ESD blocked my claim - 'Identity Verification Issue' after submitting all requested documents

Same exact thing happened to me back in February. The 'Identity Verification Issue' stayed on my account for 6 weeks!!! I called and called and could never get through to anyone. What finally worked was going to my local WorkSource office in person - they have direct lines to ESD. The problem was that they needed a clearer copy of my ID (even though nobody told me this). Try visiting your WorkSource if you can.

the system is designed to block claims tbh... they make it impossible to reach anyon on purpose so people give up. ive been thru this 3 times now lol. they always say 'we need more verification' but never tell u what is actually missing. classic esd tactics

When you submitted your documents, did you get a confirmation email or just the 'documents received' message on the portal? Also, did you make sure the images were clear and all four corners of the documents were visible? I work with people navigating ESD issues regularly, and these small details often cause delays with identity verification. One more thing - check if your name on your ID exactly matches your name in the ESD system (including middle initial, etc). Even minor discrepancies can trigger these holds.

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to ESD? I was stuck in the same identity verification loop for about a month and couldn't get through on the phones either. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to ESD agents. It actually worked for me - they have this system that basically keeps calling until they get through, then connects you. You can see how it works in their video demo here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Once I got through to an actual person, they were able to see what the specific issue was with my identity verification and cleared it up in one call.

my ID verification was blocked for 5 weeks then suddenly approved without me doing anything different!! sometimes their system just takes forever to process things even when u do everything right

Which documents specifically did you submit? There's actually a list of acceptable documents, and you need to provide specific combinations. For identity verification, you typically need one primary document (like a valid driver's license, state ID, or passport) AND one secondary document (social security card, birth certificate, etc.). Just submitting multiple copies or views of the same document type doesn't satisfy the requirement. I'd recommend checking the exact requirements on the ESD website under the identity verification section. Adjudicators have to follow strict guidelines, so making sure you meet the exact requirements is important.

I want to add something important: If your claim has been blocked for 3+ weeks, you should also consider filing an appeal. You have the right to appeal any ESD decision (including non-decisions like processing delays) within 30 days. Filing an appeal creates a parallel track to resolve your issue and puts a deadline on ESD to respond. You can file online through your eServices account under the "Submissions" tab. This doesn't replace trying to reach someone, but it creates an official record of your attempt to resolve the issue and preserves your rights if the delay continues.

UGH I feel your pain so much! My identity verification was blocked for TWO MONTHS last year for no reason at all!!! I ended up having to get my state representative involved to fix it. If nothing else works, try contacting your district's state rep - they have special ESD liaisons who can sometimes work magic when regular channels fail. Just google "WA state representative finder" and put in your address to find yours.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My identity verification has been "under review" for 4 weeks despite submitting everything they asked for. What's really frustrating is that I can see in my portal that all my documents were "received" but there's zero communication about what's actually happening. I've been trying the phone lines every single day with no luck. Reading through these responses, I'm definitely going to try the WorkSource office visit first thing Monday morning, and if that doesn't work, I'll look into contacting my state representative. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get basic communication about our own claims. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

I went through this exact same identity verification nightmare about 6 months ago and it took almost 8 weeks to resolve! What finally worked for me was a combination of approaches. First, I re-uploaded all my documents but this time I made sure they were extremely high quality scans (not photos) and that every corner was visible with no shadows or glare. Second, I kept detailed records of every attempt to contact them - dates, times, what happened. Finally, I sent a formal complaint through the ESD website's "Contact Us" form specifically mentioning the exact number of days my claim had been blocked and requesting escalation. Within a week of that formal complaint, I got a callback from a supervisor who was able to see that my documents were actually fine but had been sitting in a queue waiting for manual review. The supervisor cleared it immediately. I know it's incredibly frustrating but document everything and don't give up! Also try multiple approaches at once - WorkSource visit, formal complaint, and keep trying the phones.