Can't reach ESD on 800 number - they keep hanging up instead of putting me on hold

Same experience here. I've been trying for 2 weeks straight, calling at different times (6:01 AM right when they open, midday, 4:45 PM right before close). The system is programmed to hang up when their queue is full rather than let you wait. It's incredibly frustrating, especially when you NEED to talk to someone about your claim.

ESD is a JOKE!!! They expect us to be available 24/7 for them but we can't even get 2 minutes of their time!!! I called 37 TIMES last month before I finally got through. The trick is to call at EXACTLY 7:35am on Wednesday. For some reason they have more staff that day/time. Good luck!!!

I had the same problem and was getting desperate. I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an ESD agent after I'd been trying for weeks. They basically keep dialing for you and then call you when they get through to an agent. I was skeptical but they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Honestly it was worth it to finally talk to someone and get my adjudication issue resolved.

have u tried emailing them thru ur eservices account? sometimes they respond that way faster than phone

I was in your exact situation in January. My claim was stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks, couldn't get through on the phone, and was running out of money fast. What finally worked for me was contacting my state representative's office. I filled out their constituent services form explaining my situation, and their office has staff who specifically deal with ESD issues. They reached out to ESD on my behalf, and within 4 days I got a call directly from an ESD supervisor who fixed my claim. Seriously, try your state rep - it's literally their job to help with these issues and they have direct channels to ESD.

U know what angers me???? They expect us to do our weekly claims EXACTLY on time or we lose benefits but then they can take MONTHS to process our claims and we just have to wait???! THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!

ESD claims specialist here. I understand everyone's frustration with the phone system. The reality is that our call center is severely understaffed for the volume of claims we're handling. Here are some actual tips that might help: 1. Try calling on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 1:30-2:30pm. Our data shows these times typically have slightly lower call volumes. 2. Make sure your eServices account is fully set up with all required documentation uploaded. Many issues can be resolved without a phone call. 3. If your claim is in adjudication, calling repeatedly won't speed up the process. Adjudicators work through cases in order of filing date with some priority exceptions. 4. If you're facing immediate hardship (eviction, utility shutoff), note that specifically in your eServices messages as those can be flagged for expedited review. 5. The state representative suggestion is actually very effective - they do have liaison channels that can help escalate legitimate issues.

i worked at the esd call center last year for 4 months before quitting. its totally broken. they hire temps with barely any training and the turnover is insane. also most agents cant even help with complex issues they just put notes on ur account and tell u to wait.

Just wanted to follow up and say I finally managed to get through this morning after trying the 1:30pm Tuesday suggestion. Waited on hold for 1 hour and 45 minutes, but at least they didn't hang up on me this time. The agent was actually helpful once I got through and explained that my claim needed additional wage verification which is why it was stuck. They're sending me a form to fill out, so hopefully it gets resolved soon.