Quinn, congratulations on getting through adjudication! That must be such a huge relief. Based on my experience with KeyBank and ESD payments, you should definitely see your money by Wednesday morning at the latest. Since your payment showed as "paid" on Monday, the typical timeline is 24-48 hours for KeyBank to process it. One thing I'd suggest - if you don't see it by Wednesday afternoon, call KeyBank's customer service line (the number is on the back of your ReliaCard) just to make sure there are no holds on your account. Sometimes they flag larger amounts for review, but they can usually clear it quickly if you explain it's unemployment backpay from Washington ESD. Also, make sure to keep filing your weekly claims consistently now that you're approved - the system can be finicky and you don't want any gaps that could cause delays. Good luck with your job search!

Hey Quinn! Congrats on finally getting approved - 9 weeks in adjudication sounds absolutely brutal! I've been getting my unemployment through KeyBank for about 4 months now. In my experience, if it shows "paid" on Monday, you should definitely see it by Wednesday morning. My regular weekly payments usually hit Tuesday around 6-7am, but I've noticed backpay amounts sometimes take an extra day. One thing that might help ease your stress - you can check your ReliaCard balance online or through their mobile app without having to wait for the deposit notification. Sometimes the money shows up there before you get the text alert. Also, if you're worried about rent on Thursday, most landlords are understanding if you explain you're waiting on unemployment backpay that's already been processed - maybe reach out to them preemptively? Hope it hits your account soon! And good luck with the job search after those surprise layoffs - that's always tough to deal with.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely can collect Washington unemployment benefits while living in another state! I went through this exact situation when I moved from Olympia to Nevada while on benefits. The process was actually much smoother than I expected. Washington ESD really doesn't care where you live, only where you worked and paid into the system. Just make sure to update your mailing address in SecureAccess Washington so you don't miss any important notices. One thing I'd add is that it's actually kind of nice to have Washington benefits while living in a lower cost-of-living state - your benefits go further! The only slightly annoying part is explaining to people why you're getting benefits from a different state, but most folks understand once you explain the work history connection. Good luck with your move to Oregon - having family support during a job search is invaluable!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - I've been working in Seattle for the past year and a half, but I'm thinking about moving back to my home state of Michigan to be closer to family and take advantage of the lower cost of living while I look for my next opportunity. I was really stressed about potentially losing my Washington unemployment benefits if I needed to file a claim, but reading everyone's experiences here has put my mind at ease. It makes total sense that benefits follow where you worked, not where you live - I just never really thought about it that way before. The tip about updating your address in SecureAccess Washington is definitely something I'll remember. Has anyone had experience with how long mail forwarding typically works if you forget to update your address right away? I'm always paranoid about missing important government correspondence!

Great that you figured out you have enough hours! Just wanted to add one more thing since you mentioned your hours are already getting cut back - make sure to document when your hours were reduced and by how much. If ESD questions whether you're "unemployed" or "underemployed," having records of the hour cuts will help show that the reduction wasn't voluntary on your part. This can be important for seasonal workers whose hours taper off gradually rather than ending all at once.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process multiple times with seasonal work. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're cutting it close on the 680 hour requirement, double-check that your employers reported ALL your hours correctly to ESD. I once had an employer who only reported my regular hours but not overtime, which almost cost me my benefits. You can request a wage and hour statement from ESD to see exactly what they have on file for you. It's better to catch any discrepancies now rather than after you apply and get denied. Also, since you're planning ahead (which is smart!), consider that you might be able to apply for partial unemployment benefits now if your hours have dropped significantly below full-time. Worth looking into if money is getting tight before your move to Spokane.

This is such an encouraging update! I'm so glad you finally got through to someone at ESD and that they're acknowledging the timeline discrepancy in your case file. That's going to be crucial evidence for your hearing. Since you have until June 2nd, you might want to also gather any emails or messages you exchanged with your manager during your employment period - anything that shows the work environment or expectations that were in place at the time. Sometimes these can help establish what the actual workplace standards were versus what your employer is claiming now. One more tip: practice explaining your timeline out loud before the hearing. You want to be able to clearly and calmly walk through the sequence of events without getting flustered. The fact that the ESD agent already noted the policy date discrepancy gives you a really strong foundation for your appeal. Rooting for you! Your case sounds like exactly the kind of employer retaliation that the appeals process is designed to catch.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago and won my appeal! My former employer tried to claim I violated a "dress code policy" that was literally created 3 days after they fired me. The key thing that helped me win was having screenshots from the company intranet showing the policy creation dates. A few things that really made a difference in my case: 1. I printed out the policy document properties showing the "date created" metadata 2. I had my termination letter that gave a completely different reason for firing (they said "restructuring" originally) 3. I brought evidence of my last performance review which was positive The appeals judge was actually pretty sharp about catching these inconsistencies. When my former employer's representative couldn't explain why the policy they cited didn't exist when I was employed there, the judge ruled in my favor pretty quickly. Your situation sounds even stronger since you have the ESD agent's notes acknowledging the timeline issue. That's huge! Just stay factual and calm during the hearing. Don't let them rattle you with questions - stick to your timeline and evidence. You've got this!

Based on everything shared here, it seems like your best options are: 1. After your contract ends, accept the bench pay temporarily while applying for partial unemployment benefits AND searching for jobs independently 2. Document everything - the contract end date, communications about assignments, your job search efforts 3. If you do decide to quit later, focus on the substantial pay reduction as your "good cause" reason 4. Keep the relationship professional with the agency - don't mention unemployment to them if possible This approach gives you some income while job searching and potentially preserves the relationship if you need to go back later.

One thing to keep in mind is timing - make sure you file your partial unemployment claim as soon as you transition to the bench pay, not weeks later. ESD has strict rules about when you can backdate claims, and you don't want to miss out on benefits you're entitled to. Also, when you're reporting your weekly earnings from the bench pay, be precise about the amounts and dates. Any discrepancies can trigger reviews that delay your payments. Good luck with your job search - the direct-hire market is pretty good right now for experienced contractors!