Where can I find my unemployment insurance number for Washington ESD?
I need to find my unemployment insurance number but I can't locate it anywhere. I've been looking through all my paperwork from when I first applied but I'm not seeing it clearly labeled. Is it the same as my social security number or is it something different? I need it to call Washington ESD about my weekly claim that's been stuck for two weeks. Can someone help me figure out where this number is supposed to be?
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Amara Nnamani
Your unemployment insurance number should be on any correspondence you received from Washington ESD when you first filed your claim. It's not your SSN - it's a separate number they assign to your claim. Check your initial determination letter or any payment notices you might have gotten.
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GalacticGuru
•I'm looking through my papers now but I have so many documents. Is there a specific form or letter I should focus on?
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Amara Nnamani
•Look for the 'Monetary Determination' letter - that's usually the first official document they send after you file. The UI number should be near the top.
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Giovanni Mancini
If you can log into your Washington ESD account online, the UI number should be displayed on your main dashboard page once you're logged in through SecureAccess Washington.
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GalacticGuru
•I tried logging in but my account seems to be having issues. It keeps timing out when I try to access my claim information.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•The online system has been really glitchy lately. I had the same problem last week and couldn't get in for three days straight.
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Dylan Cooper
Honestly, trying to reach Washington ESD by phone has been impossible for me. I've been calling for weeks about my adjudication issue and can never get through. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. Has anyone tried it? The website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.
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Sofia Morales
•Never heard of that but honestly I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. How much does it cost?
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Dylan Cooper
•They focus on helping you get through to ESD agents when you can't reach them normally. Worth checking out their demo video to see if it would help your situation.
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GalacticGuru
•I might look into this if I can't find my UI number anywhere else. Thanks for the suggestion!
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StarSailor
Wait, I'm confused. Is the unemployment insurance number the same thing as the claim number? I keep seeing different terms used.
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Amara Nnamani
•They're the same thing - Washington ESD uses both terms interchangeably. It's your unique identifier for your unemployment claim.
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StarSailor
•Ok that makes sense. I was getting worried I was missing some other number I needed to find.
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Dmitry Ivanov
UGH the Washington ESD system is SO FRUSTRATING! Why don't they make this information easier to find?? I spent HOURS looking for mine when I first filed.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•I feel your pain. The whole system seems designed to make everything as difficult as possible.
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Giovanni Mancini
•It really shouldn't be this hard to find a basic piece of information about your own claim.
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Amara Nnamani
Another place to check - if you've received any overpayment notices or correspondence about job search requirements, your UI number should be on those documents too. It's usually in a box at the top of official Washington ESD letters.
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GalacticGuru
•I haven't gotten any overpayment notices thankfully, but I'll check my job search requirement letters. I think I have some of those.
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Ava Garcia
•Yes! That's where I found mine - on a letter about the WorkSource registration requirement.
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Sofia Morales
If all else fails, you might be able to find it on your bank statements if you've received any unemployment payments. The deposits usually show some kind of reference number.
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GalacticGuru
•Good idea! I haven't gotten any payments yet since my claim is stuck, but I'll remember this for when it gets resolved.
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Sofia Morales
•Yeah, once you start getting payments the number should show up in the deposit details.
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Miguel Silva
i had same problem last month. ended up having to call and wait on hold for like 3 hours just to get someone to tell me my own number. ridiculous
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GalacticGuru
•Three hours?! That's insane. I really hope I can find it in my paperwork instead of having to call.
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Dylan Cooper
•This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it helps you avoid those ridiculous wait times when you need to reach Washington ESD.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
Check your text messages too if you signed up for text notifications when you filed. Sometimes they include your UI number in those automated messages about your claim status.
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GalacticGuru
•Oh that's a good point! I do get text updates. Let me scroll back through my messages.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•The messages usually say something like 'Your claim UI#12345 has been processed' or similar.
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Zainab Ismail
This whole thread is making me realize how broken the Washington ESD system is. Why is it so hard to find basic information about your own claim?
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Dmitry Ivanov
•RIGHT?? It's like they don't want people to be able to access their own information!
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Amara Nnamani
•The system definitely has room for improvement, but once you know where to look, the information is usually there.
