Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
The PHONE SYSTEM IS A TRAP!!! I filed by phone for 2 months and never had to enter job search info. Then suddenly got selected for a job search review and COULDN'T PROVE I'd been looking for work because I didn't keep good records!!! Had to pay back $4,800 in benefits!!! DONT MAKE MY MISTAKE!!!
I'm sorry you had that experience, but it wasn't because the phone system is a "trap." The requirement to conduct and document job search activities applies regardless of how you file your weekly claim. ESD is clear in their materials that you must maintain a job search log. The phone system not collecting this information doesn't exempt anyone from the requirement.
When I filed for unemployment back in 2020, I remember they temporarily waived the job search requirements during the pandemic. Have those all been reinstated now? Just curious as I might need to file again soon.
Yes, job search requirements were fully reinstated in July 2021. Currently in 2025, you must complete and document 3 job search activities each week to remain eligible for benefits. This requirement applies to all regular unemployment insurance claimants except those with employer-approved standby status or in certain approved training programs.
Join the conversation
One more important thing: if you disagree with any of the facts ESD presents during the hearing, make sure to clearly state your objection. The judge can only rule on what's discussed during the hearing. If the ESD rep says something incorrect and you don't challenge it, the judge will assume you agree with that fact. Be polite but firm if you need to correct something.
Join the conversation
quick question - if u get denied for more benefits can u still finish ur bootcamp? would they kick u out or let u finish? maybe u could do uber or something for those last few weeks just to pay bills?
The bootcamp would let me finish if I can keep paying tuition (I already paid half upfront). The problem is I can't do other work during the program - it's 50+ hours a week of coding and projects. That's why I'm so stressed about keeping benefits until I graduate.
I just wanted to follow up since several people mentioned Commissioner Review. This process typically takes 4-8 weeks, so it's not a quick solution to your immediate problem. However, it might be worth pursuing alongside your other options. Regarding the Claimyr suggestion, while I can't personally vouch for third-party services, getting through to an actual ESD representative is critical right now. They can check your specific claim details and give you personalized guidance based on your exact situation. Finally, if you do end up applying for regular UI after TB, be aware that your weekly benefit amount might be different than what you're receiving now under TB.
Thanks for the additional info. I think I'll try Claimyr to at least talk to someone at ESD while also starting the Commissioner Review process just in case. And I'll prepare for a possible change in benefit amount if I switch to regular UI. Hopefully something works out - I've come too far to quit now!
Join the conversation
Does anyone know if you get paid faster if you have the ESD debit card instead of direct deposit? My neighbor said he gets his money Monday night sometimes.
Yes, the ESD debit card (ReliaCard) payments often show up 12-24 hours faster than direct deposit because there's no bank processing time. However, many people prefer direct deposit to avoid the ReliaCard fees. It's a trade-off between slightly faster payment versus potential fees and having to transfer money around.
Join the conversation
I had a somewhat similar experience last month but with mixed results. I did get through to the Governor's office right away (called around 9:30am on a Tuesday), and they took all my information and said they'd send an urgent inquiry to ESD. The good news: I did get a call from ESD about a week later. The bad news: The ESD rep who called me said they still couldn't expedite my adjudication because they were handling cases in the order received and there were "thousands" ahead of mine. She said the only cases being expedited were those facing immediate eviction or utility shutoff with formal notices. So while the Governor's office did get ESD to call me, it didn't actually speed up my claim processing. I ended up waiting another 3 weeks before my adjudication was completed (9 weeks total). Just sharing so you have realistic expectations.
Thanks for sharing your experience. That's definitely disappointing but I appreciate the reality check. I actually do have an eviction warning notice now, so maybe that will help in my case? This whole process is so frustrating.
Just as an update to everyone following this thread - I called the Governor's office number that OP shared (360-902-4111) this morning and also got through right away. The person I spoke with was very professional and said they'd submit an inquiry about my claim. They gave me a reference number and everything, which already feels more promising than my previous attempts to contact ESD. I'll update here if/when I hear anything back!
cool let us know if anything actually happens. i got a reference # too and still nothing changed lol
Join the conversation
The ESD system is such a mess! They make everything 10x more complicated than it needs to be and then punish US for their confusing rules. I've been on unemployment twice and they ALWAYS find some reason to hassle you or create problems. Good luck getting through to anyone who can actually help!
Seriously! They have these complicated rules but the instructions are so vague. Then they act like we're trying to commit fraud when we make honest mistakes.
Update: I was able to get through to ESD! For anyone with a similar issue, the agent told me they've added notes to my file about the correction and adjusted my claim for last week. Because I was still under my weekly benefit amount even with the orientation day added, I didn't have to pay anything back. She said it was good I caught it early before they had to investigate. Also confirmed I can just stop claiming once I start my full-time job. Such a relief to have this resolved!
nice! did u end up using that call service thing someone mentioned?
