Can I call ESD on holidays? Success reaching an agent today when everyone thought they're closed
Just wanted to share a quick win! I've been trying for WEEKS to reach someone at ESD about my UI claim that's been pending since early January. Everyone kept telling me that ESD would be closed today because of the holiday, but I decided to try calling anyway around 10:30am. Surprisingly I got through after only about 25 minutes on hold! The agent was super helpful and fixed an issue with my ID verification that had been holding everything up. Apparently they ARE open today but with reduced staff. If you've been struggling to get through, today might actually be a good day to try since fewer people are calling. Just don't mix up UI (regular unemployment) with PFML (paid family leave) like I almost did - they're different departments with different phone lines!
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Noah Lee
wait they're open today?? i thought all government offices were closed for the holiday
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Olivia Garcia
•Yep! The agent told me they have reduced staff but are definitely taking calls. I think a lot of people just assume they're closed.
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Ava Hernandez
This is actually a great tip. I've worked in government before and holidays are often the BEST time to call because the call volume drops significantly while they still maintain a skeleton crew. ESD typically keeps phone lines open on most holidays except for the major ones like Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. The exception would be if the holiday falls on a weekend - then they follow the federal schedule for observing it (Friday or Monday). One important distinction: UI and PFML are completely separate programs with different phone systems and staff. UI is traditional unemployment insurance handled by ESD. PFML is Paid Family & Medical Leave which is also administered by ESD but has its own dedicated team and funding source. If you need PFML, make sure you're calling their specific number: 833-717-2273.
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Isabella Martin
•i tried calling jst now and im still getting the stupid automated message about high call volume. guess my luck isnt as good as OP's
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Elijah Jackson
I've been trying to reach someone at ESD for THREE MONTHS about my claim that's been stuck in adjudication!!! Every time I call it's either 'high call volume' or I wait on hold for 2+ hours and then magically get disconnected right when someone picks up. It's INFURIATING!!! Did you do anything special to get through? Did you select specific options in the phone menu? I'm desperate at this point - my savings are completely gone and I'm about to miss another rent payment because of these delays.
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Sophia Miller
•Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that basically calls ESD for you and then connects you when they get through to an agent. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim got stuck in pending status. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It's especially helpful if you've been getting those frustrating disconnects after waiting on hold forever.
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Elijah Jackson
•I've never heard of this before. Does it actually work? I'm willing to try ANYTHING at this point. My landlord is running out of patience and I'm sick of eating ramen for every meal because ESD can't get their act together.
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Mason Davis
Thank you for sharing this! I've been trying to reach ESD about my adjudication issue for weeks without success. Quick question though - did the agent mention how long it typically takes for claims to move from pending to paid once the ID verification is complete? I uploaded all my documents 3 weeks ago and still nothing...
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Olivia Garcia
•The agent told me that once the ID verification is approved, it should only take 2-3 business days for the claim to start processing for payment. If it's been 3 weeks, something else might be holding it up. When you log into your eServices account, do you see any alerts or messages asking for additional information?
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Mia Rodriguez
lol must be nice. i called 23 times yesterdya and still couldnt get through. the whole system is a joke
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Ava Hernandez
•Try calling first thing in the morning (right when they open at 8:00 AM) or during lunch hours (12:30-1:30 PM) when many agents are on break but a few are still answering calls. Also, Thursdays and Fridays tend to have lower call volumes than Mondays and Tuesdays. Hope that helps!
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Sophia Miller
I'm glad you got through! One thing to keep in mind for anyone reading this thread - there's a big difference between UI and PFML in terms of claim processing times too. UI claims that require adjudication can take 4-8 weeks to resolve, while PFML claims typically process in 1-2 weeks if all your documentation is in order. The most common reason for UI delays is earnings verification or employer disputes about your separation reason. For anyone still struggling to get through on the phone lines, remember you can also use the eServices Message Center to communicate with ESD, though responses might take 5-7 business days. Be super specific about your issue and include your claim ID number in every message.
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Noah Lee
•I tried the message center 3 times and never got any response whatsoever! total waste of time
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Isabella Martin
whats the best number to call for regular unemployment? i have like 5 different ones saved in my phone and i never know which one to try
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Ava Hernandez
•The main UI Claims Center number is 800-318-6022. That's the best one to use for most unemployment issues. They're open Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm (except holidays). If you have a specific adjudication issue, sometimes the claims center agents will give you a direct number to the adjudication department after your initial contact.
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Jacob Lewis
When I had issues last year they were actually pretty helpful once I got through. Speaking of which, does anyone know if they're hiring? Might be worth working for them if the pay is decent since I haven't found anything else yet...
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Sophia Miller
•Yes, ESD is actually hiring quite a few positions right now! They have a high turnover rate in their call centers. Check careers.wa.gov and search for Employment Security Department. The entry-level claims specialist positions start around $3,800-4,200 per month with full benefits. The training is about 6 weeks long.
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