Can't find my 8 digit personal identification number for Washington ESD unemployment - where is it?
I'm trying to file my weekly claim and it's asking for my 8 digit personal identification number but I have no idea what this is or where to find it. I've looked through all my paperwork from when I first applied for unemployment benefits and can't find anything with an 8 digit PIN. Is this something Washington ESD sends separately? I'm getting really frustrated because I can't complete my weekly claim without it and I'm already a day late.
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Lorenzo McCormick
Your 8-digit PIN should have been mailed to you after your initial claim was processed by Washington ESD. Check any correspondence you received - it's usually on a separate document or letter, not on your monetary determination. If you can't find it, you'll need to contact Washington ESD to get it reset.
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Ayla Kumar
•I've been through everything twice and still can't find it. How do I contact them to get it reset?
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Lorenzo McCormick
•You can call the unemployment customer service line but be prepared for long wait times. The number is on the Washington ESD website.
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Carmella Popescu
same thing happened to me last month! I never got the letter with my PIN and had to wait 3 weeks for them to mail me a new one
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Ayla Kumar
•3 weeks?? I can't wait that long to file my weekly claims. Did you keep getting paid while waiting?
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Carmella Popescu
•no you have to file your claims to get paid, so I lost those weeks of benefits
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Kai Santiago
The 8-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) is different from your Social Security Number. Washington ESD mails this PIN separately after your claim is established. It's specifically for telephone filing of weekly claims through the TeleCert system. If you're filing online through your eServices account, you shouldn't need the 8-digit PIN - you would use your regular login credentials.
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Ayla Kumar
•Wait, I can file online without the PIN? I've been trying to use the phone system this whole time.
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Kai Santiago
•Yes! Log into your eServices account on the Washington ESD website. The online weekly claim filing doesn't require the 8-digit PIN.
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Lim Wong
•This is confusing - why do they have two different systems that work differently?
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Dananyl Lear
I had the same problem and found that using Claimyr really helped me get through to someone at Washington ESD quickly. Instead of waiting on hold for hours, their service connected me to an agent in about 15 minutes. You can check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and their website is claimyr.com. The agent was able to provide my PIN over the phone after verifying my identity.
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Ayla Kumar
•Is that service legit? How much does it cost?
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Dananyl Lear
•Yeah it's legitimate - they just help you get through the phone queues faster. Much better than spending entire days trying to reach Washington ESD on your own.
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Noah huntAce420
•I was skeptical at first but tried it when I couldn't reach anyone for 2 weeks straight. Actually worked and saved me so much time and stress.
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Lim Wong
Check your spam folder too! My PIN letter got filtered there and I almost missed it completely. The envelope just says 'Washington State Employment Security Department' so it doesn't look like spam but email filters can be weird.
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Ayla Kumar
•Good thinking but this was a physical letter, not email. Though I should check if they sent any emails too.
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Lim Wong
•Oh right, the PIN comes by mail. But definitely check your eServices messages online too, sometimes they send notifications there.
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Ana Rusula
The Washington ESD system is so confusing with all these different numbers and PINs. Between your SSN, claim number, customer ID, and this 8-digit PIN, it's impossible to keep track of everything!
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Carmella Popescu
•seriously! and they never explain what each one is for
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Kai Santiago
•The 8-digit PIN is specifically for phone filing only. Your customer ID is for online access. They serve different purposes in the system.
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Lorenzo McCormick
If you need to file your weekly claim right away, definitely use the online system through eServices instead of waiting for the PIN. The phone system is mainly for people who don't have internet access. The online system is much more user-friendly anyway.
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Ayla Kumar
•Thank you! I just logged in online and was able to file my weekly claim. Why didn't anyone tell me this was an option when I first applied?
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Lorenzo McCormick
•The Washington ESD staff usually mention both options, but with everything going on during the application process, it's easy to miss details.
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Fidel Carson
Just a heads up that if you do eventually get your 8-digit PIN, don't lose it! There's no way to look it up online - you have to call Washington ESD every time you forget it. I learned this the hard way.
