What day do unemployment benefits get paid in Washington ESD system?

It depends on when you file your weekly claim. If you file Sunday through Tuesday, you usually get paid Wednesday. If you file Wednesday or later, it might not process until the following Tuesday and you'd get paid Wednesday of the next week.

I filed mine Sunday morning around 8am, so hopefully I'll see it tomorrow!

that's not always true though, sometimes there are delays for no reason

I've been getting mine every Wednesday for the past 3 months. As long as you file your weekly claim by Tuesday night you should get paid Wednesday. The money usually hits the debit card around 6am.

Good to know about the 6am timing! I'll check first thing in the morning.

Mine sometimes comes as late as 10am on Wednesday, so don't panic if it's not there super early

Been waiting 3 weeks for my first payment even though my claim was approved. Anyone else having issues with Washington ESD payment delays? I've tried calling like 50 times but can never get through to talk to someone.

If you can't get through by calling, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a system that helps you actually reach ESD agents when the lines are busy. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Will check it out, thanks!

I had a 3 week delay on my first payment too. Turned out there was an issue with my identity verification that I had to clear up with an agent.

Wednesday is the standard payment day but only if you file your weekly claim on time. Miss the deadline and you have to wait until next week. The cutoff is Tuesday at midnight I think.

What happens if you file late? Do you lose that week's payment?

No you don't lose it, but you have to wait until the next payment cycle. So instead of getting paid Wednesday you'd get paid the following Wednesday.

been on unemployment for 6 months now and sometimes the payments are late for no reason. last month my wednesday payment didn't come until friday and ESD never explained why

That's frustrating! Did you eventually get the full amount or was there a deduction?

full amount eventually but it screwed up my rent payment

For new claimants: your first payment might take longer because they have to set up your debit card and mail it to you. After that it's usually the regular Wednesday schedule if you file by Tuesday.

I got my debit card already, so I should be good for regular payments then?

Yes, once you have the card and your claim is approved, it should follow the normal Wednesday payment schedule.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit instead of using the debit card. The money shows up in your bank account faster and you don't have to worry about ATM fees.

How do you set up direct deposit? Is that through the ESD website?

Yeah, log into your ESD account and look for payment options. You can add your bank routing and account numbers there.

Direct deposit still follows the same Wednesday schedule though, just hits your bank instead of the debit card

If anyone is having trouble getting through to ESD to ask about payment issues, I used Claimyr last month when my payments stopped for some reason. It actually got me connected to a real person who figured out the problem was with my job search log.

Was it expensive to use? I'm already tight on money waiting for these payments.

It's worth it if you need to actually talk to someone. Way better than spending hours calling and getting busy signals.

Wednesday payments are standard but watch out for holidays. If Wednesday is a holiday, payments usually come Tuesday instead. Memorial Day messed me up last year.

Good point! Are there any holidays coming up I should know about?

Presidents Day is next month, so that Wednesday payment would probably come Tuesday instead.

Make sure to file your weekly claim every week even if you worked some hours. You still might be eligible for partial benefits and you need to keep the claim active.

What if I work more than 40 hours one week? Do I still file?

Yes, you still file and report the hours. If you made too much you won't get benefits that week but it keeps your claim active.

I get mine every Wednesday like clockwork. Been unemployed since October and it's always there by 7am on Wednesday morning. Just make sure you file your weekly claim by Tuesday night.

That's reassuring! Hopefully mine will be that consistent too.

Update: I tried that Claimyr thing someone mentioned and actually got through to an ESD agent! Turns out my payments were held up because they needed additional documentation for my separation from my last job. Finally getting this sorted out.

Glad it worked for you! Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to figure out what's wrong.

What kind of documentation did they need? I hope I don't run into the same issue.

sometimes the payment comes late because of 'system maintenance' but they never tell you ahead of time. it's frustrating when you're counting on that money

Do they at least send notifications when there are delays?

nope, you just have to figure it out when the money doesn't show up

For everyone asking about timing: I work for a bank and unemployment deposits from Washington state always process overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. If you don't see it by Wednesday afternoon, there's probably an issue with your claim.

That's really helpful insider info! Thanks for sharing.

What time on Wednesday should we expect to see it in our accounts?

Usually by 6am, sometimes earlier depending on your bank's processing schedule.

Been getting payments for 4 months now. Wednesday is definitely the day but there have been a few random delays. Once it came Thursday and another time it was Tuesday. No pattern that I could figure out.

At least the delays seem rare based on what everyone is saying.

Just want to add that if you're on standby unemployment (like seasonal workers), the payment schedule is the same. File your weekly claim by Tuesday, get paid Wednesday.

I'm not on standby but good to know it's consistent across different types of claims.

One more tip: check your payment history in your ESD online account. It shows exactly when each payment was issued and when it should hit your account. Really helpful for tracking any delays.

Great suggestion! I'll bookmark that page to keep track.

Wednesday morning around 6-7am is when mine always shows up. Filed every Sunday for the past 2 months and it's been consistent. Don't stress too much about the timing once you get into the routine.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much better about the payment process now.

Final reminder: always file your weekly claim even if you think you might not qualify that week. It's better to file and get denied than to miss filing and mess up your claim entirely.

Good advice! I'll make sure to file every week regardless.

If your payment is ever more than 2 days late, definitely call ESD or use one of those callback services to find out what's wrong. Usually there's a specific issue that needs to be resolved.

Yeah, Claimyr has been really helpful for getting through when I've had payment issues. Much better than trying to call during busy hours.