How to find employer account number for unemployment - Washington ESD won't process my claim

I tried that but the system keeps saying it can't find my employer. Maybe they're registered under a different name?

That's possible. Some companies file under their parent company name or use a slightly different business name for unemployment purposes.

How long did you wait on hold? I've tried calling multiple times and either get disconnected or the wait time is over 2 hours.

I waited about 90 minutes but it was worth it. They found my employer right away once I got through to someone.

Is that legitimate? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.

Yeah it's real. They basically call ESD for you and conference you in when they get through. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

I've heard of Claimyr too. My sister used it when she had issues with her weekly claims. She said it was pretty straightforward.

I didn't think about contacting my representative. That's a good idea if my employer keeps refusing to help.

Some employers get weird about unemployment claims because they think it affects their rates. But legally they're supposed to provide information needed for your claim.

That's interesting. My paychecks did come from ADP. Should I try searching for ADP instead?

Not necessarily ADP itself, but maybe try variations of your company name or see if there's a corporate entity listed on your W-2.

Tell me about it. I've been dealing with Washington ESD for three months trying to get my benefits sorted out.

At least I'm not the only one having issues. Sometimes it feels like they don't want you to get benefits.

I didn't get any termination paperwork, just a verbal notice that I was laid off. Should I ask HR for something in writing?

Yes, you should get something in writing about your termination. It's useful for your unemployment claim anyway.

Where would I find their federal tax ID? Is that on my W-2?

Yes, it should be in box b on your W-2. That might be what ESD needs to identify your employer.

Good point about the EIN. Sometimes that's the key piece of information that makes everything click in their system.

I've been trying to file for over a week but it won't let me submit without the employer info. Should I just put in something temporary?

No, don't put fake information. But you should be able to start an application and save it while you gather the missing details.

Multiple people have mentioned Claimyr now. I might have to try it if I can't get through today.

It's definitely worth trying if you're stuck. The regular phone lines are just impossible right now.

That's smart! I didn't think to check the business registration. That might show me exactly how they're registered with the state.

That's awful. Employers can't prevent you from filing for unemployment, they can only dispute it if they think you're not eligible.

At least my employer isn't claiming I quit. They're just being unhelpful with the information I need.

Good tip. I've been trying in the afternoon mostly. I'll set my alarm for tomorrow morning.

Lunch time is also sometimes good, like 12:30-1:00 when people are taking breaks from calling.

Great news! Glad you got it figured out. That's a common solution that more people should know about.

Awesome! I'm glad my suggestion helped. It's crazy how such a small detail can hold up your whole claim.

Perfect! Now you shouldn't have any more issues with the employer identification. Make sure to file your weekly claims on time going forward.

Agreed! I wish I had known about this earlier. Would have saved me a week of stress.