Why is my Washington ESD unemployment account locked after multiple login attempts?

Thanks! Do you know if the 24 hour thing is accurate? I've been locked out since yesterday morning and still can't get in.

Sometimes it takes longer than 24 hours, especially if you kept trying to log in after it was already locked. Each failed attempt resets the timer.

Three hours?? That's insane. I can't afford to sit on hold that long with work and everything.

Try calling right at 8am when they open. I got through in about 45 minutes that way.

Is this legit? Sounds too good to be true honestly.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't ask for any personal info, just help you get in the phone queue and call you back when an agent is available.

I might try this if my account doesn't unlock soon. Getting through to Washington ESD is nearly impossible these days.

Wait, what's the difference? I thought they were the same thing.

SAW is the state's unified login system. Your unemployment benefits are accessed through SAW, but you use the same credentials for other state services too. If you created your account before 2020, you might have had separate logins.

How long did it take for you?

like 4 days and i had to call them multiple times. finally got someone who could unlock it manually

What kind of suspicious activity? I haven't done anything weird, just tried to log in normally.

Could be anything - logging in from a new device, different IP address, or if someone else tried to access your account. They're pretty strict about security.

I'll try that! Haven't thought about clearing cache.

This actually worked for me when I had login issues. Also try using a different browser like Chrome instead of Internet Explorer.

That's a different issue - usually means there's a data mismatch in their system. You'll definitely need to call Washington ESD for that one.

Yeah, that's exactly the kind of thing Claimyr helped me with. Getting through to resolve identity verification issues is tough without help.

I'm pretty sure I know my username but I guess it's worth a try. Is the username your email or something else?

For SAW it's usually your email address, but some older accounts might use a different format. The forgot username tool will tell you what's on file.

Good to know! I was tempted to keep trying but I'll stop now.

yeah i did the same thing and made it worse lol

I've been using the same bookmark for months so I think I'm on the right site, but I'll double-check.

Always good to verify the URL. I've seen people accidentally go to scam sites that look identical to the real one.

I don't think I have a PIN set up. Is that different from my password?

Yes, the PIN is a separate 4-digit number for phone filing. If you don't have one set up, you'll need to establish it through your online account first.

You usually have a grace period of a few days past the deadline before they consider it late. But definitely try to get it resolved ASAP.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't afford to miss my filing deadline while trying to get through to Washington ESD on my own.

That's a good idea! I'll try from my phone instead of my laptop.

I had to do this once when my home internet was flagged for some reason. Used my phone and it worked fine.

Will do! Trying the phone/different network approach first, then I'll look into that Claimyr thing if I still can't get through to Washington ESD.

I haven't moved but I did get a new phone number last month. Could that be causing issues?

Possibly! You should update your contact information in your profile once you get back in. That might prevent future lockouts.

Glad it's helping! Account lockouts are one of the most common issues people face with Washington ESD.

Yeah, the unemployment system can be really frustrating but there are usually workarounds if you know where to look.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I'm going to try the different device approach first, then go from there.

Good luck! Hope you get it sorted out before your filing deadline.

Definitely will update. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help out with suggestions.

That's what this community is for! We've all been through the Washington ESD maze at some point.

Good point! I've been keeping track of my applications in a spreadsheet just in case.

Smart approach. It's always better to have too much documentation than not enough when dealing with unemployment benefits.