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Ayla Kumar
•Good to know! I'll stick with the online filing then since that seems much easier.
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Fidel Carson
•Smart choice. The phone system is clunky anyway and sometimes doesn't work properly.
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Isaiah Sanders
I never even knew there was a phone system for filing claims. I've always used the website and it works fine. Are there any advantages to using the phone system?
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Kai Santiago
•The phone system is mainly for accessibility - people without reliable internet or who prefer not to use computers. The online system has more features and is generally easier to use.
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Ana Rusula
•The phone system can be useful if the website is having problems, but that doesn't happen very often.
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Xan Dae
Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even if you're having trouble with the PIN. You can usually backfile missed weeks, but it's better to stay current if possible.
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Ayla Kumar
•Already filed online for this week, thanks to everyone's help! Will definitely stick with that method going forward.
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Xan Dae
•Perfect! The online system also lets you see your payment history and claim status more easily.
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Fiona Gallagher
I had to call Washington ESD about my PIN issue and waited 4 hours on hold before giving up. The next day I tried Claimyr and got through in 20 minutes. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefit issues.
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Ayla Kumar
•That's a huge difference in wait times! Good to know there are options when the regular lines are jammed.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Yeah, especially when you're stressed about missing claim deadlines. The peace of mind is worth it.
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Thais Soares
For anyone reading this later - the 8-digit PIN is completely separate from any other numbers in your unemployment file. It's ONLY for the TeleCert phone system (1-866-500-0017). If you're using eServices online, you don't need it at all.
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Nalani Liu
•Thanks for including the phone number! I didn't even know what TeleCert was.
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Thais Soares
•TeleCert is just Washington ESD's name for their automated phone filing system. It's been around since before online filing existed.
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Axel Bourke
This thread saved me so much time! I was about to spend all day trying to find my PIN when I can just file online instead. Thanks everyone!
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Ayla Kumar
•Same here! Sometimes the obvious solution isn't the first one you think of.
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Aidan Percy
Washington ESD really needs to do a better job explaining their different systems during the initial application process. So many people get confused about PINs vs passwords vs customer IDs.
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Kai Santiago
•They do provide written materials, but there's definitely room for improvement in making the information clearer.
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Ana Rusula
•The problem is they give you so much information at once that important details get lost in the shuffle.
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Fernanda Marquez
If you do need to contact Washington ESD about your PIN, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. The lines are usually less busy first thing in the morning.
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Ayla Kumar
•Good tip! Though I'm glad I found out about the online option instead.
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Fernanda Marquez
•The online system is definitely the way to go for most people. Much more convenient.
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Norman Fraser
Just want to add that if you're helping an elderly relative or someone who isn't comfortable with computers, the 8-digit PIN system can be really helpful for them. It's designed to be simple to use over the phone.
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Kai Santiago
•That's a great point. The phone system serves an important accessibility function even though online is more popular now.
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Kendrick Webb
I've been using both systems depending on where I am - online when I'm at home, phone when I'm traveling or don't have good internet. Having both options is actually pretty convenient once you get used to them.
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Ayla Kumar
•That makes sense. I might get my PIN eventually just to have the backup option.
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Kendrick Webb
•Yeah, it doesn't hurt to have both methods available, especially if you travel for work or have internet reliability issues.
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Hattie Carson
For what it's worth, I contacted Washington ESD through Claimyr when I had PIN issues and they were able to help me set up online access properly instead of just resending the PIN. Sometimes talking to an actual person helps you find better solutions.
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Ayla Kumar
•That's smart - getting help with the online system instead of just relying on the phone method.
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Hattie Carson
•Exactly. The agents can walk you through the online setup which is much more useful long-term.
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Destiny Bryant
This has been really helpful! I didn't realize so many people had the same PIN confusion. Glad to know the online system works without it.
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Ayla Kumar
•Yeah, it seems like a pretty common issue. At least now we all know there are multiple ways to file claims!
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