Where can I cash my Washington ESD unemployment check without a bank account?

Thanks! I'll try Safeway first since it's closest to me. Do you know if they need any special ID or just my driver's license?

Just your driver's license should be fine. Make sure it's not expired though - they're pretty strict about that.

I don't have a bank account right now, that's the whole problem. Had to close my old one due to fees piling up.

oh sorry didnt read that part. maybe look into opening a free checking account somewhere first?

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks but can never get through. The lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it recently when I was having the same problem getting through to Washington ESD. It's this service that helps you actually reach a real person at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Never heard of that before. Is it legit? How much does it cost?

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They focus on the value of actually getting through rather than you sitting on hold all day. Much better than wasting your time redialing constantly.

That's ridiculous that banks charge so much when they're the ones who should be helping people access their money.

Tell me about it. The whole system is designed to squeeze money out of people who are already struggling financially.

Good idea, I'll call around first to compare fees. Thanks for the tip!

How should I sign it? Just my regular signature?

Yeah just sign it exactly like your name appears on your ID. Don't add any extra words or anything.

3% can add up though. On a $400 check that's $12 in fees.

True, but sometimes you need the convenience factor. Better than not being able to access your money at all.

That's probably smart long-term. Do you know which banks have the lowest fees for basic accounts?

Credit unions usually have the best deals. BECU is popular here in Washington and has pretty reasonable fees.

Also look into online banks like Chime or Capital One 360. They often have no monthly fees at all.

Good to know, I'll stay away from those. Thanks for the warning.

I don't think Costco cashes unemployment checks, just payroll checks from employers.

You might be right, I'm not 100% sure about unemployment checks specifically.

That Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier might actually help with getting through to Washington ESD. I've been meaning to try it myself since I can never reach them either.

Yeah, at this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.

That's really helpful insider info, thanks! What's a typical daily limit?

Usually around $500-1000 depending on the store policy. Unemployment checks are usually under that amount anyway.

That's an interesting option I never would have thought of.

Yikes, I'll be extra careful with it. How long did it take to get your replacement?

Almost 3 weeks, and that was after multiple phone calls trying to get through to them. The whole process was a nightmare.

This is exactly why that Claimyr service could be worth it. Having a way to actually reach Washington ESD when you need them is valuable when stuff like this happens.

Good to know, I would definitely have panicked if they took my ID without warning me first.

I think unemployment checks are usually drawn on major banks like Wells Fargo or Bank of America, so this could actually work.

That's smart thinking. I'll try to go mid-morning when it's less crowded.

Definitely will have a few options lined up. Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions!