my cousin works at esd and says their whole computer system is a mess since the 2025 upgrade. apparently the verification system and the payment system aren't talking to each other properly. lots of claims are getting stuck in this weird limbo where the docs are verified but the payment release doesn't happen automatically like it should. she says they're totally overwhelmed with these cases.

I had the exact same problem last month - stuck in ID verification for 7 weeks despite uploading crystal clear documents. The regular phone line was completely useless (when I could even get through). One thing I discovered is that if you go to your nearest WorkSource office in person, they sometimes have direct lines to ESD specialists who can help with these identity verification issues. I went to the one in Tacoma and the staff person there made a call on my behalf to someone who could actually see what was happening with my claim. Turned out my verification had passed weeks ago but was stuck in what they called a "technical exception queue" waiting for manual review. The in-person WorkSource staff escalated it for me, and my claim was paid three days later. Might be worth trying if the Governor's Office approach doesn't work for anyone.

anybody else notice that ESD seems to be checking job search logs more carefully lately??? my friend got audited and had to provide proof of all her applications from the past 8 weeks or they were gonna cut her benefits!!

UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for the advice and support. I've implemented several suggestions - updated my resume with current keywords, reached out to my network, and called ESD about additional resources (using Claimyr really did help bypass the phone nightmare). I've got two promising interviews next week, one from a former colleague's referral. I'm also researching the SEAP program as a potential option. Will let you all know how things progress, but I'm feeling much more optimistic now. This community has been incredibly helpful during a really tough time.

Here's a strategy that often works for pending claims: 1. Contact your state representative or senator's office - they have liaisons who can contact ESD directly 2. Provide your claim ID, contact info, and a brief explanation of the delay 3. Sign their privacy release form so they can inquire on your behalf I was an ESD adjudicator before switching careers, and legislative inquiries always got fast-tracked. It's not ideal that it works this way, but it often gets results within 7-10 days versus months of waiting.

I waited like 5 months last year lol. Then got all the backpay at once which was nice but still had to max out credit cards waiting. The system is broken but they do pay eventually if you're eligible.

btw those emails are good sometimes tho,, I actually got a decent job lead from 1 of the hiring events last month so dont ignore them completely maybe

Quick tip about WorkSource emails - they typically use this format for different communications: - "INFORMATION ONLY" emails = optional events, resources - "ACTION REQUIRED" emails = mandatory stuff that affects benefits - "REMINDER" emails = could be either type Always check the subject line and first paragraph to determine if it's mandatory. And remember, you can always count event attendance as one of your three weekly activities, so they can be useful even though they're optional.

To address your specific issue with February payments - there was a known issue with the payment system during the February 12-18 processing week that affected many claimants. If your missing payments are from that period, there's a special resolution process. For the phone issues, there are a few technical approaches that can help: 1. When calling at 8am, dial the last digit exactly as the clock hits 8:00:00, not before 2. If disconnected, wait 2-3 minutes before trying again (immediate redials often get filtered) 3. Try using a different phone if possible - some VoIP or cell services get lower priority 4. If you receive the high call volume message, stay on the line completely silent until the automated system finishes - sometimes it will still transfer you Also, if your claim is specifically related to missing February payments, the direct line for payment issues is 833-572-8400, which sometimes has shorter wait times than the main line.

Just wanted to follow up - did you have any luck getting through? The February payment issue has been a major headache for so many people.