The ESD system is DESIGNED to be difficult to navigate. They WANT people to give up so they don't have to pay out benefits. I've been through 3 claims over the years and every single time they find some ridiculous reason to put you in adjudication. Last time they claimed I didn't provide enough job search evidence even though I uploaded everything correctly!!! Took 12 weeks and threatening to contact my state representative before they finally paid me what they owed. The whole system is broken and nobody in Olympia seems to care.

FINAL UPDATE: My claim was approved today and all my pending payments were released! $4,870 total for the 4 weeks. Such a massive relief. For anyone else stuck in adjudication, definitely check your notices for any fact-finding questionnaires and make sure to respond to those ASAP. That was the main holdup for me. Thank you all again for your advice and support during this stressful time!

This whole system is designed to make people give up!!! i had a friend who got disqualified for 7 weeks straight and he just stopped filing because it was so frustrating. dont give up!!!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at ESD today! Turns out there was an employer response questioning my availability for work because I had mentioned potentially taking some classes during my exit interview. The ESD agent put me in for adjudication review and said I should continue filing weekly claims while they investigate. She said it could take 3-4 weeks for the adjudication to complete, but that I should receive all back payments if it's decided in my favor. I'm still going to file an appeal just to be safe (within the 30-day window). Thank you everyone for your advice and support!

I work at a WorkSource center and can confirm the main ESD unemployment claims number is now 833-572-8400. The 6022 number is still active but primarily for employer services and informational purposes rather than claim support. For "able and available" issues specifically, you might also want to check if you received a questionnaire in your eServices account. Sometimes they send those instead of requiring a phone call. Look under "Pending Issues" in your account dashboard. If you have one, filling it out completely might resolve the issue without needing to call. If you do need to call, the best times are typically Tuesday-Thursday between a:30-10:30am or 2:30-4:00pm when call volumes tend to be lower.

UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! For anyone with the same issue - the new number is indeed 833-572-8400. I called at 8:15am and selected option 2, then 3 as suggested above. Wait time was about 35 minutes, but I finally spoke with someone who could help. Turns out the "able and available" flag was because I mentioned a doctor's appointment in my weekly claim. The agent cleared it after I explained it was just a one-time appointment that wouldn't affect my availability for work. Payment should be processed within 48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help! This forum saved my sanity.

good luck getting any straight answers from ESD lol

One more thing - if your claim is in adjudication because of an employer dispute (like if they're claiming you quit instead of being laid off), you should prepare documentation that supports your side. Texts, emails, the separation letter you mentioned. Adjudicators will look at both sides, but having clear evidence helps your case tremendously. Oh, and if you have immediate financial needs while waiting, you might qualify for emergency assistance through DSHS or local community organizations. Worth looking into if the adjudication drags on.

make sure u answer all the job search questions right or they can hold ur payment. u need to list 3 job contacts each week

Just to answer your weekend question from earlier - ESD's systems process claims 24/7, but payments only initiate on business days. So if you file on Saturday or Sunday, the payment wouldn't start processing until Monday anyway. Monday morning is still your best bet.