ESD adjudication stuck for months - need Governor's office contact to escalate claim

The Governor's Office contact info is: Phone: 360-902-4111 Email: governor.wa.gov/contact But honestly, I'd recommend trying the Office of the Ombuds for ESD first. They're specifically set up to help with claim issues that aren't getting resolved through normal channels. You can reach them at 844-395-6697 or esdmail@esd.wa.gov with "ATTENTION OMBUDS" in the subject line. If your former employer is intentionally delaying your claim, the Ombuds office can investigate. Just be prepared to explain exactly why you think the employer is causing the delay.

Just want to add my experience - I contacted the Governor's office after 2 months in adjudication and nothing happened. What finally worked was filing a complaint with my state senator's office. My claim was approved within 10 days after that. Each legislative district has caseworkers who specifically handle ESD issues.

Have you tried contacting the Technical Service Center directly? I was stuck for 6 weeks until I got through to them. Call 800-318-6022, then hit options 1, 3, 2 in that order. You'll usually just get a busy signal, but if you keep trying throughout the day sometimes you can get in the queue. Also try uploading any documentation that proves your case was a legitimate layoff to your eServices account. Sometimes adjudicators don't have all the info they need.

Try Claimyr.com - it's the only thing that worked for me after being stuck in adjudication for 9 weeks. They have a system that calls ESD for you and then connects you once they get through. I was skeptical but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3) and decided to try it. Actually got through to a real person who could help, and my claim was processed a week later. Saved me from getting evicted honestly.

lol good luck with the governors office!! they don't care about us regular people. i've been waiting 5 months and even had my state rep contact them. ESD is literally designed to make it hard to get benefits even when u qualify. the whole system is rigged against us!!

One thing that really helped me was making sure I had thoroughly completed my job search activities each week (3 per week) and documented them properly in my weekly claim. Even though your claim is in adjudication, keeping up with the job search requirements shows you're following the rules which can help when they finally review your case. Also, double-check your eServices messages - sometimes they request additional information but don't clearly notify you, and if you miss responding to those requests it can further delay your claim.

in the same boat...5 weeks and counting...employer lying saying i quit when they cut my hours to nothing to force me out...cant pay rent and ESD wont answer calls........

I was an adjudicator with ESD until last year, so I can provide some insight. If you know your employer is the hold-up, it's likely because they've disputed your claim and alleged misconduct or voluntary quit. In these cases, the adjudicator must gather evidence from both sides before making a determination. Some effective steps you can take: 1. Send a detailed letter through your eServices account explaining your side with any supporting documentation (emails about layoff, performance reviews, etc.) 2. Call during off-peak hours - try between 7:15-8:00am when the lines first open or after 4pm 3. If your employer is making false claims, state specifically in your documentation why their assertions are incorrect 4. Contact the Ombuds office as mentioned above - they can often identify where exactly your claim is stuck in the process The Governor's office typically just redirects these inquiries back to ESD, but legislative representatives can sometimes expedite review.

My freind had same problem and she said if u call right at 7:00am exactly when they open you might get thru. she had to try like 5 days in a row but finally got a person. its ridiculous we have to jump thru all these hoops just to get our benifits!!!!

One important update based on your situation: If your employer is claiming they let you go for misconduct when it was actually a layoff, you need to appeal immediately if you get a denial. You only have 30 days from the date of the determination notice to file an appeal. While you're waiting, make sure you continue filing weekly claims every week without fail, even while in adjudication. Otherwise, you could lose benefits for those weeks even if your claim is eventually approved. The WorkSource offices can sometimes help get your issues escalated too. They have direct contacts with ESD that regular claimants don't have access to.