Called ESD 43 times today - still no answer! Tips for getting through?
I'm at my wit's end trying to reach someone at ESD about my claim. Been calling every day for FOUR WEEKS and either get disconnected immediately or sit on hold for 2+ hours only to get hung up on. My rent is due next week, and I've got $287 to my name. My claim shows 'pending issue' but doesn't explain what the issue is, and the website says I need to speak with an agent. How is anyone supposed to get through? I've tried calling at 8:01am, tried midday, tried 4:59pm... nothing works. Has anyone successfully reached a human being at ESD lately? What's the secret? Is there a better number to call than the main line?
18 comments
Join the conversation
Amara Eze
evry1 having same issue its not just u... theyr totally overwhelmed and understaffed right now.
0 coins
Liam McGuire
•I get that they're busy, but this is ridiculous. They're holding my money and I can't even find out why!
0 coins
Giovanni Ricci
I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to ESD after weeks of failing on my own. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got my adjudication resolved. They have a demo video if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Their website is claimyr.com - honestly wish I'd known about it weeks earlier.
0 coins
NeonNomad
•Is this legit? Sounds sketchy to pay someone just to make a phone call. No offense but feels like an ad.
0 coins
Giovanni Ricci
•Totally get the skepticism. I felt the same way initially. But after 3 weeks of getting nowhere on my own, I was desperate enough to try it. It worked for my situation - not saying it's the only solution, just sharing what helped me get my adjudication resolved.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashemi
Former ESD employee here. The 'pending issue' status means your claim triggered an automatic flag that requires manual review (adjudication). Common causes include: - Inconsistency between your reported earnings and what your employer reported - Job separation reason needs verification (especially if you marked anything other than layoff) - Identity verification issues - Work availability questions Some tips that might help: 1. Call right when they open (8:00am) but on TUESDAY or WEDNESDAY (Monday is always worst) 2. Use the callback feature if offered rather than holding 3. Check if your issue can be resolved through the secure message portal instead 4. Make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while this is being resolved Hang in there! The system is frustrating but eventually gets resolved.
0 coins
Liam McGuire
•Thank you so much for this detailed info! I actually did mark 'quit' because I relocated after my spouse got a job in another city. Could that be what's holding things up? And yes, I've continued filing weekly claims.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashemi
•Yes, that's almost certainly the issue. A voluntary quit requires adjudication to determine if you qualify for benefits under the 'quit for good cause' provisions. Relocation due to a spouse's employment can qualify, but they need to verify details. This is definitely something you need to speak with an agent about. Keep documenting your job search activities while this gets sorted out.
0 coins
Dylan Mitchell
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP!!!1!! They WANT you to stop trying so they don't have to pay benefits. I had to call 67 TIMES in one day before getting through last month. My cousin works for state govt (not ESD) and says they deliberately understaff the phones. It's all a scam to save money on the backs of people who PAID INTO THE SYSTEM!!
0 coins
Sofia Martinez
•While I understand your frustration, I don't think it's actually a deliberate attempt to deny benefits. The unemployment system wasn't designed to handle the volume of claims they're still processing. Yes, they're understaffed, but that's more a budgetary issue than a conspiracy. Most ESD agents I've spoken with genuinely want to help but are overwhelmed by the caseload.
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
i got thru last week after trying for days... what worked was calling the number then immediately pressing 1, then 3, then 4 in the menu instead of waiting for all the options. sometimes the menu changes tho. also had better luck around 3:15pm for some reason? maybe people calling at lunch or right at opening makes those times worse
0 coins
Amara Eze
•This trick worked for me 2! Called at 3:20 and got thru in only 35 min
0 coins
Liam McGuire
•I'll definitely try this approach tomorrow. Thanks for the specific menu options too!
0 coins
NeonNomad
has anyone tried going to the worksource office in person? i heard they can sometimes help with esd issues even though they're separate
0 coins
Sofia Martinez
•WorkSource staff can help with some basic UI questions, but they don't have access to the same systems as ESD claims agents. They can't resolve adjudication issues or override claim flags. However, they might be able to help identify what the specific issue is on your claim through their limited view of the system. Worth a try if you're completely stuck.
0 coins
Liam McGuire
UPDATE: I FINALLY got through! Used the 3:15pm timing suggestion and the menu shortcut from @casual_commenter. Was on hold for 47 minutes but finally spoke with someone. Turns out my claim was flagged because I quit my previous job when my husband got transferred. The agent was actually really helpful and explained that I need to provide documentation of my spouse's job offer and our relocation. She put notes on my account and said the adjudicator should review it within 7-10 business days. THANK YOU all for your help!!
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashemi
•Great news! Make sure to upload those documents ASAP through your secure portal. Also, when the adjudicator calls for the follow-up interview, be sure to emphasize that remaining in your previous location would have caused hardship due to family separation. That's a key factor for qualifying under the 'good cause quit' provision related to relocating for a spouse's employment.
0 coins
Amara Eze
•congrats!!! wish me luck still trying over here lol
0 coins