When do you get unemployment checks from Washington ESD - payment schedule?

Usually takes about 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim for the payment to show up in your account. Make sure you're checking both your bank account and the payment history section on your Washington ESD account to see if it's been processed.

In my experience, the first payment always takes longer than the regular ones. I think it took almost a week for my first check to come through after approval, but after that it was pretty consistent - usually got paid by Tuesday or Wednesday if I filed my weekly claim on Sunday.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for three weeks about my payment delays and can never get through! The phone system is absolutely terrible. Anyone else having trouble reaching them?

Make sure you're filing by the deadline each week! If you miss the Sunday deadline, it can delay your payment or you might lose that week entirely. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the weekly claim filing schedule.

The payment schedule depends on when you file and if there are any issues with your claim. Regular weekly payments are typically processed Monday-Tuesday and arrive by Wednesday for most banks. However, if Washington ESD needs to verify your job search activities or if there's any flag on your account, it can delay the payment.

ugh the whole system is so slow. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment last year even though my claim was approved. washington esd is just understaffed and behind on everything

Are you signed up for direct deposit? That's usually the fastest way to get your unemployment payments. If you're waiting for a physical check in the mail, that adds several more days to the process.

I remember when I first got on unemployment, I was checking my bank account like every hour waiting for that first payment lol. The waiting is the worst part, but once it starts coming regularly it's much less stressful.

If your payment doesn't show up by Thursday, I'd definitely try to contact Washington ESD. When I had payment issues, using Claimyr made it so much easier to actually speak with someone instead of getting stuck in their phone system maze.

check your spam folder too!! sometimes the payment notifications from washington esd end up there and you might miss them

One thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD processes payments in batches. If you filed your weekly claim early Sunday morning, you might be in the first batch and get paid Tuesday. If you filed later in the day, you might be in the Wednesday batch. It's not a huge difference but can explain some variation in timing.

The waiting is horrible but hang in there. Once Washington ESD gets into their rhythm with your claim, the payments become very predictable. I've been getting mine every Tuesday like clockwork for the past two months.

Make sure your address is correct in the system too. I had a friend whose payments got delayed because there was a typo in his address that messed up the direct deposit setup somehow.

Update on my calling situation - I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to Washington ESD in about 20 minutes instead of the usual hours of busy signals. They confirmed my payment should process tomorrow. Definitely worth it if you need to talk to someone quickly.

just wanted to add that if you're getting any kind of partial unemployment or if you worked any hours during the week you're claiming, that can sometimes slow down the payment processing while they calculate the exact amount you should receive

The anxiety of waiting for that first unemployment check is so real. I remember living off ramen and checking my account balance obsessively. It does get better once the payments start flowing regularly!

If it helps ease your mind, Washington ESD has gotten much better about payment timing over the past year. The system used to be way more unpredictable, but most people I know are getting their payments within 2-3 days of filing their weekly claims now.

Pro tip: set up account alerts with your bank so you get notified immediately when any deposit hits your account. That way you don't have to obsessively check the app and you'll know right away when your unemployment payment comes through.

Hope your payment comes through soon! The waiting game is the worst part of the whole unemployment process. Once you get into the routine of filing weekly and receiving regular payments, it becomes much less stressful.

Keep us posted on when your payment comes through! Always interested to hear how long the processing actually takes for people since it can vary so much depending on individual circumstances.