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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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One more important thing - when you file your new claim, you'll need to have your employment information ready for all jobs in the last 18 months. That includes employer names, addresses, phone numbers, employment dates, and why you're no longer working there. Also be prepared to verify your identity again through ID.me if you haven't used your ESD account recently.
Thank you for the reminder! I do have most of that information saved from my previous application, but I'll make sure to update everything. I did the ID.me verification already for my first claim - will I need to do it again?
If you've already successfully completed ID.me verification for your ESD account, you shouldn't need to do it again. However, keep your ID.me login information handy just in case. The system sometimes requests reverification if it's been several months since your last login.
I went through almost the exact same situation! Filed in fall 2024, got denied for insufficient hours, then had to file a new claim in January 2025 once my summer work counted. The "invalid" status is basically the system's way of saying your claim is dead and can't be revived. Don't waste any more time trying to file weekly claims on it - those weeks are just lost unfortunately. File your new initial claim ASAP since your summer 2024 hours should now be in your base period. The process was pretty straightforward once I started fresh, and I was approved within about 10 days. Good luck!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! It's so frustrating that the system doesn't explain any of this clearly. 10 days for approval sounds reasonable - did you have to do anything special during the waiting period, or just file your weekly claims normally once the new claim was active?
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One thing I learned the hard way is to double-check your bank account information before submitting. I had one digit wrong in my routing number and it delayed my payments by almost two weeks while they sorted it out. Washington ESD doesn't make it easy to update banking info once your claim is submitted, so make sure it's perfect from the start.
This is exactly why I always take screenshots of my bank's routing/account info page before entering anything important online. I learned this lesson with other government forms - one tiny typo and you're stuck waiting weeks for them to fix it. Washington ESD's system seems particularly unforgiving when it comes to corrections. Did you have to call them to get the banking info updated, or were you able to fix it through the online portal somehow?
I had to call them to get it updated, which was a nightmare. Spent three days trying to get through, and when I finally did, they said they had to put a hold on my claim while they verified the correct banking information with my bank. The whole process took almost two weeks total. Definitely verify everything multiple times before hitting submit!
Another tip that saved me: when they ask about your highest level of education, make sure you're consistent with what you put on your work history. I accidentally said I had a bachelor's degree in one section but then listed jobs that required a high school diploma in another section. It flagged my claim for review because they thought I was overqualified for the positions I was claiming. Even though it was just a simple oversight, it added weeks to my processing time while they verified everything.
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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! I went through something similar last year and the uncertainty is awful. One thing that helped me was getting a copy of the judge's written decision as soon as possible - it should spell out exactly why they reversed ESD's original decision and what specific law or regulation they based it on. This information will be crucial if you decide to appeal to the Commissioner's Review Office. Also, when you apply for that payment plan, ask if they can put a hold on collection activities while your Commissioner appeal is pending. Some people have success with this, though it's not guaranteed. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence. Hang in there!
This is really helpful advice, especially about getting the written decision ASAP. I'm definitely going to request that collection hold while my Commissioner appeal is pending - I hadn't thought of that option. The whole process feels so overwhelming but knowing others have navigated this successfully gives me hope. Thank you for the encouragement!
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my employer also appealed and I'm waiting for the decision. Reading through your experience and everyone's responses is really helping me prepare for what might happen. A few questions if you don't mind: When you got through to the ESD agent, did they explain why the judge ruled in favor of your employer? And when you file the Commissioner appeal, do you need a lawyer or can you represent yourself? The thought of owing back $5,800 is terrifying, but it sounds like the payment plan option makes it more manageable. Thanks for sharing your update - it really helps to know what to expect!
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I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! My claim has been pending for over two weeks and I couldn't figure out where my account number was hiding. After reading through everyone's suggestions, I found mine in an old email from Washington ESD that had been sitting in my spam folder for months - it was in the footer of a "weekly claim reminder" message that I had completely ignored. It's absolutely mind-blowing that they bury such critical information in random places instead of making it easily accessible on your main account dashboard. For anyone still searching, I'd also suggest checking any PDF attachments from Washington ESD emails - sometimes the account number appears there even if it's not in the main email text. The whole system really needs to be redesigned with actual user experience in mind. Thank you to everyone who shared their tips and experiences - it's reassuring to know we're not alone in dealing with this bureaucratic maze!
I'm so glad you found your account number! Your tip about checking PDF attachments is brilliant - I never would have thought to look there. It's really frustrating that we have to hunt through spam folders and random email footers just to find our own account information. The fact that this thread has helped so many people find their account numbers really shows how widespread this problem is. Washington ESD really needs to step up their game and make this information more accessible. Thanks for sharing the PDF tip - that could help others who are still searching!
