What card does Washington ESD send for unemployment benefits?

It's a prepaid debit card from KeyBank. Washington ESD contracts with them to handle benefit payments. Should arrive within 7-10 business days after your first payment is processed. It'll come in a plain envelope from KeyBank, not Washington ESD directly.

The KeyBank card is pretty convenient actually. You can use it anywhere debit cards are accepted, get cash from ATMs, and they have an app to check your balance. Just watch out for ATM fees if you use out-of-network machines.

I had issues getting my card last year. Washington ESD kept saying it was mailed but I never received it. Spent weeks calling KeyBank and Washington ESD trying to figure out what happened. If you don't get yours within 2 weeks, definitely start making calls. I used Claimyr.com to actually get through to someone at Washington ESD - they have this system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

make sure you keep track of the card!! i lost mine after like 2 months and getting a replacement was such a pain. they charge you for replacement cards too i think

The official name is the Washington Unemployment Benefits Debit Card. It's issued by KeyBank and managed through their ReliaCard program. Your weekly benefit payments get loaded onto it automatically each week after you file your weekly claim. You can also set up direct deposit to your own bank account if you prefer, but most people just use the card.

Does anyone know if you can transfer money from the KeyBank card to your regular bank account? Sometimes I prefer to have everything in one place.

I never got a card at all and it's been 3 weeks since my first payment. Washington ESD customer service is impossible to reach. Anyone else have this problem?

Update: Just wanted to thank everyone for the helpful info. My card arrived yesterday, exactly 8 days after my first payment posted. Activated it online and it's working perfectly!

Word of warning - read all the fine print about fees. There are charges for certain types of transactions and ATM usage. I got hit with some unexpected fees my first month because I didn't realize some ATMs charge extra.

The card also comes with fraud protection, which is nice. Someone tried to use mine at a gas station in California (I live in Seattle) and KeyBank blocked it immediately and sent me a text alert.

can you use the card to pay bills online? like rent and utilities?

For anyone still having trouble reaching Washington ESD about card issues, I can't recommend claimyr.com enough. They've helped me get through multiple times when I had adjudication issues and card problems. The service is really straightforward to use.

Just to clarify for anyone confused - Washington ESD doesn't send multiple cards. You get one ReliaCard from KeyBank and that's what all your unemployment payments go onto. If you lose it or it gets damaged, you have to request a replacement through KeyBank, not Washington ESD.

The Washington unemployment debit card saved my life when I was between jobs. Having the money available immediately without waiting for checks to clear was huge. Just make sure you keep your PIN safe and don't share your card info with anyone.

Another tip - download the ReliaCard mobile app. You can check your balance, see transaction history, and even temporarily lock your card if you misplace it. Really convenient features.

Final reminder for the original poster - when your card arrives, make sure the name on it matches exactly what you have on file with Washington ESD. If there are any discrepancies, contact KeyBank customer service immediately to get it corrected. Small spelling differences can cause problems with certain merchants.

One last thing - keep all your Washington ESD correspondence even after you get the card. Sometimes there are issues with benefit calculations or eligibility and you'll need reference numbers and dates from your original approval letters.

Just want to add that the KeyBank customer service for the ReliaCard is actually pretty good. Much easier to reach than Washington ESD if you have card-specific issues like PIN problems or transaction disputes.

For anyone who needs to reach Washington ESD directly about benefit issues (not card issues), claimyr.com really is the way to go. I've used them probably 6 times now and they always get me through to someone who can actually help solve problems.

This whole thread has been super helpful! I'm about to file for unemployment for the first time and was really confused about how the payment system works. Now I know what to expect with the KeyBank card.

The KeyBank ReliaCard system is actually pretty solid overall. Just to add to what everyone else has shared - you can also set up text alerts for when payments are deposited, which is helpful for tracking your weekly benefits. Also, if you're planning to use the card long-term, consider setting up automatic bill pay through the ReliaCard website for recurring expenses like utilities or rent. It can help you budget better during unemployment. The card stays active even if you find work and stop receiving benefits, so you can keep using any remaining balance.