For anyone struggling to reach ESD, here's my advice based on successfully helping several family members with their claims: 1. Call the general inquiry line (833-572-8400) first thing Monday morning at 7:58am. Their IVR system activates at 8:00 sharp. 2. If that doesn't work, try the claims center specialist line (800-318-6022) on Tuesday or Wednesday mid-morning (around 10:30am) as there tends to be a slight lull in call volume then. 3. For specific issues: - ID verification: 360-486-2822 - Overpayments: 866-697-4831 - Job search requirements: 360-902-9500 4. When you do get through, ask for a direct callback number from your agent for follow-up questions. Some agents will provide this. 5. Make sure your eServices account has ALL documentation uploaded clearly and labeled correctly. This speeds up the process tremendously. Hope this helps!

Quick update - I tried Claimyr after seeing it mentioned here, and it actually worked! Got connected to an ESD agent in about 45 minutes this morning. The agent was able to push through my identity verification after reviewing the documents I had already uploaded. My claim status changed from 'pending' to 'processing' while I was on the phone with her. Just wanted to share since I know how frustrating this whole process is!

whatever u do DONT agree to any payment plan until after ur appeal!!!! my friend did that and they used it against her saying she 'acknowledged the debt' or something stupid like that. fight it all the way!!!

u should call ur state representative too! my boyfriend did that when esd was being impossible and suddenly they fixed everything real quick lol. politicians hate bad press so they usually help

my sister got partial unemployment when her retail job cut hours. she said the annoying part was having to report her exact hours every week and if she worked even 1 hour extra than reported ESD would freak out and delay her payment lol. but she got like $280 a week which helped

One more thing worth mentioning - make sure you fully understand the potential impact on your benefits if you refuse any additional hours your employer might occasionally offer. If you're receiving partial unemployment and your employer offers you extra hours for a particular week (even if it's still less than your original 40), refusing those hours could potentially be considered refusing suitable work. This is why clear communication with both your employer and ESD is crucial. Document everything, including conversations about your reduced schedule. If your employer ever offers you additional hours that you can't work for some reason, make sure to have valid reasons documented. I'd also recommend checking out WorkSource Washington's workshops - some of them actually count toward your job search activities and can help you understand the partial unemployment process better.

The WORST thing about ESD is that they never CLEARLY explain these timeframes ANYWHERE on their website!!! I changed my payment method THREE TIMES last year because I thought it wasn't working, only to discover later that I just hadn't waited long enough between changes! So annoying!

To clarify for everyone: Payment method changes in the ESD system typically take 1-3 business days to fully process. However, if a payment is already in process when you make the change, that payment will still go to your previous method. For the original poster, since you changed it Tuesday evening, your payment this week will most likely still go to direct deposit, and next week's will go to the debit card. You can verify this by checking your payment status in eServices - it will show which payment method is being used for each specific payment.

when i got laid off in january my claim got stuck in processing too but it was because i accidentally put the wrong social security number (transposed two digits lol). double check all the info you entered is 100% correct. sometimes the smallest error can hold things up for weeks!

Any updates? Did your partner's claim move from processing to paid yet? I'm in a similar situation now and wondering how long I'll be waiting...

Jumping in late here, but wanted to add that this is exactly why I've been scared to accept certain job offers too. The job market in WA is so volatile right now, especially in tech and retail. I actually turned down a 3-month contract because I was worried about what would happen to my benefits after. In retrospect, I should have just taken it and then reopened my claim like others have mentioned here. Live and learn I guess!

sorry but WHY are u even worried about this before u even have the job?? just take it if offered and do ur best! this negative thinking might be why u dont have work right now js

QUICK UPDATE: I talked to our HR rep and you all were right! They received requests from ESD back in December for all of us but the new HR manager didn't know what to do with them and they've been sitting in her email. She's submitting everything today and apologized for the delay. I also submitted a formal complaint through the ESD website and contacted my state rep. Hoping something breaks loose soon. Thanks everyone for the advice!!

One more thing to consider - now that your HR is submitting the information, you might need to call ESD to have them expedite processing the employer's response. Otherwise, it can still sit in their queue for weeks. When you call, specifically mention that the employer has now provided the requested information and you'd like the claim to be reactivated. Use the phrase "economic hardship" when explaining your situation - that can sometimes flag your case for expedited handling.

Everybody's giving good advice about the job search log, but I wanted to address the adjudication part too. My claim was in adjudication for almost 5 weeks last year! It's super frustrating but unfortunately very common. As others said, keep filing your weekly claims during this time. And stay on top of your eServices account messages - if they need more info from you, that's where they'll ask. Missing their requests can add weeks to the process.

one more thing nobody mentioned - make sure ur checking ur mail too not just online messages. ESD sent me a paper form asking for more info and i almost missed it cuz i never check my mailbox lol

I had something similar happen to me last year...tried calling for weeks and couldn't get through. My neighbor told me to try calling exactly at 7:59am right before they open, and then keep redialing continuously for the first 10 minutes. I finally got through that way after trying for 3 days. Sometimes their system lets a few calls through right when they open before it gets overwhelmed.

One more important tip: prepare for your hearing in advance! If your appeal gets accepted, you'll receive a hearing date with an Administrative Law Judge. You should: 1. Gather ALL documents related to your case 2. Write down a clear timeline of events 3. Be prepared to explain exactly why you meet the eligibility requirements 4. If your availability for work is the issue, bring examples of job postings that fit your availability The hearing is your chance to present your case, so be organized and factual. The judge won't know anything except what's in your file, so you need to clearly explain your situation.

I work in HR and deal with this frequently with our seasonal employees. Here's the official guidance: Your claim remains open for your benefit year (52 weeks from when you first applied). You can skip filing for any week(s) you work full-time or otherwise don't want/qualify for benefits. When your hours reduce again, simply resume filing your weekly claims. No need to reapply unless your benefit year has ended or you've gone more than 4 consecutive weeks without filing (which puts your claim in inactive status). If your claim goes inactive, you just need to reactivate it (much simpler than starting a new claim). You do this by logging in and selecting the option to restart your claim. It's a common situation and the system handles it well.

my roomate had something like this happen last month when he got a 2-week construction job. he just started filing again when the job ended and his claim picked up right where it left off. no problems at all