This is such a common issue and it's frustrating how many people have to deal with it! I'm a new member here but I've been following similar cases in other unemployment forums. It's crazy how often employer HR departments mess up SSN reporting - I've seen cases where they transpose digits, miss hyphens, or even accidentally use someone else's SSN entirely. The fact that there's no automated way to fix this through the portal is really problematic. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions, especially about the early morning calling strategy and the Claimyr service. This thread is going to be super helpful for anyone else who runs into this nightmare!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been dealing with unemployment systems for years - this SSN mismatch issue has become SO much more common lately! I think it's partly because a lot of employers switched to new payroll systems during COVID and there were data migration errors. What's really frustrating is that ESD doesn't have any kind of self-service tool to flag these discrepancies before you try to file a new claim. For anyone still struggling with this, I'd also suggest checking if your employer used a third-party payroll company (like ADP, Paychex, etc.) because sometimes the error happens at that level rather than with your direct employer. When you do get through to ESD, asking them to check the "wage detail report" for your SSN can help pinpoint exactly where the mismatch occurred. Great to see this got resolved for the original poster - these success stories give hope to others dealing with the same nightmare!

I'm going through the exact same frustration right now! My claim got flagged about 10 days ago and I can't certify online anymore - just keeps telling me to contact customer service which is impossible. I've tried calling at 8am sharp, during lunch hours, even late afternoon, and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. It's absolutely maddening when you're already stressed about finances and then can't even access the system that's supposed to help. After reading through all these comments, I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service too - it sounds like multiple people have actually gotten through and resolved their issues with it. The fact that we have to pay a third party just to reach our own unemployment office is ridiculous, but at this point I'd rather pay something than waste another week of my life on hold. Has anyone had luck with the state legislator route? That seems like it might be worth trying as well.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - been trying to reach Washington ESD for over a week about my claim that suddenly got flagged for verification. The phone system is completely broken and it's honestly making my unemployment situation so much more stressful than it already is. I've tried calling right at 8am, during lunch, using the redial trick, nothing works consistently. Either busy signals or I sit on hold for 2+ hours just to get disconnected. After reading through all these comments though, I'm really considering trying that Claimyr service everyone's mentioning. The success stories here are pretty convincing and at this point I'd rather pay something than waste another week of my life on hold. It's ridiculous that we have to resort to paying a third party just to access our own unemployment benefits, but when you're facing rent and bills, you do what you have to do. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - at least now I know there might actually be a solution that works!

Just to close the loop on my earlier comment - when I mentioned using Claimyr to get through to ESD, I should add that it's especially useful for post-appeal situations like yours where you need to check on implementation status. The regular phone lines get swamped but their service cuts through that.

Congratulations Oliver! That's fantastic news about winning your appeal. I went through something similar last year and the relief is incredible. One thing I wish someone had told me - keep detailed records of everything during the implementation phase too. Screenshot your online account status, save any emails or letters you receive, and document any phone calls you make. If anything goes wrong during the back pay processing, having that paper trail can save you from starting over. Also, the back pay might come in chunks rather than one lump sum depending on how your claim was structured, so don't panic if you don't see the full amount right away. Wishing you a smooth implementation process!

Another critical thing to remember - make absolutely sure you start filing your weekly claims right away, even if you're still sorting out the severance/non-compete stuff. You can always go back and adjust info if needed, but if you miss filing weeks, it's nearly impossible to claim them retroactively without a major appeal process. I know several people who waited until their severance ran out to start filing, thinking they couldn't collect both, and they permanently lost weeks they could have claimed.

Just wanted to add my experience from when I was laid off from a fintech company in Bellevue last year. I had a very similar situation - 4 months severance with a 9-month non-compete that covered pretty much every major tech company in the area. I applied for unemployment immediately and was approved while receiving severance payments. The key things I learned: 1) ESD really doesn't care about your non-compete - that's between you and your former employer 2) You MUST report the severance on your weekly claims, but it won't reduce your UI benefits 3) Keep detailed records of your job search activities, especially when you have to pass on opportunities due to the non-compete The trickiest part was documenting "suitable work" searches when so many positions were off-limits due to the non-compete. I ended up applying for roles at startups, consulting positions, and even some adjacent industries like healthcare tech and education tech that weren't direct competitors. One thing that really helped was attending virtual networking events and job fairs through WorkSource - those count toward your job search requirements and helped me find opportunities outside my usual network that wouldn't violate the agreement. Definitely don't wait to apply - I know people who lost weeks of benefits thinking they had to choose between severance and unemployment. You can have both!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This community is so much more useful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.

I just wanted to add that I successfully moved from Washington to Arizona while collecting unemployment benefits last year. The process was actually smoother than I expected once I understood the requirements. The key things that worked for me were: 1) Updated my address in eServices immediately after moving, 2) Continued filing weekly claims on schedule, 3) Focused my job search on remote positions and jobs in my new area that I could realistically accept, and 4) Kept detailed records of all my job search activities. I never had any issues with Washington ESD questioning my eligibility. The benefits really helped me get established in my new location. Just make sure you stay available for work and keep meeting all the regular requirements - the state you live in doesn't matter as much as staying compliant with the program rules.