How long does identity verification take for unemployment Washington ESD?

The documents looked clear to me but maybe I should double-check. Is there a way to see if they accepted them or if they need different ones?

Check your Washington ESD account dashboard - it should show the status of your uploaded documents. If they need additional verification, you'll usually see a notification there.

Three weeks?! That's so long. Did you have to call them or did it just eventually get approved?

it just got approved on its own, never could get through on the phone to check status

Is this legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point but don't want to get scammed.

Yeah it's legitimate. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy, just help you get through Washington ESD's phone system.

I've heard of Claimyr too. Friend of mine used it when she couldn't get through to check on her adjudication. Saved her hours of calling.

I feel your frustration. The system is definitely overwhelmed right now.

Overwhelmed is putting it nicely. This whole system is broken and they don't care about people who actually need help.

My name should match exactly. I haven't moved or changed anything recently. Maybe it's just the volume of claims they're processing?

Could be. Washington ESD has been dealing with higher than normal claim volumes even post-pandemic, so processing times for everything have been slower.

Yes, you should continue filing your weekly claims even while identity verification is pending. If you don't file, you could lose those weeks of benefits even after verification is complete.

ok good to know, was worried about that

That gives me some hope! What documents did you submit? I'm wondering if I should have included more than what they asked for.

I just submitted exactly what they requested - driver's license and social security card. Sometimes submitting extra documents can actually slow things down because they have to review more materials.

If documents get rejected, Washington ESD will usually send you a message through your online account explaining what needs to be corrected. Common issues are blurry photos, expired documents, or documents that don't clearly show your full name and address.

Good to know. I made sure to take high-quality photos with good lighting, so hopefully that's not an issue.

A month?! That's terrible. Did they at least backpay you for all the weeks you waited?

Yeah they did backpay, but only because I kept filing my weekly claims. If you stop filing while waiting, you lose those weeks permanently.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.

I don't want to get into pricing details here, but for me it was worth it just to get peace of mind about my claim status. Check their site at claimyr.com for current info.

Congratulations! That's a pretty reasonable timeframe. Your first payment should process within a few days of verification approval.

awesome news! gives me hope for mine

Great to hear! The waiting is definitely the hardest part but it sounds like everything worked out.

Good to know for anyone else going through this. The 5-10 days is definitely optimistic based on what people are reporting here.

Exactly. It's better to expect 2-3 weeks and be pleasantly surprised if it's faster than to expect 5 days and get frustrated when it takes longer.

The identity verification process is generally the same regardless of claim type. What can affect timing is whether you're a first-time claimant or if there are any flags on your account that require additional review.

Makes sense. I'm filing standby for the first time so wasn't sure if that changed anything.

How can you tell which system you used? I submitted mine through the link in my Washington ESD account.

If you submitted through your regular Washington ESD account dashboard, that should be the current system. The old system was a separate portal that they discontinued a few months ago.

That's exactly right. Take clear photos, submit exactly what they ask for, keep filing weekly, and be patient. Most people get approved eventually.

Thanks! This whole unemployment process is so stressful but at least I know what to expect now.

Yeah, several people have mentioned it in this thread. Seems like it could be helpful for people who are really struggling to get through.

I can vouch for it personally. Really made a difference when I was stuck waiting and couldn't get anyone on the phone at Washington ESD.

Unfortunately, Washington ESD doesn't have an expedited process for identity verification based on financial hardship. The process times are what they are. Your best bet is to make sure everything was submitted correctly and keep following up.

That's disappointing but I guess it makes sense. Just frustrating when you really need the benefits.

Glad to hear another success story! It's encouraging to see that people are getting approved, even if it takes a while.

16 days is pretty typical from what I've seen. Congrats on getting through the process!

What file format and size worked for you? I want to make sure I didn't mess that up.

JPG files under 5MB worked fine for me. PDF files seem to work too but I stuck with photos since that's what they specifically asked for.

Glad this thread helped! It definitely made me feel better to know other people were going through the same thing.

That's what these forums are for - helping each other navigate the Washington ESD system. Good luck with your verification!

That's a great tip about using a passport! I didn't even think about that option. I already submitted my driver's license and social security card, but for anyone else reading this who has a passport, that sounds like it could be simpler. And you're absolutely right about checking the account daily - I've been obsessively checking mine anyway just hoping to see a status change.