ESD disqualified my claim over 'missing' employer info that's clearly visible in last year's claim

This happened 2 me last year!!! The system glitched and couldn't see my employer even tho it was right there in my prev claim. I had to file an appeal and wait FOREVERRR. It's so frustrating when they can't even see their own data!!

Ok but are you SURE the employer info is complete? Like sometimes they need specific things like FEIN numbers or quarters worked that might not show up when you're just looking at it. Maybe double check all fields are actually filled in completely?

This is actually quite common with ESD's system. What's likely happening is there's a data linkage issue between your current claim and previous employer records. Even though YOU can see the information, their automated system might not be properly connecting it when processing your new claim. You have three options: 1. File an appeal (which can take 3-6 weeks to resolve) 2. Upload your previous employer information again through your eServices account under "Provide Additional Information" 3. Speak directly with an ESD agent who can manually review your claim and potentially fix it without going through the appeal process Option 3 is fastest if you can get through to someone. The problem is their phone system is overwhelmed right now due to the seasonal claim increase in January 2025.

I went through this exact same situation in November. The frustrating part is that when you finally do reach someone at ESD, they can typically fix this in minutes. It's just a matter of getting a live person who can access both your current and previous claim records. Here's what worked for me: I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to ESD. They basically hold your place in line so you don't have to keep calling and getting hung up on. I was skeptical but they got me through to a real person in about 40 minutes when I had been trying for days with no luck. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Once I got through to an agent, they pulled up both claims, verified all my employer info was present, and overrode the disqualification. My claim status changed from disqualified to processing that same day.

Yes, it worked for me. After talking with an agent, they were able to find my employer information and fix the issue right away. The phone service I mentioned just helped me get through to a live person instead of getting disconnected or waiting on hold forever.

i had somthing similar happn but turns out the problem was my employrs tax ID number had changed slightly between claims. check if ur company got bought out or changed structure at all. sometimes thats the issue and the system treats it as a diffrent employer even tho its the same place.

Classic ESD incompetence!!! Their systems are DELIBERATELY designed to be confusing and make you give up. I've been fighting with them for THREE MONTHS over a similar issue. Every time I call I get a different answer about what's wrong with my claim. You know why? Because they don't want to pay out benefits!!! They make it hard on purpose so people just give up. Welcome to the nightmare that is Washington State unemployment. Good luck - you'll need it!!!

Just to clarify something important here - when you appeal this kind of disqualification, make sure you specifically request a "reconsideration" rather than a formal appeal in your eServices message. A reconsideration can be handled by a claims specialist without going through the Office of Administrative Hearings, which is much faster. Also, when uploading your documentation for the reconsideration, include: 1. Your W-2 from the employer in question 2. Any paystubs showing the employer's full legal name and EIN/FEIN 3. A brief explanation noting that the information is visible in your previous claim This approach worked for a client of mine who had almost the identical situation. Her claim was fixed within 5 business days versus waiting weeks for a formal appeal hearing.

Yes, doing both options 2 and 3 simultaneously is your best approach. Upload the documentation as mentioned by the other poster (reconsideration is indeed faster than formal appeal), but also try to reach an agent who can potentially resolve it immediately. One other thing to check - log into your eServices account and look at the "Decisions and Determinations" section. Sometimes there's additional information about the specific missing data that isn't shown in the general claim status. It might tell you exactly what information they believe is incomplete, which could help you address it more specifically in your reconsideration request.

Update: I took everyone's advice and did multiple things at once. I submitted a reconsideration request with all my documentation AND managed to get through to an ESD agent using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. The agent confirmed it was exactly what several of you suggested - my employer's acquisition caused a mismatch in their system between the FEIN on my previous claim and the current one, even though it's essentially the same company. The agent was able to note this in the system and link the records properly. My claim status just changed from "disqualified" to "processing" this morning! Thank you all so much for the help and advice. For anyone dealing with similar issues, definitely try to talk to a live agent if possible - they can fix things that the automated system gets confused by.

Congrats!! So happy you got it fixed! The ESD system is such a nightmare sometimes. I'm still waiting on mine to get processed... going on 3 weeks now 😩

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now where my claim got flagged for "insufficient work history" even though I can see all my previous employers listed in my account from last year's claim. It's so frustrating when their own system can't seem to talk to itself properly. @Heather Tyson thanks for posting the update - it gives me hope that there's actually a solution! I'm definitely going to try the reconsideration route first and see if I can get through to an agent to explain the system mismatch issue. The employer acquisition angle is really interesting too - makes me wonder if there are other corporate changes that could cause similar problems. Has anyone else noticed if ESD's system struggles more with claims after mergers/acquisitions? Seems like that might be a common issue they haven't figured out how to handle automatically.