ESD claim stuck with no way to verify closed business - help needed!

This happens more often than you'd think! You absolutely CAN file for unemployment even if the business closed. ESD actually has procedures for this exact situation. Submit your claim with all the documentation you do have - paystubs, W-2s, bank deposits showing regular payments, etc. ESD will then try to verify through their own records from when the business was paying unemployment taxes. They might ask for additional information, but they won't automatically deny you just because the business is gone. You should also write a detailed explanation in the comments section explaining the situation when you file.

did u try searching for the buisness on linkedIn?? sometimes u can find the owners or managers profiles and message them directly. thats what i did when my landscaping company shut down last summer. found the operations manager and he sent me my employment records for ESD.

ESD requires something called a "separation statement" which is basically documentation showing why you're no longer employed. Since your employer is MIA, you should submit the following: 1. Your final pay stub 2. Your most recent W-2 3. Any termination notice (even if it's just a text saying they're closing) 4. Bank statements showing regular deposits from the employer 5. Photos of the closed business if possible In the "reason for separation" section, choose "Business Closure" and explain that the business closed without notice and you have no way to contact the former employer. ESD will likely put your claim in adjudication initially while they investigate, but don't panic - this is standard procedure. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during this time!

same thing happend to my cousin last year!! his boss just vanished and he couldnt get unemployment for 2 MONTHS because ESD kept saying they needed to verify with the employer. total bs if u ask me, the whole system is rigged against workers when businesses can just dissapear.

ive been through this exact nightmare scenario and i FINALLY got my claim approved after 6 weeks of stress. here's what worked for me: first off DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. take photos of the closed building, save any texts from coworkers about the closure, print emails, whatever you have. the thing that finally worked was calling ESD directly and explaining the situation to an actual human. but good luck getting through - i called 47 times before someone picked up. i ended up using this service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes when i'd been trying for days. cost me some money but totally worth it to finally talk to someone who could help. check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their site claimyr.com - they basically call ESD for you and hold your place in line. once i finally talked to an agent, they were actually really helpful and pushed my claim through.

Isn't it ILLEGAL for a business to just shut down without notifying employees?? You should be filing a complaint with L&I not just worrying about unemployment! They owe you proper notice AND your final paycheck!

Make sure you're filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the initial claim to process! I made the mistake of waiting for approval before filing weekly claims and lost out on 3 weeks of benefits because of it. ESD won't backdate those weeks unless you had a legitimate reason for not filing (and 'I didn't know' doesn't count).

One more important thing - when ESD tries to verify your employment and can't reach your employer, they'll likely check their wage records from employer tax filings. If the business wasn't properly reporting wages or paying unemployment insurance taxes, you might face additional challenges. In that case, you would need to provide as much personal documentation as possible to prove your employment history and wages. If your claim goes into adjudication for this reason, you'll want to prepare a detailed employment history with: 1. Dates of employment 2. Job title and duties 3. Pay rate and schedule 4. Names of supervisors and coworkers 5. Any performance reviews or other documentation This helps ESD verify that you were legitimately employed there even if the employer's records are incomplete.

Just wanted to check in - were you able to submit your claim with the documentation you have? Remember that you can always amend your claim later if you manage to get additional information. The important thing is to get something submitted ASAP so your claim date is established.