When do you receive unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

So I have to wait two full weeks before getting anything? That seems like a long time when you have bills to pay.

Yeah the waiting week is brutal but it's required by law. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on time or you'll delay things even more.

I'm on regular UI, not standby. Does the payment go to direct deposit or do they mail a check?

If you set up direct deposit it should hit your account within 2-3 business days. Debit card payments are usually faster than checks.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that calls Washington ESD for you until they get through to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost and do you have to give them your personal info?

It's pretty affordable and they don't need your personal details. They just keep calling until someone picks up, then connect you. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Good to know about holidays affecting it. I didn't think about that.

This happened to me! My claim got stuck in adjudication for identity verification and I didn't know for two weeks because I wasn't checking my account daily.

How do you resolve identity verification issues? Do you have to mail documents or can you upload them online?

You can upload most documents through the secure portal. But some verifications require calling them, which is why that Claimyr service might be helpful.

What happens if you file late? Can you still get paid for that week?

You can file late claims but they might require additional verification. Better to just file on time every week.

That's reassuring to hear. Did you have any issues in the beginning or was it smooth from the start?

First payment took about 10 days because of the waiting week, but after that it's been consistent. Just make sure your direct deposit info is correct.

That sounds like an adjudication issue. Have you tried calling to speak with someone about what specifically is wrong with your job search documentation?

TRIED CALLING A MILLION TIMES!!! Nobody ever answers or they hang up on me after an hour on hold!

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - they got me through to someone who could actually explain what was wrong with my job search log. Turned out I was missing one specific detail they needed.

I might be working part-time soon. How do they calculate partial benefits?

It's complex but basically they subtract a portion of your weekly earnings from your weekly benefit amount. There's a formula on the Washington ESD website.

Good to know it becomes predictable. I was worried it would be random every week.

How do you avoid work search audits? Is there something specific that triggers them?

They seem random but keeping detailed records helps. Make sure you're actually applying to jobs and keeping good documentation.

I'm not on standby but that's good to know. Sounds like union members have extra complications.

Yeah standby has its own rules. Regular UI is more straightforward for timing.

So if I file on Sunday, that payment covers the previous week, not the upcoming week?

Exactly. You're always reporting what happened the week before, then getting paid for that reported week a few days later.

I didn't know they had text alerts! Where do you set that up?

In your online account under notification preferences. You can get alerts for payments, important messages, etc.

That makes me feel a bit better about the one week wait. Still tough when you need the money though.

How do I find out what my limits are? Is that in my online account somewhere?

Yes, your monetary determination letter shows your weekly benefit amount and maximum benefits available. Should be in your documents section online.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I guess I just need to get through these first couple weeks.

Exactly. The uncertainty is the worst part but once you're in the system it's pretty predictable.

Good point. I double-checked my routing and account numbers when I set it up but I should verify again.

So even if something seems wrong, keep filing every week regardless?

Yes, keep filing and then figure out the problem separately. Stopping your weekly claims just creates more problems.

This is where Claimyr really helped me - I kept filing but used their service to get through to someone who could explain why my payments were delayed.