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UPDATE: Found it! It was on my bank statement like someone suggested. The automatic payment to Washington ESD had my account number in the transaction details. Thanks everyone for the help!
Glad you found it without having to call Washington ESD!
Great news! Save that info somewhere safe for next time.
That's such a relief that you found it! I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now - trying to track down my business unemployment account number for a contractor application. I've been putting off dealing with it because I was dreading having to call Washington ESD. Definitely going to check my bank statements first based on your success story. Thanks for sharing the update!
@Miranda Singer I actually tried the forgot "account number feature" on the Washington ESD website about a month ago when I was in the same situation! It s'buried pretty deep in the employer portal section, but it does exist. You have to provide your business name, EIN, and a few other details, and they ll'email you the account number within 24-48 hours. It s'not super obvious where to find it on their site - I think it was under the Employer "Services section" and then Account "Management or" something like that. Way easier than calling them if it works for your situation! The website is definitely clunky but that particular feature actually worked for me when I couldn t'track down my paperwork.
@Jay Lincoln I m'going through something similar with my small catering business right now! One thing that saved me was checking my business insurance renewal documents - when I renewed my general liability policy last year, they had my Washington ESD account number listed in their files since they need it for coverage verification. Also, if you ve'ever applied for any business loans or lines of credit, those applications usually require your unemployment insurance account number and the bank keeps that info on file. I found mine in an old SBA loan application from when I was expanding my business. Another tip - check any vendor applications you might have filled out, especially with larger companies that require proof of insurance and proper employee coverage. Really hope this helps you avoid the Washington ESD phone maze!
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Update: I talked to my employer and they're submitting the form today. I'm going to do my weekly claim tomorrow and select standby as my reason. I'll also document some job searches just in case something goes wrong with the standby approval. Thanks everyone for your help! This whole system is so complicated and the website really doesn't explain any of this clearly.
Good plan! Hope it all works out smoothly for you.
Smart move doing the job searches as backup! I learned that lesson the hard way when my first standby request got delayed. Keep us posted on how it goes - your situation will probably help other people who run into the same confusion.
Just went through this exact same situation last week! One tip that really helped me - when your employer submits form ESD 5612, ask them to email you a copy or confirmation that they submitted it. That way you have documentation if there are any delays or issues with ESD processing it. Also, the determination letter for standby approval can take anywhere from 3-7 business days to arrive, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately. During that waiting period, definitely keep doing your job searches like others mentioned - better safe than sorry! The whole process is way more complicated than it needs to be, but once you get through it the first time it makes more sense for future situations.
That's really helpful advice about getting confirmation from the employer! I definitely will ask for that when my manager submits the form. It's crazy how many little details like this aren't explained anywhere official. Thanks for sharing your experience - it makes me feel better knowing others have gotten through this process successfully even with all the confusion.
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I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences here. I was really anxious about transitioning from workers comp to unemployment, but reading all these responses has given me so much clarity. It sounds like Washington ESD is pretty reasonable about these situations as long as you're honest and have your paperwork ready. I'm planning to file my claim this week - my L&I case closed two weeks ago and I've been cleared for light duty work, but my old employer can't accommodate my lifting restrictions. Feeling much more confident about the process now thanks to all of you!
This thread has been incredibly helpful for me too! I'm in a similar boat - just finished up a 4-month workers comp claim for a shoulder injury and my employer says they can't offer me anything within my 20-pound lifting restriction. I was so worried about whether I'd qualify for unemployment benefits, but seeing everyone's experiences here has really put my mind at ease. The fact that Washington ESD adjusts job search requirements to match your restrictions makes so much sense - I was stressed about having to apply for jobs I physically can't perform. Planning to file my claim next week once I get my final paperwork from L&I. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially about the timeline and documentation needed. This community is amazing!
You're in great company here! A shoulder injury with a 20-pound lifting restriction is definitely something Washington ESD sees regularly - they understand that many jobs just aren't feasible with those limitations. It sounds like you're being smart about waiting for all your L&I paperwork before filing, but don't stress if you're missing a document or two. From what others have shared, you can always provide additional documentation during the review process. The key thing is getting your claim started once your workers comp case officially closes. Your employer's inability to accommodate a 20-pound restriction is clearly not voluntary unemployment on your part - that's just the reality of workplace limitations. Make sure to document that conversation with your employer about the lack of suitable positions if you haven't already. Good luck with your application next week!
