How to find my unemployment insurance number - Washington ESD login issues

Your unemployment insurance number should be on your monetary determination letter that Washington ESD mailed you when your claim was approved. It's usually a 9-digit number that starts with your SSN but has additional digits. Check any correspondence from ESD - it should be clearly labeled as 'UI Number' or 'Unemployment Insurance Number'.

Try looking at your first unemployment payment stub if you've received any payments yet. The UI number is usually printed on the payment documentation. Also check your SecureAccess Washington profile - sometimes it's displayed there once you're fully logged in.

Honestly the easiest way is just calling ESD but good luck getting through. I spent 3 days trying to reach someone when I had the same problem. You might want to try Claimyr - it's a service that helps you actually connect with ESD agents. I used it last month when I was stuck in adjudication and it worked great. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

The UI number might also be on your initial claim acknowledgment email if you filed online. Check your email for anything from noreply@esd.wa.gov - sometimes it's buried in those automated messages.

Wait I'm confused about this too. I thought the UI number was just your social security number? That's what I've been using for my weekly claims.

This is exactly why Washington ESD's system is so frustrating. They give you all these different numbers and don't clearly explain which one to use where. I had to make multiple calls just to understand the difference between my claim number, UI number, and customer ID.

If you're really stuck, try going to a WorkSource office in person. They can help you access your account and find your UI number. Sometimes face-to-face help is the only way to get these administrative issues resolved.

Check your bank statements if you've received direct deposit. Sometimes the UI number shows up in the payment description or reference number from Washington State ESD deposits.

I had this same issue 3 months ago. Turns out my UI number was on the back of my ESD debit card in tiny print. If you opted for the debit card instead of direct deposit, check there too.

Pro tip: once you find your UI number, write it down in multiple places and save it in your phone. I learned this the hard way after going through the same runaround twice.

Washington ESD really needs to make this information more accessible. Having to hunt for your own UI number is ridiculous when you're already dealing with job loss stress.

If calling doesn't work out, you might also try messaging them through your SAW account. Sometimes they respond to messages faster than they answer phones, though it can still take a few days.

Just wanted to follow up - I used Claimyr yesterday to get through to ESD about a different issue and they were able to give me my UI number when I asked. Really saved me a lot of hassle since I couldn't find it anywhere in my paperwork either.

One more place to check - if you filed your initial claim online, try logging into your SAW account using just your SSN and see if the UI number displays anywhere on your profile or claim summary pages.

UPDATE: Found mine! It was in an email from when I first got approved but the subject line was really generic so I almost missed it. Search your email for 'unemployment insurance' and 'monetary determination' - that's where mine was hiding.

Have you tried checking your text messages? Washington ESD sometimes sends the UI number via SMS when they send claim status updates or payment notifications. I found mine in a text message I received about a week after my initial application was processed. Also, if you have any printed confirmation pages from when you first applied online, the UI number might be in the fine print at the bottom - it's easy to miss but it's sometimes there.

If you still can't locate your UI number after checking emails and texts, try looking at any physical mail you received from Washington ESD - sometimes they include it on correspondence you might not expect. Also, if you have family members or friends who have dealt with unemployment in Washington, they might remember where theirs was located and can help you look. Don't panic about the weekly filing deadline - if you call ESD and explain you can't access your account due to a missing UI number, they can usually help you file over the phone or give you a brief extension. The key is documenting that you tried to file on time but had technical/access issues.

I went through this exact same situation last month! After hours of searching, I finally found my UI number on the "Notice of Application" letter that came about a week after I first applied. It wasn't labeled very clearly - it was in a section called "Claim Information" and listed as "UI Account Number." The letter itself looked pretty bland and official, so I almost threw it away thinking it was just another government form. If you can't find that specific letter, definitely try the Claimyr service that others mentioned - I've heard good things about it from other people in similar situations. Also, make sure to take a screenshot or photo of your UI number once you find it so you never have to go through this stress again!

I had the exact same problem a few months ago and was pulling my hair out! After trying everything everyone suggested here, I finally found my UI number in a really unexpected place - it was on a letter titled "Unemployment Insurance Claim Summary" that arrived about 10 days after I first applied. The UI number was listed in small text near the top right corner, not prominently displayed at all. It's a 10-digit number that's completely different from your claim number or SSN. If you can't find any physical mail, I'd definitely recommend calling ESD early in the morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) when they open - that's when you have the best chance of getting through. Don't stress too much about the deadline - they understand these access issues happen and won't penalize you if you can show you made a good faith effort to file on time. Keep documentation of your attempts to log in!