Anyone reached WA Paid Family Leave agents without getting hung up on? 46 minutes waiting...

I've been through this nightmare. The PFML phone system is completely overwhelmed right now. What worked for me was calling right when they open at 8am sharp. I mean literally dialing at 7:59 and hitting send at 8:00:00. Got through after only a 12 min wait. Also, try Thursdays - for some reason they seemed less busy that day when I was dealing with my claim.

Just to clarify - you're trying to reach the Paid Family & Medical Leave department, not unemployment (ESD), correct? They're separate divisions with different phone systems, though both are challenging to reach. For PFML, try 833-717-2273. For regular unemployment, it's 800-318-6022. I've found that the technical issues are specific to which department you're calling.

OMG SAME THING!!! i waited 1hr 20min yesterday and then some lady picked up and immediatly hung up on me!!!! i was so mad i threw my phone lol. their whole system is garbage. i think they do it on purpose so they dont have to pay benefits honestly.

Have you tried emailing them instead? Sometimes the written route is faster for PFML questions. There's a contact form somewhere on the paidleave.wa.gov site. I got a response in about 3 days when I couldn't get through by phone.

i had this exact problem last month when my baby was born!! so annoying when ur trying to figure out how to pay bills while on leave. what i did was contact my HR department and they actually had a special contact person at PFML they work with. might be worth asking your employer if they have a better way to reach someone?

I was in the same boat last month trying to reach PFML about my bonding leave claim. After 4 days of getting disconnected or waiting 1+ hours, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Basically they navigate the phone system and wait on hold for you, then call you when an agent is about to pick up. Saved me tons of stress when I was dealing with a PFML issue while taking care of my newborn.

Just FYI - the PFML department has different requirements and processes than regular unemployment. Make sure you're thoroughly prepared when you do get through: 1. Have your PFML application ID ready 2. Be able to verify your identity (SSN, DOB, address) 3. Keep notes about specific questions you need answered 4. Have documentation of your qualifying event accessible 5. Track the name of the person you speak with I've found that being extremely organized helps prevent transferred calls or confusion that might result in disconnection.

i know this is kind of random but is anyone else noticing that ALL wa state agencies are impossible to reach lately?? i had same issue with DOL for a drivers license problem and then my mom couldnt get thru to HCA for medicaid questions. is this just how government works now or what??

To specifically address the PFML phone system issues, I recommend the following steps that have worked for others: 1. Try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mid-morning (10-11am). Their highest volume is typically Mondays and Fridays. 2. If you get the "we're experiencing high call volume" message, hang up and immediately redial rather than waiting on hold. Sometimes you'll get a different message and can enter the queue. 3. If you have the option, use a landline rather than cell phone - the connection is more stable and less likely to drop. 4. When you do get through, immediately ask the agent to note in your file that you've experienced disconnections. This helps document the issue. 5. As a last resort, contact your state representative's office. They often have constituent services that can help navigate state agencies.