I went through this exact transition about 8 months ago after a knee injury, and I wanted to share some specific tips that might help. First, when you file your claim, make sure to mention in the initial application that you're transitioning from workers comp - there's actually a specific question about this that helps route your claim to adjudicators who are familiar with these cases. Second, if your employer provided you with any written documentation about why they can't accommodate your restrictions (even just an email), save that and upload it with your application. Washington ESD really values having that employer communication documented. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, and my benefits were retroactive to when I filed, not when I was approved. One thing that surprised me was that the ESD adjudicator actually called my former employer directly to verify that no suitable positions were available - so your employer should be prepared for that call. Overall the process was much smoother than I expected, especially compared to dealing with L&I initially. Good luck with your application!
This is incredibly helpful information! I hadn't thought about the fact that they actually call the employer to verify - that's good to know so I can give my former employer a heads up that Washington ESD might be reaching out. The tip about mentioning the workers comp transition right in the initial application is gold - I definitely want to make sure my claim gets routed to someone who understands these situations. I'm also glad you mentioned that benefits are retroactive to when you file rather than when approved - that makes the timing even more important. Three weeks seems very reasonable for the whole process. Did you have any issues with the job search requirements during those first few weeks while your claim was being reviewed, or do they typically wait until after approval to start expecting job search documentation?
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Just wanted to add that I used my voter registration card along with my lease agreement when I went through this process a couple months ago. The voter registration worked great as an additional form of ID verification since it had my current address on it. Also, pro tip for the selfie - I found it easier to hold just 2-3 documents at a time and take multiple photos rather than trying to cram everything into one shot. They were totally fine with me submitting 3 separate selfies as long as each one clearly showed me holding the documents. Made the whole process way less stressful!
That's super helpful about the voter registration card! I never would have thought of that. And the multiple selfie tip is genius - I was stressing about how to fit everything in one photo. Did you submit all three selfies at the same time or did you have to do them separately through the system? @57258824db9c
@57258824db9c That's really smart about taking multiple selfies! I was totally overthinking the logistics of this. Quick question - when you submitted the multiple photos, did you upload them all at once through their portal or did you have to do separate submissions? I'm about to do this process myself and want to make sure I don't mess it up by doing it wrong.
I just went through this same verification process two weeks ago! I was in the exact same situation - no utility bills in my name. I ended up using my car insurance statement and it worked perfectly. The key is making sure whatever document you use has your full name and current address clearly visible. I also took multiple selfies like others mentioned - one with my driver's license and social security card, and another with my birth certificate and insurance statement. Got approved in about 5 days! Don't stress too much about the "exact" documents they list - they're more flexible than it seems as long as you can prove your identity and address.
Zara Shah
This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who just started the unemployment process myself, I was equally confused about the waiting week concept. From reading all these explanations, I now understand it's essentially a one-week "penalty" period where you do everything required (file weekly claims, job searches, etc.) but don't receive payment for that first week. It's definitely frustrating when you're already dealing with financial stress from job loss, but at least knowing what to expect helps with planning. The comparison to an insurance deductible really made it click for me. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain this in plain language - the official ESD website definitely doesn't make any of this clear!
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Lourdes Fox
•I'm so glad I found this thread too! I literally just filed my first unemployment claim yesterday and was completely panicking when I saw "waiting week" mentioned everywhere but couldn't find a clear explanation anywhere. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - now I understand it's just that first week where you go through all the motions but don't get paid. The insurance deductible comparison really helps too. It's honestly ridiculous that Washington ESD doesn't just put a simple, clear explanation of this on their main page instead of making everyone stress out and hunt for answers. At least now I can stop worrying that I filled something out wrong and just focus on getting my job search documentation ready!
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Chloe Anderson
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just filed my initial claim this week and was totally stumped by all the "waiting week" references. After reading through everyone's explanations here, I finally get it - you file that first weekly claim like normal but don't get paid for it, kind of like a one-week deductible before your benefits actually start. It's pretty frustrating when you're already stressed about money, but at least now I can plan my budget around that delay. This thread has been way more helpful than anything I could find on the Washington ESD website - they really need to explain this stuff more clearly upfront instead of leaving everyone to figure it out on their own!
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Layla Sanders
•I'm in the exact same boat! Just filed my claim last week and was so confused by the waiting week terminology. This whole thread has been a game-changer for understanding what seemed like such a mysterious process. It's crazy how Washington ESD makes something relatively straightforward sound so complicated with their confusing language. The deductible analogy really helped me wrap my head around it too. Now I know to just treat that first weekly claim seriously even though I won't get paid for it, and make sure I'm documenting all my job search activities from day one. Thanks for posting - it's reassuring to know so many of us are going through the same confusion!
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