. File your claim, wait for payment, repeat. Just don't let the job search requirement slide - that's usually what trips people up.