Can't find ESD customer service chat button - where is it hidden?

lol good luck finding that. i spent 2 weeks looking for it myself. pretty sure it doesn't exist anymore since covid. they took it down when they got swamped and never put it back up

The chat feature isn't available for everyone. It only appears on your eServices dashboard if certain conditions are met - typically if you have a specific type of claim issue that's eligible for chat support. Most common claims don't qualify. In my experience, the chat icon will appear in the top right corner of your dashboard when you're logged in, but only if your claim meets their criteria. What type of claim do you have specifically and what's the exact status showing?

Hate to break it to you but ESD basically makes it IMPOSSIBLE to contact them these days!! When I had my identity verification problem last month, I called 215 times over 3 days (yes I counted) and got hung up on EVERY SINGLE TIME. The chat exists in theory but they turn it on and off depending on call volume which means it's ALWAYS OFF. The whole system is designed to make you give up!!!

The ESD chat feature is currently only available intermittently due to high volume. It appears as a small speech bubble icon in the bottom right corner of the dashboard when it's enabled. However, it's rarely available these days. For a 'fact-finding' status, you should actually receive a questionnaire in your eServices Notices section that you need to complete. Double-check your notices tab, as this is often mistaken for a general status rather than an action item. If there's no questionnaire, then calling is your only option. The best way to reach ESD quickly is early morning (7:30-8:00am) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when call volume is typically lower. Mondays and Fridays are nearly impossible to get through.

I managed to get through to ESD last week using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's this service that helps you bypass the busy signals and actually get in the ESD phone queue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It saved me literally days of frustration after trying for a week on my own. The agent helped clear up my adjudication issue in about 10 minutes once I actually got through to someone. Worth checking out if you're desperate to talk to someone at ESD.

Regarding your 'fact-finding' status - this typically means they're investigating something specific about your claim but haven't made a determination yet. Since you mentioned nothing appears in your Notices section, you should check if you have any emails from ESD that might have directed you to upload documents or complete a questionnaire elsewhere. Also, while the chat feature is rarely available, make sure you're checking from a desktop computer and not the mobile version of the site - the chat function doesn't appear on mobile at all.

my brother works at worksource and he said the chat button only shows up when they have enough staff available which is basically never because theyre super understaffed. he said dont waste time looking for it and just keep calling

UPDATE: I tried that Claimyr service that someone suggested and actually got through to ESD this morning! Turns out my claim had a weird flag on it because my former employer reported my separation reason differently than I did. The agent cleared it up immediately and said my payments should process within 48 hours. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help.