ESD keeps hanging up on me - any alternative numbers to bypass high call volume?
I'm at my wit's end trying to reach someone at ESD! I've called 1-800-318-6022 like 15 times today and every single time I get that stupid automated message about 'high call volume' and then it just disconnects me. Not even an option to wait on hold! I have questions about my claim that I can't resolve online and desperately need to speak with an actual person. Does anyone know if there's another phone number I can try? Or maybe a specific time of day when the lines aren't so busy? Any tricks to actually get through to a real human being? I'm getting so frustrated I could scream.
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Liam Duke
Unfortunately that's the main number and ESD is notorious for disconnecting callers when their queue is full. I've had the best luck calling literally the minute they open at 8:00 AM. Like, be dialing at 7:59. Even then it took me 3 days of trying. Some people also try around 3:30 PM when call volume sometimes dips a bit.
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Dana Doyle
•Thanks, I'll try the early morning trick tomorrow. Do you happen to know if they're open on weekends? Their website is so confusing.
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Manny Lark
Ya I got hung up on 9 times last week!!! The system is DESIGNED to make u give up. They don't want to pay benefits so they make it impossible to talk to anyone. Been dealing with this for 6 weeks now.
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Rita Jacobs
•While the system is definitely frustrating, I don't think it's intentionally designed to make people give up. They're just chronically understaffed and overwhelmed. But I completely understand how it feels that way when you can't get through day after day.
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Khalid Howes
I was in your exact situation last month. After wasting hours getting disconnected, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a total game-changer. They basically keep dialing for you and only connect when they reach a human agent. Saved me days of frustration. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 I was skeptical at first but got connected to an ESD agent within 2 hours after spending a week trying on my own with no luck.
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Ben Cooper
•is this a scam? seems fishy that theres a service just to call unemployment for u
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Khalid Howes
•Not a scam - they just automate the calling process. It's like having someone repeatedly call for you until they get through. With how impossible it is to reach ESD these days, it makes sense that a service like this exists. They don't access your account or anything like that.
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Naila Gordon
Another option is to contact your state representative's office. I was stuck in adjudication for 8 weeks with no way to reach ESD. I finally emailed my district's representative explaining my situation, and their office contacted ESD on my behalf. I got a call back from an ESD specialist within 3 days. They can sometimes cut through the red tape when you're getting nowhere with the regular channels.
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Dana Doyle
•That's a really good idea I hadn't thought of! How do I find out who my representative is?
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Naila Gordon
•You can find your representatives by entering your address at leg.wa.gov. Just look under the "Find Your District" section. Most have contact forms specifically for constituent services like helping with unemployment issues.
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Cynthia Love
Have u tried the online message center thing? Sometimes they actually respond to those messages and you dont have to call at all. It's somewhere in your eServices account I think.
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Rita Jacobs
•The eServices message center can work for simple questions, but in my experience, they take 7-10 business days to respond. And if your question requires follow-up, that's another 7-10 days for each exchange. If you have an urgent issue with your claim, calling is unfortunately still the most efficient option despite the difficulties.
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Rita Jacobs
One thing that's important to understand is that ESD's phone system has specific capacity limits. When they say "high call volume," it literally means their queue is at maximum capacity. Some technical tips that have worked for me: 1. Call during non-peak hours: Try Tuesday-Thursday (Monday and Friday are typically busiest) 2. Use the exact prompt sequence: For benefit questions it's usually 1-2-2 (but verify this on their website) 3. If you get through to the queue but it's for the wrong department, ask that agent to transfer you rather than hanging up and starting over 4. Make sure you have your claimant ID, SSN, and security answers ready when you do get through Also, they are NOT open weekends - just Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00.
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Dana Doyle
•Thank you for these detailed tips! I'll definitely try the Tuesday-Thursday timeframe. My issue is with an adjudication that's been pending for weeks - do you know which prompt sequence I should use for that specifically?
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Rita Jacobs
•For adjudication issues, I believe the sequence is 1-3-1, but it may have changed. The key is to be persistent and keep trying different days. Adjudication can take 4-6 weeks currently, which is frustrating but unfortunately common. If it's been longer than that, definitely emphasize that when you get through.
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Manny Lark
I herd theres a secret number for the higher ups at ESD but nobody will share it!!
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Liam Duke
•That's not accurate. There's no "secret number" that bypasses the system. All calls to ESD go through the same initial routing system. What some people might be referring to are direct extensions for specific agents, but those are only provided when an agent is already working on your specific case and wants you to reach them directly for follow-up.
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Ben Cooper
my cousin works at WorkSource and she says they cant help with phoning ESD either. whole system is broken
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Dana Doyle
•That's disappointing. I was actually going to try visiting a WorkSource office in person to see if they could help me get through to someone.
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Naila Gordon
•WorkSource can help with job search activities and some basic claim information, but they don't have special access to ESD's claims processing. However, I still recommend visiting them because sometimes they can provide guidance on what type of issue you have, which helps you use the correct prompts when calling ESD directly.
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Liam Duke
UPDATE: I tried Claimyr that someone mentioned above when I had the same problem last week. It actually did work - got connected to an agent after about 90 minutes. Just sharing in case you're still struggling to get through after trying the early morning calls. The video explains how it works pretty clearly. Also, the state representative suggestion is solid advice for claims stuck in adjudication for extended periods.
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Dana Doyle
•Thank you all for the helpful suggestions! I'm going to try calling right at 8:00 AM tomorrow, and if that doesn't work after a couple attempts, I'll look into the Claimyr service. Really appreciate everyone's advice and tips!
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