Washington Unemployment
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Can't reach a human at ESD - claim disqualified for unknown reason
I'm at my wit's end trying to reach someone at ESD about my disqualified claim. I've called the 800 number literally 27 times over the past week and it's ALWAYS just the automated system. I can't get through to a real person no matter what options I select! My claim shows 'disqualified' on eServices but doesn't explain why. A friend who works at WorkSource mentioned there's been some system errors lately that are auto-disqualifying legitimate claims. I NEED to talk to an actual person to figure this out since rent is due next week. Is there a secret phone number? A specific time to call? Anything? My bills aren't going to wait for ESD to fix their glitchy system.
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Claim STILL in adjudication after both Governor's office AND Legislator escalations - is this normal??
I'm seriously at my wit's end with ESD. My claim has been stuck in adjudication for what feels like forever, with ZERO pending issues showing on my account. A month ago I managed to get the governor's office to escalate my claim (which was a whole ordeal in itself), and absolutely NOTHING happened. Then about 10 days ago, my state legislator's office stepped in to help after I practically begged them, and still NOTHING has changed! My claim status remains exactly the same - perpetually "in adjudication" with no explanation of what they're even adjudicating! I've tried calling countless times but either can't get through or am told someone will "look into it" with no results. I'm drowning in bills and about to miss my rent payment. Is this level of bureaucratic paralysis normal even after TWO government escalations? How much longer am I supposed to wait? Anyone had similar experiences with escalations that went nowhere?
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Last year I was in adjudication for 8 weeks, and what finally worked was sending a direct email to the ESD Commissioner's office explaining my hardship situation. I'm not saying it will work for everyone, but within 3 days of sending that email, my claim was suddenly processed. Sometimes going straight to the top can shake things loose when the normal channels are backed up. I included details about facing eviction and having medical needs that couldn't wait. If you're in a genuinely dire situation, it might be worth trying.
Do you still have the email address you used? I'm definitely in a hardship situation at this point - about to miss rent and car payment, and I have medication I need to refill next week.
I believe I sent it to commissioner@esd.wa.gov but that was last year so maybe double-check their website to make sure it's still current. Keep your email concise but include specific details about your hardship situation and all the steps you've already taken (governor's office, legislator, etc). Good luck!
Just checking back - any updates? Did any of the suggestions help move your claim forward?
Small progress! I finally got through to someone at ESD using Claimyr (definitely worth it after weeks of trying on my own). The agent confirmed there's an employer verification issue that's not showing on my portal. My former employer apparently hasn't responded to ESD's requests for information. I've contacted my ex-employer and they're going to submit the required info today. The agent also noted the hardship on my account and said it should expedite things once the employer responds. Fingers crossed, but at least now I know what the holdup is!
ESD phone claim shows as 'processing' but system says I have a weekly claim to file - what's going on?
Anyone experiencing this weird glitch? My husband and I both file for unemployment. He filed his weekly claim last night at 12:01 AM over the phone (he prefers using the phone system), but when he logged into his eServices account this morning to double-check, it's showing two contradictory things: 1. On the homepage, it says he has a weekly claim to file 2. But when he checks his payment history, it shows this week (ending 5/4/2025) as 'processing' I'm confused because I filed mine online and don't have this issue. Is this a known problem with phone claims? Should he ignore the 'claim to file' message since it's already processing? I'm worried if he tries to file again it might mess things up or flag his account for fraud or something. Has the system just not updated yet or is something wrong?
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The REAL question is why does ESD still have a phone system from the stone age when everything else in the world has moved online?? They've had YEARS to fix this!! And don't even get me started on their "new and improved" website that's down for maintenance every other weekend. I swear they do this on purpose to make people give up on claiming benefits.
I understand the frustration, but the phone system actually serves an important purpose for people with limited internet access, disabilities, or language barriers. The integration issues are definitely a problem though. ESD has been allocated funds to upgrade their systems, but these large government IT projects take time to implement properly.
