How to delete unemployment account - Washington ESD won't let me close it

That's frustrating. So all my banking info and SSN just stays in their system forever?

Yes but it becomes inactive. They're required to keep unemployment records for several years for federal compliance.

Thanks! I'll check that out. Did they at least deactivate your online access or remove your payment info?

They can deactivate your online portal access but the underlying records stay. The agent explained it's for tax purposes and potential future audits.

Privacy concerns mainly. I'd rather create a fresh account if I ever need benefits again than have old data sitting around.

I get the privacy thing but honestly the hassle of starting over isn't worth it. Your account just goes dormant anyway.

The system definitely isn't user-friendly for account management tasks. Most government sites have similar limitations though.

True but other states at least have clearer documentation about data retention policies and account closure options.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - the regular phone system is a disaster for getting consistent information about anything.

Yeah I might have to try that. This is ridiculous that something so basic is this complicated.

Right? Other websites let you delete accounts with a few clicks.

That makes sense legally but it's still annoying from a privacy standpoint. Wish they were more transparent about data retention policies.

They probably have the retention policy buried somewhere in the terms of service that nobody reads.

That's not the same as deleting it though. The account still exists with all my info.

but if u dont use it whats the difference

Data breaches are a thing. Inactive accounts with personal info are still security risks.

That's actually helpful. At least I could get rid of old banking info and addresses I don't use anymore.

Exactly. It's not full deletion but it reduces your data footprint in their system.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Did they at least disable your online login?

Yeah they can do that part. Your SAW login just won't work for the ESD portal anymore but your main SAW account stays active for other state services.

Which makes sense since SAW is for multiple agencies, not just unemployment.

How much does that cost? I'm willing to pay something if it actually works.

It's worth it for the time savings alone. Check their site for current pricing but it was reasonable when I used it.

Fair point but they also have different legal requirements than private companies. Federal audits and record keeping make it more complicated.

True but they could at least be more transparent about their policies and make the process clearer.

Good plan. The agents can walk you through exactly what they can and can't do with your account.

Yeah and at least you'll get a straight answer instead of conflicting info from different people.

Will do. Hopefully I can at least get some peace of mind about what info they're keeping and how it's protected.

Privacy matters to some people more than others. I'd rather know what's out there with my name on it.

Data security is becoming more important as breaches get more common. Makes sense to minimize your exposure where possible.

Good point! I should download my payment history and claim details before I disable anything.

Yes definitely do that. You can get copies later but it's easier while you still have online access.

Interesting, I didn't know that existed. Thanks for the tip!

That's a great suggestion. They might have more leverage or at least better documentation about what's legally required vs optional.

The Washington State Privacy Office is part of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. They handle data privacy complaints and can explain your rights under state privacy laws. Worth checking out if you want to understand the full scope of what agencies can and can't do with your personal data.

That's really helpful information about the Privacy Office! I had no idea there was a dedicated office for this kind of thing. It sounds like they might be able to give me a clearer picture of what my actual rights are versus what ESD is just choosing to do as their standard practice.

Thanks for mentioning the Privacy Office! I'll definitely reach out to them too. It would be good to know if there's any difference between what ESD is legally required to keep versus what they're just choosing to keep. Maybe they can also clarify if there are any situations where full deletion might be possible.