When do I get unemployment benefits after filing with Washington ESD?

There's a one week waiting period before you can receive any benefits. So you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment. After that, you file weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week and if everything goes smoothly, payment usually hits your account within 2-3 business days.

The timing can be confusing but here's what happened with me: Filed on a Tuesday, had to wait for the following Sunday to file my first weekly claim, then got paid 3 days later. The waiting week thing means you don't get paid for one week total, not that you wait a week to start filing.

Just a heads up - if your claim gets stuck in adjudication for any reason, those timelines go out the window. I waited 5 weeks for my first payment because they had to verify my employment history. If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually get through to an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

The Washington ESD system is pretty reliable for payments once you get approved. I've been filing weekly claims for 8 weeks now and I get my deposit every Tuesday like clockwork. Make sure you have direct deposit set up because the debit cards they send can take forever to arrive.

been filing for 3 months and payment comes every tuesday or wednesday depending on holidays. sometimes thursday if there's a bank holiday. first payment took like 2 weeks though because of some verification thing

One thing to keep in mind - you have to be actively looking for work and keeping a job search log. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week. If you don't meet those requirements, your benefits can get stopped even if you're filing your weekly claims on time.

The whole system is confusing honestly. I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times last week and never got through to a human. That Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier actually worked for me - got connected to an agent in about 10 minutes and they explained everything about when my payments would start.

Pro tip: file your weekly claim as early as possible on Sunday. The system sometimes gets overwhelmed later in the day and you might have trouble submitting. I always do mine right after midnight and never have issues.

ugh the waiting is the worst part. I remember checking my bank account every day that first week wondering where my money was. turns out I had made a mistake on my weekly claim and had to call to fix it

For anyone still having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. Used it twice now when I had questions about my claim and both times got through to knowledgeable agents who actually helped solve my problems instead of giving me the runaround.

The most important thing is to stay consistent with your weekly claims. I know people who missed a week and had their whole claim get messed up. Even if you're not sure about something, file the claim and call Washington ESD later to clarify.

Been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years and the timeline is pretty predictable once you know what to expect. File Sunday, get paid Tuesday or Wednesday. The only time it's different is holidays or if there's an issue with your claim.

Make sure your address is correct in the system. I moved right after I got laid off and forgot to update my address with Washington ESD. Almost missed important paperwork because of it.

don't stress too much about the timing. as long as you filed correctly and meet the requirements you'll get your money. i was freaking out my first time too but it all worked out

One more thing - make sure you understand the difference between your benefit year and your claim. Your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you first filed, but your individual claim might end sooner if you find work or exhaust your benefits.

The direct deposit setup is crucial. I waited 3 weeks for my debit card to arrive and missed out on using my first payment for bills. Should have set up direct deposit from the start.

Finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Turns out my claim was fine, I just didn't understand the payment schedule. Agent explained everything clearly and now I know what to expect. Worth every penny.

MAKE SURE YOU FILE EVERY WEEK EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU WON'T GET PAID. I learned this the hard way when I skipped my waiting week and it messed up my whole claim sequence. Had to start over completely.

timeline for me was: filed Tuesday, got eligibility notice Friday, filed first weekly claim the following Sunday, got paid Wednesday. So about 8 days total from filing to first payment.

The job search requirement thing is no joke. They randomly audit people and if you can't prove you were looking for work, they'll make you pay back benefits. Keep detailed records of everything you do.

Bottom line - if you filed correctly and your employer doesn't contest it, you'll start getting paid within 2-3 weeks of filing. First payment might take a little longer but after that it's pretty regular. Don't panic if it doesn't happen immediately.