When do you get your first unemployment check from Washington ESD?

So I definitely need to keep filing my weekly claims even while it shows pending status?

Yes absolutely! Keep filing every week or you'll lose those weeks of benefits. The system tracks all your weekly filings even during the approval process.

How do you know if your claim is in adjudication? My status just says 'your claim is being processed' which doesn't tell me much.

If it goes to adjudication, your account will usually show specific issues that need to be resolved. Since yours just says processing, that's probably a good sign that it's moving through normally.

Never heard of that before. Did they charge you anything for getting through to Washington ESD?

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it to get answers instead of calling 50+ times and never getting through. Way less stressful than the usual Washington ESD phone nightmare.

I'm curious about this too. The regular Washington ESD phone system is absolutely impossible to navigate.

That would be perfect timing if it works out that way. I've been filing weekly so hopefully I'm on track.

Just remember the first week is unpaid due to the waiting week rule, so your first actual payment will be for your second week of filing.

Every state is different with their processing times. At least Washington ESD has a pretty decent online system for checking your claim status once you get logged in.

decent is being generous lol that website crashes constantly

You should always be doing your job search activities regardless of your claim status. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they do audit those.

Yeah I'm keeping up with WorkSource WA requirements, just wondering about taking on temp work and how that affects the claim.

Any work has to be reported on your weekly claim, even if it's just a few hours. Better to report everything honestly than risk an overpayment issue later.

I did set up direct deposit when I filed. Good to know Tuesday is the usual payment day.

Direct deposit is definitely the way to go. Paper checks can take an extra 5-7 days and sometimes get lost in the mail.

Identity verification issues seem to be really common lately. Did they tell you what specific documents they needed?

They needed a copy of my driver's license and social security card uploaded to the secure document center. Once I did that, claim was approved within 48 hours.

I think the waiting week is supposed to reduce fraudulent claims or something like that. Still annoying when you legitimately need the money right away.

At least you don't lose that week completely - you get it paid out when your claim ends if you're eligible for the full benefit period.

I didn't know about text alerts! Where do you find that setting in the account?

It's under account preferences or notification settings. Definitely worth setting up so you're not obsessively checking your claim status every day.

What documents should someone have ready when filing to avoid delays?

Have your last pay stub, reason for separation paperwork if you have it, and make sure your personal info matches exactly what's on file with your employer. Small discrepancies can trigger reviews.

That's why I ended up using Claimyr when my claim seemed stuck. Sometimes you need to actually talk to a human to understand what's happening behind the scenes.

The online account is helpful but it doesn't always explain WHY something is delayed or what specific action you need to take.

I've been doing job searches through WorkSource WA but wasn't sure if I needed to start immediately or wait for approval.

Start immediately! The job search requirement begins with your first week of filing, not when your claim gets approved. Keep detailed records of everything.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much more confident about the process now.

Good luck! The waiting is definitely the hardest part but it usually works out fine if you stay on top of your weekly filings.