ESD keeps hanging up on all my calls - denied claims with zero explanation after layoff

same boat different day. ESD is literally the WORST agency ive ever dealt with in my life. they denied me 4 times with zero explanation too and when i finally got through after 3 months of trying they said 'oh it was a system error'. absolute joke.

There's a few things you can try that might help your situation: 1. Instead of calling the main line, try calling exactly at 7:59am right before they open. Sometimes you can get in the queue before the system gets overwhelmed. 2. Check your eServices account for any pending issues or action items. Often there's a questionnaire or additional information request hiding in there that's causing the denial. 3. Make sure you're correctly reporting any severance pay if you received it - that can cause automatic denials. 4. If your employer submitted a mass layoff list, there should be a specific department handling those claims. Ask your HR for the specific ESD contact who's managing your company's layoffs. I went through something similar last year and the issue ended up being that my employer had incorrectly reported my final wages.

I use this service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent after weeks of getting hung up on. It basically holds your place in line so you don't have to keep redialing. Costs money but worth every penny when you're desperate to get your claim fixed. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I finally talked to said my claim was denied because of an identity verification issue that never showed up in my eServices account! They fixed it on the spot and my benefits started the next week.

Did you check if your claim is in adjudication status? Sometimes it'll say "denied" but it's actually just waiting for an adjudicator to review something. Happened to me and I freaked out for nothing. Also, have you tried emailing your state representative? Mine intervened when I couldn't get answers and suddenly ESD was calling ME within 48 hours. Just Google "WA state representative finder" and you can see who represents your district.

The auto-disconnect issue is happening to EVERYONE right now because their phone system is completely overloaded. Here's what worked for me after dealing with the same problem: 1. File an appeal immediately, even without knowing the specific reason for denial. You have 30 days from the denial date, and this puts your claim into a different queue for review. 2. When calling, try option 2, then 3, then 1 in the phone tree instead of following the prompts for claim issues. Sometimes this gets you to a different department who can at least look up your claim. 3. Document EVERYTHING. Every call attempt, every visit to WorkSource, every communication with your employer about it. If you end up needing to escalate to a hearing, this documentation will be crucial. 4. Weekly claims - keep filing them even though you're currently denied. If they fix the issue, they can only backdate payments for weeks you actually filed. Identity verification issues are the #1 reason for silent denials right now. The system sometimes flags perfectly legitimate claims for additional verification but doesn't notify you properly.

i had this EXACT problem last week and it turned out my ex-employer was contesting my claim saying i quit (i didn't). i only found out when i finally got through. ask your hr person if the company is contesting your unemployment bc they might be and not telling you!!!!!

One more thing - if you're still unable to reach anyone by next week, you might want to submit a formal complaint through the Office of the Commissioner. This is different than an appeal. Go to the ESD website, scroll all the way to the bottom, and look for "Commissioner's Office" or "File a Complaint." These complaints are tracked separately and often get faster responses. Also, when you file weekly claims, are you making sure to report your job search activities? You need to list at least 3 job search activities each week or the system will automatically deny your claim. This is a common reason for denials that people don't realize.

try calling at exactly 8:01am and hitting 9 to skip the intro message then 1-2-3-2 in that order. sometimes works to get a person instead of the stupid robot

Have you checked your spam folder for emails from ESD? Sometimes they send important notices that explain the denial reason but they get filtered. Also, did you verify your identity through ID.me? That's another common holdup that doesn't always show clearly in the system.