That's such a great point about checking PDF attachments! I never would have thought to look there either. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become forensic investigators just to find our own account information. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my claim has been pending for weeks and the phone system is completely useless. After reading through this whole thread, I'm going to systematically check my spam folder, old confirmation emails, and now PDF attachments too. The fact that so many people are having the exact same problem really shows how broken Washington ESD's system is. They should just display the account number prominently on the main dashboard instead of hiding it in random email footers and spam folders. Thanks for sharing that PDF tip - hopefully it helps other people who are still stuck in this same frustrating situation!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My claim has been stuck in pending status for almost a month and I can't find my account number anywhere. After reading through all these responses, I'm going to start systematically checking my spam folder and old emails from when I first applied. It's absolutely ridiculous that Washington ESD makes finding your own account number like solving a puzzle when you're already stressed about being unemployed. The fact that so many people are having this same problem really shows how broken their system is. I'm also seriously considering that Claimyr service that @Dmitry Smirnov mentioned since the regular phone system seems completely useless. Thanks to everyone for sharing their tips - at least we know we're not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare!
I totally understand your frustration! I went through this same issue a couple months ago and it was incredibly stressful. One thing that helped me that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you've ever downloaded the Washington ESD mobile app, sometimes the account number shows up in the app settings or profile section even when the website is giving you trouble. Also, check any confirmation text messages if you provided a phone number during registration - I found mine buried in an automated SMS that I had almost deleted. The spam folder search is definitely your best bet though - I was shocked at how many important ESD emails had been filtered there automatically. That Claimyr service really does seem to be a game-changer based on everyone's experiences here. The whole system is definitely broken when we need third-party services just to reach our own unemployment office, but at least there are workarounds. Hang in there and keep us updated on what ends up working for you!
I'm in the exact same boat and this thread has been a lifesaver! I've been searching for my account number for days with no luck. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you've ever printed out any confirmation pages after submitting your weekly claims, the account number is sometimes at the very bottom in tiny print. I found mine that way after checking literally everywhere else. Also, if you have an iPhone and use the built-in mail app, try searching for "Employment Security" or "ESD" in the global search - it sometimes finds emails that don't show up when searching within specific folders. The whole Washington ESD system is such a mess, but at least we're all helping each other figure it out. Definitely try that Claimyr service if the traditional routes keep failing - based on everyone's experiences here, it seems like a legitimate solution to this broken phone system.
Bruno Simmons
Just wanted to jump in and share my experience as someone who's been silently following this incredible thread! I'm about 4 weeks into my unemployment claim after being laid off from a content marketing role, and like so many others here, I had zero clue SEAP existed until reading through all these detailed experiences. I'm working on starting a freelance copywriting business and clearly missed the SEAP window (no notifications in my eServices account), but honestly this thread has become more valuable than any official ESD resource I've found. The practical advice about balancing job search requirements with business development has been game-changing. One thing I've started doing based on suggestions here is keeping a detailed log of all my networking activities, industry research, and skill development - framing them as both business development AND legitimate job search activities. It's amazing how much overlap there really is when you think about it strategically. I'm definitely going to look into that free SCORE mentoring program that several people mentioned. Even without SEAP benefits, having structured guidance on business planning seems incredibly valuable, especially when you're trying to navigate this while managing ESD requirements. For those asking about motivation - what's helped me is setting small weekly goals for both job applications AND business development. Having concrete progress markers in both areas keeps me moving forward even on the tough days. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories here - this has become such an amazing support network for all of us trying to turn unemployment into an entrepreneurial opportunity!
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Amina Bah
I'm about 1 week into my unemployment claim after being laid off from a software QA role, and finding this thread has been like discovering a goldmine! I had absolutely no idea SEAP existed until reading through everyone's experiences here. I'm interested in starting a freelance software testing consultancy since I have 8+ years of experience in the field. Based on all the timelines shared here, I'm still within the window where I might potentially receive the "likely to exhaust benefits" notification, but honestly reading everyone's stories has shown me there are plenty of ways to move forward either way. What's really struck me is how this thread has become such a supportive community for people in similar situations. The practical advice about framing networking activities as job search efforts, the honest feedback about SEAP's complexity, and the creative approaches to building businesses while meeting ESD requirements have been invaluable. I'm definitely going to look into the free SCORE mentoring program that @GalacticGladiator and others mentioned. Even if SEAP doesn't pan out, having structured guidance on transitioning from employee to consultant seems crucial. One question for those already building tech consulting businesses - have you found clients are receptive to working with recently unemployed consultants, or do you avoid mentioning your employment status? I'm wondering if being "between positions" helps or hurts when trying to establish credibility with potential clients. Thanks to everyone who's made this such an incredible resource - this thread should honestly be required reading for anyone considering entrepreneurship during unemployment!
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