Called Governor Inslee's office and got 4 weeks of unpaid ESD benefits next day!

I'm glad this worked out for you! The Governor's office can indeed help with these issues because they have direct channels to high-level ESD staff. Just for others who might need this resource, the Governor's Office constituent services number is 360-902-4111. They can often help when you've exhausted normal channels and aren't getting anywhere.\n\nFor context, ESD is dealing with a lot of claims right now due to seasonal layoffs and system updates, so many people are experiencing delays. But no one should wait a month without communication - that's excessive.

Thanks for posting that number! I should have included it in my original post. The woman I spoke with was super professional and didn't make me feel like I was bothering them or anything.

wait this actually WORKS?? I've been stuck in adjudication for 7 WEEKS now and every time I call ESD I get hung up on after 2+ hours on hold!! I'm calling the governor's office first thing tomorrow morning. Did they ask for a lot of info or just basics?

They just asked for my name, contact info, and claim ID number. I also briefly explained how long I'd been waiting and that I hadn't received any updates. Super simple, took maybe 5 minutes total. Hope it works for you too!

This is absolutely the LAST thing anyone should do. The Governor's office just sends your information to the SAME ESD people who were already working on your claim. All you're doing is creating MORE work for an overwhelmed department!!! I worked at ESD and these escalations don't actually help - they just push your claim ahead of other people who are also struggling. Your claim wasn't fixed because you called the Governor, it was going to be processed anyway.

dude if waiting over a MONTH with no response is normal to you, the system is broken. why should anyone just sit around waiting while bills pile up??? if calling the governor works then people should do it

I understand your perspective, but after a month of trying every proper channel and getting nowhere, what was I supposed to do? I was about to lose my apartment. I don't feel bad about finally getting what I was legally entitled to receive.

This is a great tip that does work in emergency situations. I had a similar experience last year when my claim was stuck pending for weeks. Another option that saved me this time around was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they got me through to an actual ESD agent in about 30 minutes when I was facing adjudication delays. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nBut definitely keep the Governor's office as a backup option if you're truly stuck. Just remember to have all your claim information ready when you call either place.

has anyone else tried this claimyr thing? seems sketchy to me but i'm getting desperate here

I'm going to try this tomorrow. My claim has been \

When you call the Governor's office, just ask to speak with someone about an ESD issue. Be prepared with your claim ID, the date you filed, and a brief timeline of your attempts to contact ESD. Be polite but clear about your financial hardship. They typically take your information and submit it to ESD's escalation team, who should contact you within 48-72 hours.

i had a similar issue back in october 2024 and i tried the governors office but nothing happend for me :/ guess it depends who handles ur case or something. glad it worked for u tho! maybe ill try again

Sorry it didn't work for you! Maybe try again and specifically mention the financial hardship you're experiencing? I made it clear I was about to be evicted, which might have helped get faster action.

ok but for real the real problem is ESD is completely broken!!! why should anyone have to call the GOVERNOR to get benefits they're entitled to?? my friend works at worksource and says ESD is understaffed by like 40% right now but they aren't hiring because of \

This is actually correct. I mentioned I worked at ESD before - the department lost a ton of staff after the pandemic surge and hasn't replaced them. The remaining claims specialists are handling 3-4x the normal caseload. It's not that they don't want to help, they physically can't keep up with demand.

Just a heads-up that while the Governor's office can help, they typically only intervene in cases where there's been an excessive delay or a clear error. For routine adjudication issues that are still within normal processing timeframes (though I know waiting feels terrible), you might have better luck trying to speak directly with an ESD agent. \n\nIf you're struggling to get through to ESD on your own, I've had success using Claimyr to connect with agents. It saved me hours of hold time when I needed to verify my identity after my account got flagged. Just sharing what worked for me!

What counts as \

Generally, ESD considers 3-4 weeks to be the standard timeframe for adjudication, but with current backlogs, many claims are taking 5-6 weeks. That said, you should have received some communication by now, even if just to update you on the status. Five weeks with no communication is definitely grounds for escalation.

Just wanted to update - it's been a week since I got my payment and everything is still working properly. My weekly claims are being processed normally now too. For those asking how exactly I approached the call - I was polite but direct, explained my situation clearly, and had all my claim details ready. The person I spoke to was really understanding. I honestly wish I'd tried this sooner instead of suffering for a month!

I called this morning!!! The lady was super nice and took all my info. She said they would escalate it to ESD's executive team. Fingers crossed something happens!!