What is 602a unemployment in Washington ESD system?

I think 602a might be related to wage verification issues? I had something similar last year but it was a different code. Did you work for multiple employers recently?

602a typically refers to a wage and employment verification hold. It means Washington ESD is reviewing your employment history and wage records to ensure your benefit calculation is correct. This often happens when there are discrepancies between what you reported and what employers reported, or when you have complex employment situations like multiple jobs or out-of-state work.

I had the exact same problem trying to get through to Washington ESD about confusing codes on my claim. Spent literally hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It actually got me connected to someone who could explain what was happening with my claim.

The 602a code specifically indicates that Washington ESD is conducting a benefit year earnings review. This happens when their automated system flags potential issues with your base year wages or when there are questions about your work history. Common triggers include: working in multiple states, having employers that report wages late, discrepancies in your reported work dates, or complex employment situations like seasonal work or contract positions.

While you're waiting for the 602a review to complete, make sure you keep filing your weekly claims! Even though your payments are on hold, you still need to maintain your claim. Missing weekly certifications can cause additional delays once the wage verification is resolved.

This whole system is such a mess. I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and it's just one delay after another. First it was adjudication, now it's wage verification, what's next?? They make it impossible to get help when you need it most.

For what it's worth, I had a 602a hold last year and it did eventually resolve. Took about 5 weeks but I got all my back pay once it cleared. The waiting is awful but it usually works out in the end.

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it really does work. Got connected to a Washington ESD rep in like 10 minutes instead of calling all day. The agent was able to look up my account and explain exactly what was happening with my wage verification. Worth it just for the peace of mind of talking to someone who actually knows what they're talking about.

make sure you keep screenshots of everything in your account showing the 602a status. if there are any issues later you'll want documentation of when this all started

The 602a wage verification process is actually pretty thorough once it gets going. Washington ESD contacts all your base year employers to confirm your wages and work dates. If any employer doesn't respond within a certain timeframe, they'll use the wage information you provided when you filed your claim. The review ensures you're getting the correct weekly benefit amount based on your actual earnings.

I had a similar situation and what helped was gathering all my own wage documentation - pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, etc. Even though Washington ESD is doing their own verification, having your own records ready can be helpful if they need additional information from you.

Does anyone know if you can still get emergency food assistance while waiting for unemployment benefits to start? This whole process is taking forever and bills don't stop.

Just want to add that the 602a code doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your claim. It's often just a routine verification process, especially for claims that involve multiple employers or complex work histories. Try not to panic about it.

I tried that Claimyr thing too after seeing it mentioned here and it actually worked great. The Washington ESD agent I spoke with was really helpful and explained that 602a reviews are super common right now because they're being extra careful with wage verification after all the fraud issues from the pandemic. She said most of them resolve without any issues.

Keep checking your account regularly for updates. Sometimes the 602a status will change without them sending you a notification. Mine went from wage verification to approved over a weekend and I almost missed it.

For future reference, you can also check your wage and employment history in the WorkSourceWA system to see what information Washington ESD has on file for you. Sometimes discrepancies there can trigger these verification reviews.