Welcome to the community @Ella Lewis! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you. Day 12 is still early in the process, so try not to stress too much yet. One thing I learned during my own adjudication wait is to screenshot your weekly claim confirmations and keep a backup record of your job search activities - just in case there are any system glitches or if you need to reference them later. The ESD system can be unpredictable sometimes. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your direct deposit info is set up correctly so when your claim does get approved, the payments can go through smoothly. Wishing you a quick resolution!

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first unemployment claim experience. Reading through this entire conversation has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I've been in adjudication for 8 days now and was starting to panic, but seeing @Gianni Serpent's successful resolution after 24 days and hearing from others like @ApolloJackson and @Ella Lewis who are going through the same thing makes me feel so much better. The advice about keeping up with weekly claims, documenting job searches, and taking screenshots is invaluable. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where people can share real experiences and practical tips during what is honestly one of the most stressful times. It's amazing how much anxiety gets reduced just by understanding that this waiting period is normal and that claims do eventually get processed!

I'm in a similar situation at 64 - got laid off from manufacturing after 20 years and trying to figure out the best approach. From what I've read here, it sounds like collecting both is definitely allowed in Washington, but I'm still nervous about making sure I do everything correctly. The reporting requirements seem straightforward enough, but I'm wondering if there are any other gotchas I should watch out for? Also, has anyone had experience with how this affects your job search strategy? I'm worried that potential employers might see me as less motivated if they know I'm collecting Social Security, even though I genuinely want to keep working for several more years.

I want to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand how your Social Security benefit might be affected if you're still under full retirement age (which is 67 for people born in 1960 or later). There's an annual earnings limit that applies to Social Security recipients under full retirement age. For 2025, if you earn more than $23,400 per year from work (not unemployment benefits), Social Security will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn over that limit. This doesn't apply to unemployment benefits since those aren't considered "earnings" for Social Security purposes, but if you do find part-time or full-time work while collecting both benefits, you'll need to factor this in. Once you reach full retirement age, this earnings test goes away completely. Just another piece of the puzzle to consider when planning your financial strategy during unemployment.

This is such a stressful situation and you're definitely not alone - I'm new here but facing almost the exact same timeline with my benefits ending soon. What I've learned from reading through all these responses is that Washington state really doesn't make this process clear at all. The biggest takeaway for me is that there's no automatic safety net anymore since the pandemic programs ended. I'm planning to call Washington ESD directly (or maybe try that Claimyr service others mentioned) to get clarity on my specific situation, but it sounds like the key is starting backup plans NOW rather than waiting. I'm going to apply for SNAP this week and call 211 to find out what other local resources are available. It's scary but at least knowing what to expect helps me prepare instead of just hoping something will work out.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately facing the same situation - my benefits are ending in about 6 weeks and this thread has been both terrifying and incredibly helpful. I had no idea that the pandemic-era extensions were gone and that there's no automatic safety net anymore. Like many others here, I was just assuming something would kick in when my regular benefits ran out. Reading everyone's experiences has made me realize I need to start preparing NOW instead of waiting until the last minute. I'm going to call 211 tomorrow to get a list of local resources and start the SNAP application process this week. The suggestion about checking your benefit year end date versus remaining balance in SecureAccess is something I never would have thought of - definitely doing that tonight. It's scary how many people seem caught off guard by this system, but I'm grateful everyone is sharing their knowledge here. At least now I can start building backup plans instead of being blindsided when the time comes.

I'm currently on day 9 waiting for my ReliaCard and this thread has been such a lifesaver! When I first saw that ESD timeline of 7-10 business days and realized I was getting close to that window with no card, I started panicking that maybe my address was wrong or something got lost. But reading everyone's real experiences here - especially seeing that @Luca got theirs on day 18 and that 2-3 weeks seems to be the actual norm - has really calmed my nerves. It's pretty frustrating that ESD gives such an unrealistic estimate when clearly everyone waits much longer! I've got about $740 sitting in my account that I can see but can't access yet. It's definitely nerve-wracking when you need that money for expenses, but at least now I know this is completely normal and the funds are safe. I'm going to follow everyone's advice and wait until around the 3-week mark before calling US Bank at that number everyone mentioned (1-888-964-0359). The automatic transfer setup sounds incredible - I had no idea you could basically skip dealing with the ReliaCard for future payments! That's definitely going on my to-do list as soon as this card finally arrives. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real timelines and tips. This community is amazing for helping newcomers understand what to actually expect! 😊

I'm on day 12 waiting for my ReliaCard and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Like so many others here, I was getting anxious seeing that 7-10 business day estimate from ESD knowing I was already past that window. But reading everyone's real experiences - especially @Luca's 18-day timeline - has really put things in perspective. I can see about $920 in payments sitting in my account that I can't access yet, which is definitely frustrating when you've got bills to pay. But knowing this is completely normal based on everyone's shared experiences makes it so much more manageable. I'm going to follow the advice here and wait until I hit that 3-week mark before calling US Bank at 1-888-964-0359. The tip about setting up automatic transfers with no fees once the card arrives is golden! I had no idea that was even possible - definitely going to be my first priority once this card finally shows up. Would love to never have to deal with this ReliaCard waiting game again for future payments. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real timelines and creating such a supportive community for people navigating this process. It makes all the difference knowing you're not alone in the wait! 😊

I'm also dealing with this exact situation right now! Just got laid off from my restaurant job last month and finally got my Washington ESD claim approved for $445/week. I've been putting off applying for Apple Health because I was worried the unemployment benefits would disqualify me, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring. It sounds like a lot of people with similar benefit amounts have successfully qualified. I especially appreciate the tip about the premium assistance program - that's something I definitely need to look into since my income might be borderline. Going to gather all my documentation from Washington ESD and start my Apple Health application online this week. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it makes such a difference to hear from people who have actually been through this process!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Just got approved for Washington ESD benefits at $510/week after being laid off from my tech job in December. I've been hesitant to apply for Apple Health because I wasn't sure how unemployment would be treated, but this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening. It's so reassuring to hear from people who actually went through the process successfully with similar benefit amounts. The information about the premium assistance program is completely new to me - that could be a real lifesaver if I'm just over the regular income limits. I'm also going to look into that Claimyr service since I've had some issues getting through to Washington ESD about a few questions on my claim. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just speculation - it makes navigating this whole situation so much less stressful when you know what others have actually gone through!