Yeah, I used Claimyr after two more failed attempts trying to call directly. Got connected to an agent within 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours!
Join the conversation
this whole sysem is rigged.... ive been waiting 11 weeks now for my appeal and still no date. they just hope we'll give up and go away
While I understand your frustration, appeals are actually handled by OAH (Office of Administrative Hearings), not ESD directly. They're a separate agency that handles appeals for multiple government departments. If it's been more than 6 weeks since you filed your appeal, you should be able to contact OAH directly at 1-800-583-8271 to check on status.
Update: I just got a letter from OAH with my appeal date! It's scheduled for July 12th, so about 5 weeks from when I filed the appeal. Now I'm super nervous and trying to gather all my documentation. Really appreciate all the advice everyone has shared - I feel much more prepared now. I'm still filing my weekly claims and doing job searches as recommended. Fingers crossed this works out.
Great news! Make copies of all your documents for the hearing, and try to submit them to OAH in advance if possible. Also, prepare a brief opening statement (2-3 minutes) that clearly explains your situation. Practice it a few times so you don't ramble during the hearing. Good luck!
Join the conversation
My roommate went thru this exact thing and ESD is so incompetent they told him 3 different stories about what happens next!!! First they said it would auto-process, then they said he needed to fill out some special form, then another person said there was no form but they'd "note his account." FINALLY he got someone who actually helped and it turned out they needed to manually reissue the payment. But get this - they were about to send it back to the SAME closed account until he caught their mistake!!! The whole system is a joke.
thats so typical!! i swear they just make stuff up half the time. when i called the first time they said 2-3 days, then i called again and they said 2-3 WEEKS. its like nobody there knows whats actually going on!!
Just to add one important detail - when your payment is returned to ESD, it goes into what they call their "refund queue." This is different from their regular payment processing system. Once it's in that queue, a financial specialist needs to process it and move it back to the payment system. That's why it takes extra time and sometimes requires you to call and request specific action. Make sure your banking info is 100% accurate in the system before they reprocess it.
Thank you! I double-checked my banking info in the system this morning and it's correct. I'll be sure to mention the "refund queue" when I call. Really appreciate all the helpful advice from everyone.
Join the conversation
THE PHONE SYSTEM IS HORRIBLE!!! I tried calling last week and it hung up on me FOUR TIMES before I could file my claim!!! ESD doesn't care that people can't get through. I don't know why they can't hire more people to answer phones when we're REQUIRED to file weekly. And don't get me started on their ridiculous job search requirements - 3 activities a week is excessive when there are barely any jobs in my field. The whole system is designed to make people give up!!!
i feel u!!! took me 5 tries last time. best time 2 call is super early like 7:01am when they first open!!!
Thanks for the tip but I shouldn't have to set my alarm for 7am just to get through!!! The system is BROKEN and nobody at ESD seems to care. I worked for 12 years paying into this system and now that I need help they make it impossible to get benefits!!
Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I just successfully filed by phone and you were all right - they only asked if I completed my job search activities without asking for details. I'm going to make sure my job search log is more detailed though, especially adding the job titles I was missing. Sounds like those random audits are pretty common.
Ravi Patel
After struggling with the ESD phone lines for weeks, I finally got through last month and asked this exact question about temp work. The agent told me that taking temporary work is actually ENCOURAGED by ESD and will not negatively impact your existing claim. When the temp job ends, you'll need to reopen your claim. The claims agent will ask if you're still unemployed through no fault of your own, and a scheduled end to temporary work fits that criteria perfectly. Regarding the commute - the agent said they consider reasonable commutes to be up to 1 hour one-way in the first 8 weeks of unemployment, then up to 30 minutes after that. So timing matters too!
0 coins
Chloe Martin
•This is SO IMPORTANT about the timing!!! I didn't know ESD changed what's considered "suitable work" based on how long you've been unemployed. That makes a huge difference for the OP's situation. If they've been laid off for less than 8 weeks, refusing a job that's a 1-hour commute could definitely jeopardize their benefits!
0 coins
PixelPrincess
i think ur overthinking this. if the temp job pays ok just take it. they might even hire u permanent if u do good. unemployment is only like max $1100 a week anyway and dealing with esd is SUCH a pain!!
0 coins
Astrid Bergström
•The current maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $1,051 in 2025, not $1,100. And very few claimants qualify for the maximum - the average is closer to $600-700 per week. But you're right that stable employment, even temporary, is often preferable to dealing with the unemployment system if it's financially comparable.
0 coins