The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DC DOES) works with ID.me to verify claimants requesting benefits and services online. ID.me provides secure digital identity verification to government agencies and other organizations to make sure you-are-you. This article explains how to verify with ID.me for DC DOES.
If you are an existing ID.me member, do not create another account. Instead, follow the steps below to sign in to DC DOES, then sign in to ID.me and consent to share your information with DC DOES.
Visit DC DOES
To get started:
- Visit DC DOES Initial Claims and select Sign in / Register.
- If you’re an existing claimant, sign in using your username and password, then follow the steps to Sign in to ID.me.
If you’re a new claimant, scroll down to the Individual tab and select Individual Registration. - Under Unemployment Insurance Compensation, select Yes to indicate that you’re attempting to file a claim, and then select Next.
- Follow the prompts to enter your Social Security number, then select Verify with ID.me.
Sign in to ID.me
If you have an ID.me account:
- Sign in with your ID.me account and complete multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- If required, follow the prompts to provide any additional information.
- From the Authorize screen, review the information that DC DOES will receive and then select Allow to consent to share that information with them.
To create a new ID.me account:
- If you need to create an account, select Create an ID.me account.
- Enter your personal email address and a strong password. Learn how to create a strong password.
- Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make your account even more secure.
Note: If you do not have a smartphone, select Backup Codes to generate 12 unique one-time-use codes. - Follow the prompts to finish setting up your ID.me account and to confirm ownership of your email.
Verify your identity
If you already have an ID.me account and have successfully signed in, you’re set! You don’t need to verify again.
Before you verify
To verify your identity, you’ll need specific information and documents, depending if you verify using Self-Service, a short video call, or in person. We recommend gathering any necessary documents before you begin the verification process.
Self-Service is the most common verification method. To verify, you’ll need:
- A mobile phone that has a camera or a computer with a webcam
- Email address
- Social Security number
- Government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID, passport, or passport card)
During a short video call, you’ll upload your document, then work with a live agent to finish verification. To verify, you’ll need:
- A mobile phone that has a camera or a computer with a webcam
- Email address
- Social Security number
- Government-issued photo ID (driver's license or, state ID, passport, or passport card)
With In-Person Verification, you complete your document upload and selfie step of your verification at select retail locations nationwide. To verify your identity in-person, you’ll need:
- An ID.me account and in-person appointment
- Email address
- Social Security number
- 2-3 identity documents. You may need to bring an additional document proving your full Social Security number.
Verify your identity
Verify your identity using Self-Service, a short video call, or in person at select Identity Network Locations. Select the tab below for an overview of each verification method:
To verify your identity using Self-Service:
- Select Self-Service.
- Follow the prompts to upload your US driver’s license or state photo ID, or select Change Document to upload a passport or passport card. Learn how to take photos of your documents .
- Take and submit a video selfie. Your selfie will only be used to confirm that the person in the selfie matches your government ID. You may request that ID.me delete your Biometric Data at any time.
- Enter your Social Security number.
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If prompted, enter your address.
- Review and confirm that all of your information is accurate, then select Yes. After ID.me verifies your identity you will receive a confirmation message as a way to protect you from fraud.
- Select Allow to finish your identity verification process.
To verify on a video call:
- Select Video Call.
Note: If you don’t have the required identity documents, select I don't have a driver's license, state ID, passport, or passport card to verify on an extended video call. - Select Get Started, accept ID.me's consent to collect personally identifiable information, then select Continue.
- Follow the prompts to upload your US driver’s license or state photo ID, or select Change document to upload a passport or passport card. Learn how to take photos of your documents .
- Enter your remaining information, including your Social Security number, then select Continue. Learn why ID.me asks for your Social Security number.
Connect with a Video Chat Agent
During the call with your Video Chat Agent, the agent will compare you to your uploaded identity document. To connect to a video call:
- After your information is confirmed, you will be prompted to join a video call. Select Join video call to proceed.
- Wait for the next Video Chat Agent to be available.
- Consent to having your call recorded, select Continue, then select Join video call when prompted. You may request that ID.me delete your Biometric Data at any time.
- Stay on the call as the Video Chat Agent compares you to your identity document photo. This should only take a moment.
After you’re signed in to your ID.me account, book your in-person appointment:
- Select In-Person Verification.
- Confirm that you’re verifying for state benefits or federal services by selecting Yes.
- Consent to allow ID.me to collect your biometric data and personal information, then select Continue. You may request that ID.me delete your biometric information after you verify.
- Enter your information, then select Continue.
- Enter your zip code or city name to find and choose a retail location for your appointment, then select Continue.
- Choose a day and time for your appointment or choose “walk-in” to visit any time during regular business hours.
- Review your information to ensure it’s accurate, and make edits if necessary.
- Select the checkbox for the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), then select Continue.
After you book an appointment, your In-Person Verification appointment details display on the screen and we’ll send you the details by email. This information includes:
- Date and time of your appointment
- Address of the retail location you selected
- Reminder to bring 2-3 identity documents
- Registration Code, both in the form of a QR code and 25-character registration code. Registration Codes expire 30 days from the day you book your appointment.
- Instructions for your appointment
How to verify in person
Bring your registration code (QR code or 25-character code) and 2-3 identity documents with you to your appointment. To verify in person:
- When you arrive, find the technician who will help you verify your identity in person. They are trained to confirm your identity documents are valid, that your documents belong to you, and that your documents match the information you enter.
- Go to the kiosk and scan the QR code from your confirmation email or if you printed it out.
- Follow the remaining on-screen prompts, including taking a selfie and submitting photos of your documents. After the technician confirms your documents are valid, an ID.me document reviewer will validate your documents.
- Wait to receive a confirmation email from ID.me
Finish verification
To complete the verification process, remember to consent to share your information with DC DOES. How you do this depends on the verification method you use:
- Self-Service: After you confirm your information, select Allow to share your information.
- Video Chat Agent: Follow the steps in the email you receive after the video call to make sure you share your information with DC DOES. You’ll need to return to the DC DOES portal page, sign in to your ID.me account, and select Allow.
- In-person: After you receive an email confirming your identity was verified, return to DC DOES and sign in to your ID.me account. When prompted, select Allow to share your information.
Get help
Who you need to contact for help depends on if you completed the verification process or not.
ID.me
ID.me can help if you have trouble with the identity verification process. Common issues include:
DC DOES
They can best help with questions and next steps after you complete the verification process. For example, you may have questions about benefits or services you verified for. Before contacting them:
- Confirm your verification was successful
- Confirm you shared your information with the organization
- Review our best practices and sample messages of how to request help from the organization you need to access.