When do you get paid for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?
I just got approved for unemployment after waiting 2 weeks for adjudication. My claim status changed to 'paid' on Tuesday but I still haven't received any money. I'm using direct deposit and usually get other payments within 1-2 business days. Is there a specific day of the week Washington ESD sends out payments? I'm getting worried because I need to pay rent this week and I'm counting on these benefits.
42 comments


Eloise Kendrick
Washington ESD typically processes payments on Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings. If your claim shows 'paid' status, the money should hit your account by Thursday at the latest. Sometimes there can be banking delays on the receiving end too.
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JaylinCharles
•Thanks! It's Wednesday afternoon now so hopefully I'll see it by tomorrow morning. Just nervous because this is my first time on unemployment.
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Lucas Schmidt
•I've been on UI for 3 months and it's always Wednesday or Thursday for me with direct deposit. Never had it come on a different day.
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Freya Collins
The payment schedule depends on when you filed your weekly claim. If you filed Sunday-Tuesday, payment usually comes Wednesday-Thursday. If you filed later in the week, it might not process until the following week.
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JaylinCharles
•I filed my weekly claim on Sunday morning like they recommended. So that should mean Wednesday or Thursday payment?
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Freya Collins
•Exactly. Sunday filing usually means Wednesday/Thursday payment if everything processes normally.
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LongPeri
I was having the same anxiety about payment timing when I first started. If you're still not seeing payments by Friday, I'd recommend calling Washington ESD to check on your claim status. Getting through can be tough though - I used to spend hours on hold.
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Oscar O'Neil
•The phone situation is ridiculous. I tried calling 47 times last week and never got through to a human.
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LongPeri
•I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made my life so much easier.
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JaylinCharles
•Interesting, I'll keep that in mind if I have issues. Hopefully won't need it though!
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Sara Hellquiem
dont worry too much about timing, washington esd is pretty reliable with payments once your approved. i think the longest i ever waited was maybe 5 days and that was during a banking holiday
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Charlee Coleman
•Yeah same here, never had a payment just disappear or anything. Sometimes delayed but always comes through.
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Eloise Kendrick
One thing to watch out for - make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while waiting for payments. Missing a weekly claim can cause delays or even stop your benefits entirely.
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JaylinCharles
•Good point. I have it set as a reminder in my phone for every Sunday morning. Don't want to mess anything up.
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Liv Park
•Smart! I forgot to file one week and it took 3 weeks to get everything straightened out with Washington ESD.
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Oscar O'Neil
The whole system is a mess. I've been fighting with them for a month about an overpayment notice that makes no sense. They want me to pay back $2,800 but won't explain how they calculated it. Anyone else deal with overpayment issues?
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Eloise Kendrick
•That's rough. You should definitely appeal that overpayment notice if you think it's wrong. You have 30 days from when you received it.
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Oscar O'Neil
•I'm trying to get through to someone to understand what happened before I appeal. Might need to try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier.
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Freya Collins
•For overpayment appeals, you'll want to gather all your documentation - work history, payment records, any correspondence with Washington ESD. The more evidence you have, the better.
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Lucas Schmidt
OP - just to give you peace of mind, I checked my payment history and here's my typical timeline: File weekly claim Sunday morning → Claim processed Monday/Tuesday → Payment shows 'paid' Tuesday evening → Money in my account Wednesday morning. You should be good by tomorrow!
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JaylinCharles
•This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for checking your records!
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Leeann Blackstein
•Same timeline for me. Very consistent once you get into the routine.
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Ryder Greene
Quick question - do you get paid for the waiting week when you first file? I'm still confused about that part of the process.
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Eloise Kendrick
•No, Washington doesn't pay for the first week anymore. That's your waiting week and you don't get benefits for it, even if you're eligible.
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Ryder Greene
•Thanks for clarifying. I was wondering why my first payment was less than expected.
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Carmella Fromis
I remember being so stressed about my first payment too. The uncertainty is the worst part. Once you get into the rhythm it becomes routine - file Sunday, get paid Wednesday, repeat.
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JaylinCharles
•That's what I'm hoping for. Just want to get through this rough patch and find work again.
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Theodore Nelson
•You got this! The job market is actually pretty good right now compared to a couple years ago.
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AaliyahAli
Make sure you're meeting your job search requirements too. Washington ESD requires 3 job contacts per week and you need to keep records in case they audit your claim.
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JaylinCharles
•Yes, I've been tracking everything in a spreadsheet. Applying to way more than 3 jobs a week anyway.
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AaliyahAli
•Perfect! That's the right attitude. The more you apply, the better your chances and it shows good faith to Washington ESD.
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Ellie Simpson
•I use the WorkSourceWA website to track my job searches. Makes it easier if they ever ask for documentation.
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Arjun Kurti
Payment timing also depends on your bank. I have a credit union and I usually get my Washington ESD payment Tuesday evening, but my friend with Bank of America doesn't get hers until Thursday morning.
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JaylinCharles
•I'm with a local credit union too, so maybe I'll be lucky and get it tonight!
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Raúl Mora
•Credit unions are usually faster with ACH deposits. You might see it earlier than you think.
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Margot Quinn
Just want to add - if you ever have issues with payments or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD urgently, that Claimyr service really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of calling. Worth checking out if you get stuck.
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Evelyn Kim
•How does it work exactly? Do you still have to wait on hold?
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Margot Quinn
•Nah, they handle the calling for you. You just tell them what you need help with and they get you connected to the right person at Washington ESD. Super convenient.
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Diego Fisher
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know my payment came through this morning (Wednesday) at 6:47 AM! Thanks everyone for the reassurance and timeline info. Really helped calm my nerves.
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Eloise Kendrick
•Awesome! Glad it worked out exactly as expected. Now you know what to expect going forward.
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Lucas Schmidt
•Perfect timing! Told you it would be Wednesday morning. Glad you can pay your rent now.
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Carmella Fromis
•So happy for you! The first payment is always the scariest. It gets much easier from here.
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