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Connor O'Neill
I found mine on the very first email I got from Washington ESD after filing. It was in the subject line - something like 'Your UI Claim #12345 - Next Steps'. Check your email inbox for anything from ESD.
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GalacticGuru
•Great suggestion! I'm going to search my email for 'ESD' and 'unemployment' right now.
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Connor O'Neill
•Yeah, search for emails from 'esd.wa.gov' - that's their domain for official communications.
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Giovanni Mancini
If you're still having trouble with the online system, try accessing it during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening. The system tends to work better when fewer people are using it.
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GalacticGuru
•I'll try logging in early tomorrow morning before work. Hopefully it'll be more stable then.
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QuantumQuester
•I always have better luck with the ESD website around 6 AM. Much faster loading times.
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Yara Nassar
Just want to add - your UI number is different from your customer ID number for SecureAccess Washington. Don't confuse the two! The UI number is specifically for your unemployment claim.
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GalacticGuru
•Thanks for clarifying that! I was wondering if they might be the same thing.
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StarSailor
•Wait, so there are two different numbers? This is getting confusing again.
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Yara Nassar
•Your SAW customer ID is for logging into the portal. Your UI number is for your specific unemployment claim. They serve different purposes.
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Keisha Williams
UPDATE: I finally found mine! It was on my 'Notice of Application for Unemployment Benefits' that I had filed away. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions - it really helped me know where to look.
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GalacticGuru
•That's great! I'm still looking but I feel more confident now about where to search.
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Amara Nnamani
•Glad you found it! That Notice of Application is another good place people should check.
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Paolo Ricci
For future reference, you can also ask for your UI number when you call the main Washington ESD line, but they'll need to verify your identity with personal information first.
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GalacticGuru
•Good to know for backup, though I'm really hoping to avoid calling if possible based on what others have said about wait times.
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Dylan Cooper
•If you do need to call, definitely consider using Claimyr to help you get through. It's been a lifesaver for people who need to reach ESD agents.
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Amina Toure
Check your claim confirmation page if you screenshotted it when you first filed online. I always take screenshots of important submission pages and that's where I found mine.
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GalacticGuru
•I wish I had thought to take screenshots! I'll definitely do that for any future interactions with the system.
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Amina Toure
•Yeah, always screenshot confirmation pages with government websites. You never know when you'll need that information later.
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Oliver Zimmermann
The UI number is also printed on your ESD debit card when they mail it to you, but that obviously doesn't help if you're still waiting for payments to start.
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GalacticGuru
•I haven't received a debit card yet since my claim is still being processed, but that's good to know for when it arrives.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Yeah, once your claim is approved and payments start, the card should have your UI number printed on it somewhere.
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CosmicCommander
This thread has been really helpful! I was having the same issue and found my UI number on an old text message from ESD about my weekly claim filing reminder.
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GalacticGuru
•That's awesome! I'm going through all my texts now too. Fingers crossed I find it there.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•The text reminders are really useful - they usually include key information like your UI number.
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Natasha Volkova
Last resort option - if you absolutely cannot find your UI number anywhere, you can visit a WorkSource office in person and they can help you locate it. Bring photo ID and be prepared to verify your personal information.
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GalacticGuru
•That's a good backup plan. There's a WorkSource office about 20 minutes from me if I really can't find it anywhere else.
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Natasha Volkova
•Yeah, the in-person staff are usually pretty helpful and can access your account information directly.
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Sofia Morales
•Just make sure to call ahead and check their hours - some locations have limited walk-in availability.
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Javier Torres
SUCCESS UPDATE: Found my UI number in an email from Washington ESD titled 'Important Information About Your Weekly Claim Filing'. It was right at the top! Thanks everyone for helping me figure out where to look.
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GalacticGuru
•Congratulations! That gives me hope that I'll find mine soon too. I'm going through all my ESD emails systematically now.
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Amara Nnamani
•Great! Those weekly claim filing emails are another good place to check. Glad you found it!
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Javier Torres
•Yeah, apparently I had multiple emails with the number in them - I just wasn't looking carefully enough before. Hope you find yours soon!
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