What card does Washington ESD unemployment use for benefits?
I just got approved for unemployment benefits and I'm confused about how I'll actually receive my payments. What kind of card does Washington ESD use to pay out benefits? Is it a debit card or something else? I've never been on unemployment before and want to make sure I understand how this works. Do I need to do anything special to activate it or set it up?
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Simon White
Washington ESD uses the KeyBank ReliaCard for unemployment payments. It's a prepaid debit card that they'll mail to you automatically once your first payment is processed. You don't need to request it separately.
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Geoff Richards
AuthorThanks! About how long does it take to arrive in the mail?
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Simon White
Usually 7-10 business days after your first payment is issued. You can track the status in your SecureAccess Washington account.
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Hugo Kass
Yeah it's the KeyBank card. Just got mine last week after waiting forever for my claim to get through adjudication. The card comes with instructions on how to activate it online or by phone.
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Nasira Ibanez
How long was your adjudication? Mine's been pending for 2 weeks now and I'm getting worried.
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Hugo Kass
Mine took about 3 weeks. Super frustrating but it eventually went through.
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Khalil Urso
The ReliaCard is pretty convenient once you get it set up. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, get cash at ATMs, or transfer money to your bank account. There's a mobile app too that lets you check your balance and transaction history.
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Myles Regis
Are there fees for using the card or transferring money?
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Khalil Urso
Some ATMs charge fees but there's a network of free ATMs you can use. Transfers to your bank account are usually free but check the fee schedule that comes with the card.
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Geoff Richards
This is really helpful everyone, thank you! I was worried I'd have to wait weeks for payments to start.
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Brian Downey
Just make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the card. The payments will accumulate and be available once you activate it.
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Jacinda Yu
I had issues getting through to KeyBank customer service when I first got my card. If you run into problems, I found out about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents when you need help. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helpful when you can't reach anyone by phone.
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Geoff Richards
AuthorGood to know there are options if I run into issues. Hopefully the card setup goes smoothly though.
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Landon Flounder
Never heard of that service but might be worth checking out. The Washington ESD phone lines are always busy.
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Callum Savage
Make sure to keep the card even after you're done with unemployment. Some people throw it away but you might get tax documents or other payments on it later.
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Ally Tailer
Good point! I forgot about the tax stuff. Do they send 1099s to the card too?
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Callum Savage
No, the 1099-G tax forms get mailed to your address on file. But sometimes there are small adjustments or overpayment refunds that go to the card.
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Aliyah Debovski
Does anyone know if you can have multiple cards if you lose one or if it gets stolen?
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Khalil Urso
You can request a replacement card through KeyBank if yours is lost or stolen. They'll deactivate the old one and send a new one to your address.
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Aliyah Debovski
That's reassuring, thanks!
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Miranda Singer
Just want to add that if you already have a bank account, you can also set up direct deposit instead of using the card. I prefer having the money go straight to my checking account.
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Geoff Richards
AuthorHow do you set up direct deposit? Is that done through the SecureAccess Washington website?
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Miranda Singer
Yes, there's an option in your account profile to add direct deposit information. You'll need your bank routing and account numbers.
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Cass Green
I tried to set up direct deposit but it took a few weeks to kick in. They still sent me the card in the meantime.
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Finley Garrett
The ReliaCard website has a lot of helpful info too if you want to learn more about how it works before you get yours.
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Madison Tipne
What's the website address for that?
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Finley Garrett
I think it's just reliacard.com but you can probably find the link through the Washington ESD website too.
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Holly Lascelles
Been using the card for months now and it works fine. Only issue I had was one time an ATM ate my card but KeyBank customer service was helpful getting it resolved.
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Malia Ponder
That's scary! Did you have to wait long for a replacement?
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Holly Lascelles
About a week. They overnighted it once I explained what happened.
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Kyle Wallace
Quick question - do the payments show up on the card immediately when Washington ESD processes them or is there a delay?
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Simon White
Usually same day or next business day. You'll get a text notification when funds are added if you sign up for alerts.
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Kyle Wallace
Perfect, that's what I was hoping to hear.
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Ryder Ross
The card has been a lifesaver honestly. Much better than waiting for checks in the mail like some other states do.
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Gianni Serpent
Agreed! My sister lives in another state and has to wait for paper checks. The card system is much more convenient.
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Henry Delgado
One thing to watch out for - some grocery stores and gas stations put holds on debit cards that can tie up your funds temporarily. Just something to be aware of.
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Geoff Richards
AuthorGood to know! I'll keep that in mind when I start using it.
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Olivia Kay
Yeah, gas stations are the worst for that. Usually a $50-100 hold that drops off in a day or two.
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Joshua Hellan
Has anyone had issues with the card being declined even when there's money on it?
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Jibriel Kohn
That happened to me once at a restaurant. Turned out they had flagged it for suspicious activity. Had to call KeyBank to get it resolved.
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Edison Estevez
I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I had card issues. Sometimes it's faster than calling KeyBank directly.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
The mobile app is really handy for checking your balance before making purchases. Saves you from any embarrassing declined transactions.
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James Johnson
What's the app called? I want to download it before my card arrives.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
I think it's just called 'ReliaCard' in the app store. Pretty straightforward.
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Sophia Rodriguez
Overall the card system works well. My only complaint is sometimes the customer service wait times are long, but that's probably true for most banks.
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Mia Green
That's when services like Claimyr come in handy. I've used them a few times when I couldn't get through to anyone and needed help with my unemployment account.
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Geoff Richards
AuthorGood to know there are backup options if I run into problems. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
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Josef Tearle
Just wanted to add that you can also set up account alerts through the ReliaCard website to get notified when payments are deposited or when your balance gets low. Really helpful for keeping track of your benefits without having to constantly check the app.
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