Ok fine but its 2025! We shouldnt have government systems that cant talk to each other! My smart fridge can order groceries but ESD cant figure out if I filed a claim or not???
is there a time limit on filing weekly claims? i missed last week and wondering if i can still file or if im out of luck
@user123 - That's a completely different question from what OP was asking, but yes, you have until the end of the following week to file a weekly claim. So if you missed last week, file it ASAP before this week ends. You'll need to provide a good reason for filing late, and it might delay your payment.
ESD denied me after judge ruled in my favor - availability question when caring for ill parent
So frustrated with ESD right now! Was at my job for 6 years but had to quit to move back to my hometown because my dad got seriously ill. Initially got denied benefits, went through the whole appeal process, and the judge RULED IN MY FAVOR. Victory, right? Nope! Three months after winning my appeal, ESD just denied me AGAIN saying I'm "not available for 40 hour work week" because I'm caring for my dad. This is completely false - my dad has a professional caretaker who handles his daily needs! I've literally never said I couldn't work full-time, and I've been diligently doing all my required job search activities every week (3+ per week, documenting everything). I'm getting desperate financially after all these months of fighting the system. Has anyone dealt with an ESD reversal after winning an appeal? What's my next step here? Do I have to appeal AGAIN?
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One more important note: When filing your appeal, specifically request what's called a "de novo review" of your entire claim. This means the judge will look at your case from scratch, not just the availability issue. Since you already have a favorable ruling on the voluntary quit issue, this could be advantageous. Also, contact the Administrative Hearings Coordinator and request that your previous favorable decision be included in the record for your new appeal. This creates a stronger paper trail showing that part of your eligibility has already been established.
Thank you so much! I'm learning so much about how this system works. I'll definitely request the de novo review and contact the hearings coordinator about including my previous decision.
To answer your earlier question - yes, absolutely continue filing your weekly claims while appealing. If you win your appeal, they can only pay you for weeks you properly filed claims. And file your appeal online through eServices so you have immediate confirmation it was received. The clock is ticking on that 30-day deadline!
I'll keep filing my weekly claims for sure. I submitted the appeal this morning through eServices. Now I'm trying to get through to someone on the phone to understand exactly why they made this determination. Thanks again for all the help.
ESD payment shown as 'paid' but funds not in bank account yet - normal timeline?
After fighting with ESD for almost 2 months, my claim FINALLY moved from 'adjudication pending' to 'paid' status this morning! What a relief after 8 weeks of stress and zero income. 😅 Now I'm wondering - how long should I expect to wait before the money actually hits my bank account? I'm with KeyBank if that matters. Bills are seriously piling up and I need to know if I'm looking at hours, days, or (please no) another week? Anyone with recent experience know the typical timeframe between 'paid' status and actual deposit? Thanks in advance!
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Quick update from my earlier comment - I should mention that if you selected the ESD debit card option instead of direct deposit, it typically takes 7-10 business days to receive your card in the mail for first-time payments. The funds will be available as soon as you activate the card though.
I definitely chose direct deposit! No way I was waiting for a card in the mail with bills due. But good info for others who might be reading this thread.
Jamal Brown
Thank you all for the suggestions! I tried calling this morning at 8:00 am sharp using the menu options suggested, but still ended up in the automated system with a "high call volume" message. I've gone ahead and sent a message through eServices AND emailed my state rep as suggested. I may try the Claimyr service tomorrow if I don't hear anything by then. This is so frustrating - I've been working for 7 years and this is the first time I've ever needed unemployment. I had no idea it would be this difficult just to talk to someone about why my claim was denied.
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Dylan Mitchell
When you do get through to someone, make sure to ask if they can put a note on your file that this was a system error. This will help if you encounter any similar issues in the future. Also ask them to explain exactly why the disqualification happened so you understand what to avoid going forward.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to ESD yet? Did any of the methods work for you?
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Jamal Brown
AuthorYES! I finally got through using Claimyr this morning after trying for 3 more days with no luck on the regular line. The agent confirmed it was a system error related to my identity verification. Apparently my driver's license expiration date was entered incorrectly. They fixed it on the spot and said my payments should resume next week. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help.
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