Can't reach ESD by phone - all calls disconnected due to 'high volume'

Same thing happened to me last month. I tried calling 46 times one day (yes, I kept count) and never got through. The system is completely overwhelmed right now with all the seasonal layoffs happening. What worked for me was contacting my state representative's office - they have special channels to reach ESD and can sometimes help escalate your case.

Have you tried calling from a different phone number? Sounds weird but some people say ESD's system is filtering repeat callers when they're overloaded. Also, Thursdays seem to have slightly lower call volume in my experience. Whatever you do, don't miss filing your weekly claims while waiting to resolve this - you still need to submit those even if you're in adjudication.

I've been through this exact situation, and I ended up using Claimyr to get through to an ESD agent. It's a service that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first, but it worked perfectly - I got a call back within about an hour with an actual ESD agent on the line. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It was honestly such a relief after two weeks of failed call attempts. The agent was able to resolve my adjudication issue in about 15 minutes.

its not just you, esd is a complete disaster right now!!! my cousins boyfriends mom works for worksorce and she said they are 8 WEEKS behind on processing claims!!! the whole system is broken and they dont care about ppl who need there money. its all about there metrics an stats and not about helping real ppl who cant pay bills

To answer your original question - yes, ESD does have a callback feature, but it only activates when their queue isn't completely full. The problem is that in 2025, their systems are still not equipped to handle the volume they're receiving. A few tips based on my experience: 1. Call at 7:58am, two minutes before they officially open 2. Try the employer line and then ask to be transferred (controversial tip but works sometimes) 3. Check if you qualify for priority status (certain hardship situations) 4. Use the virtual assistant on the website to schedule a callback (when available) Also, make sure you've uploaded all requested documents in your online account. Sometimes claims get stuck because they're waiting on documentation that wasn't properly submitted.

Just want to follow up on Claimyr that I mentioned. @skeptical_claimant I was suspicious too at first, but it worked for me. The service basically keeps dialing for you using their system that can detect when a line opens up. When they get through, they call you and connect you to the ESD agent who's on the line. Saved me days of frustration.

UPDATE: I finally got through! For anyone with the same problem, here's what worked: I called exactly at 7:58am like someone suggested, and instead of selecting the claims option in the menu, I selected the employer option first, then asked to be transferred. The wait was still about 45 minutes but at least I didn't get disconnected. The agent told me my claim had been flagged for identity verification (even though I already uploaded my documents weeks ago) and they were able to clear it on the spot. My status changed from 'adjudication' to 'processed' within a few hours. Thanks everyone for the suggestions! This forum was way more helpful than anything on the actual ESD website.

So glad you got through, Sofia! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm a newcomer here and have been dealing with the exact same issue - stuck in adjudication for 2 weeks now and can't get through by phone. I'm definitely going to try the 7:58am employer line trick tomorrow morning. It's ridiculous that we have to use workarounds like this just to reach a government agency that's supposed to help us. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when the official support channels completely fail us.

As someone who just joined this community after weeks of ESD frustration, I can't thank you all enough for these tips! I've been in adjudication hell for almost a month now and was starting to lose hope. Reading through all these suggestions gives me actual actionable steps to try. I'm definitely going to attempt the 7:58am employer line approach tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I might look into Claimyr or contacting my state rep. It's both comforting and infuriating to know I'm not alone in this struggle. The fact that we have to crowdsource solutions because the official system is so broken really says something about the state of our unemployment services. Sofia, congratulations on getting your issue resolved - your success story gives the rest of us hope!

New member here who just joined after finding this thread through a desperate Google search! I've been in adjudication for 2.5 weeks and have made probably 60+ failed call attempts. Reading through all these experiences and solutions has been incredibly validating - I was starting to think I was doing something wrong or that there was some secret process I didn't know about. I'm definitely going to try the 7:58am employer line strategy tomorrow morning, and I've already bookmarked the Claimyr service and looked up my state representative's contact info as backup options. It's both reassuring and maddening to see how many of us are dealing with the exact same broken system. Special thanks to Sofia for the detailed success story and to everyone who's shared specific tips and timelines. This community is providing better guidance than anything I've found on official ESD resources. I'll report back with results - hoping to add another success story to help the next person who finds this thread in desperation like I did!

Just wanted to add my voice as another newcomer who found this thread during my own ESD phone nightmare! I've been stuck in adjudication for almost 3 weeks now and have been calling multiple times daily with zero success - just that infuriating "high call volume" message followed by the disconnect. This community has been incredibly helpful and I'm planning to try several of the strategies mentioned here. I'm going to attempt the 7:58am employer line approach tomorrow morning, and I've already looked into the Claimyr service as a backup option. It's both comforting and deeply frustrating to see how widespread this problem is - the fact that we need to crowdsource workarounds just to access basic unemployment services really highlights how broken the system has become. Sofia, congratulations on getting your issue resolved! Your detailed update gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. I'll definitely report back with my results to hopefully help the next person who finds themselves in this same impossible situation. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can actually get useful information when the official channels completely fail us!

New member here who just discovered this incredible thread! I've been battling the ESD phone system for nearly a month now - stuck in adjudication with absolutely no way to reach a human being. Like so many others here, I was starting to think I was going crazy or missing something obvious. Reading through all these experiences has been both validating and incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to try the 7:58am employer line strategy tomorrow morning, and I've already researched the Claimyr service and my state representative's office as backup options. It's amazing (and honestly depressing) how this single community thread contains more actionable solutions than the entire official ESD website and support system combined. Sofia, huge congratulations on getting your issue resolved - your detailed success story gives me real hope! And thank you to everyone who's taken the time to document their strategies and results. This community is literally saving people's sanity when our own government systems are completely failing us. I'll make sure to report back with my results to hopefully help the next desperate person who stumbles across this thread. The mutual support here is incredible and much needed during what's already such a stressful time for all of us!