ESD claim mistake - reported wrong state for work location - will they auto-correct?
I think I messed up my unemployment claim and I'm freaking out a bit. I've been working part-time at this small marketing agency while collecting partial unemployment. When filing my weekly claim yesterday, I accidentally selected Oregon instead of Washington as the state where my employer reports wages. Everything else is correct - I reported all my gross wages accurately to the penny. Will ESD automatically figure this out since my employer is registered in Washington? Or do I need to call them to fix this mistake? I really don't want to get flagged for fraud over something so stupid. Has anyone made similar mistakes before?
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NebulaKnight
ur probably fine tbh. they match ur SSN with what ur employer reports anywys. as long as wages r right the state thing isnt gonna matter that much
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Dylan Wright
•Thanks, that's a relief to hear. I just don't want them thinking I'm trying to hide something when it was just a dumb mistake.
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Sofia Ramirez
I would actually recommend calling ESD to report the error. While the system may eventually correct it when they cross-reference with your employer's reporting, it could potentially flag your account for investigation which can delay payments for weeks. Better to be proactive than have to deal with a potential adjudication process. Make sure you document the date/time of your call and who you spoke with.
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Dmitry Popov
•THIS!!!! I made a similar mistake last year (put down wrong date I started a job) and just assumed they'd fix it. Ended up with my payments stopped for 6 WEEKS while they investigated. Better to fix it now than deal with that headache!
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Dylan Wright
•Oh wow, I definitely don't want my payments stopped. I'll try calling them tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!
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Ava Rodriguez
Good luck actually getting through to anyone at ESD! I've been trying for TWO WEEKS to talk to someone about my adjudication issue. Keep getting disconnected or stuck on hold for hours only to be told the queue is full. It's absolutely infuriating.
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Miguel Ortiz
•I had the same problem last month! I finally gave up on the regular phone line and used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me literally hours of hold time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Completely worth it for my sanity!
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Ava Rodriguez
•I've never heard of that service before - does it actually work? The ESD phone system has been the bane of my existence lately.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Yeah it actually does! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after getting disconnected THREE times after waiting over an hour each time. The callback feature is what made it worth it for me - I could actually do other things instead of being glued to my phone all day.
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Dylan Wright
•Thanks for the suggestion! I'll try the regular number first, but if I can't get through I might try this Claimyr thing. Anything to avoid having my claim delayed.
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Zainab Khalil
In my experience working with unemployment claims, minor errors like selecting the wrong state are not typically cause for concern IF the wage information is correct. The ESD system is primarily concerned with accurate wage reporting since that affects your benefit amount. That said, there are two approaches you can take: 1) Call ESD to report the error and request a correction. This is the most technically correct approach. 2) Document your error (screenshot, notes with date/time) and keep it for your records, but don't take further action unless ESD contacts you. The system will likely reconcile this automatically when your employer files their quarterly wage reports. If there's a discrepancy that raises flags, ESD will contact you for clarification.
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QuantumQuest
•I dunno if this is really good advice? The ESD system is BROKEN and they flag everything these days! My neighbor got put in adjudication for 5 weeks over a typo in her employer's name!! The whole system is rigged to deny benefits by creating these stupid "discrepancies" they have to investigate!!! 😡😡😡
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Zainab Khalil
•I understand your frustration with the system. You're right that in some cases even small errors can trigger reviews. However, there's an important distinction - employer name discrepancies often trigger fraud alerts because they can indicate someone working for an unreported employer. State location for an otherwise correctly reported employer with matching EIN typically has lower priority in the verification hierarchy. That said, your neighbor's experience shows why some people prefer the cautious approach of calling to correct errors.
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Dylan Wright
•Thank you for the detailed explanation. I think I'll try calling just to be safe, but it's reassuring to know this likely isn't a major issue that would trigger fraud investigation. I've documented everything just in case.
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Dmitry Popov
Make sure you keep track of ALL your communications with ESD!!!! I learned this the hard way - take screenshots, write down claim ID numbers, names of reps you speak with, dates/times, EVERYTHING. Their system is so messed up sometimes that if you need to prove you tried to correct something, you'll need detailed records.
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Dylan Wright
•That's good advice. I'll definitely keep detailed notes of any calls I make. Would you recommend sending something in writing through their message system too, so there's a paper trail?
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Dmitry Popov
•YES!!! Send a message through eServices too! That way there's a record in their system. And take a screenshot of the sent message just to be extra safe.
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