ESD phone frustration - getting 'high call volume' message for 4 days straight

Unfortunately, that's pretty standard with ESD these days. Their phone system is completely overwhelmed. A few things that might help: 1. Call right when they open at 8:00 AM - set an alarm and be ready to dial at 7:59 2. Try calling on Wednesday or Thursday - slightly lower call volumes those days 3. Make sure you're calling the right number for your specific issue (regular UI vs. overpayment vs. appeals) 4. If you get through but are on hold, DO NOT hang up, even if it's for hours The truth is their system just can't handle the volume of calls they receive. I had to try for two weeks before getting through.

tell ur frend to try the WorkSource offices!! sometimes they can help with basic stuff or at least give u better #s to call. thats how i finally got thru last month when my claim got stuck

I went through the EXACT same thing last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication. After 3 weeks of trying to call with no success, I discovered Claimyr and it actually worked! It's a service that connects you directly to an ESD agent and bypasses the busy signals. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It was such a relief to finally talk to someone after weeks of frustration. My issue got resolved in one call once I actually reached a person. Definitely worth checking out if your friend is desperate.

@profile8 Yes, it's completely legitimate. I was skeptical too, but it worked for me. They basically use technology to continuously call ESD until they get through, then they connect you. Saved me days of frustration!

Another option your friend could try is to send a secure message through their eServices account. While it's not as immediate as a phone call, I've had success getting responses within 3-5 business days. Make sure they: 1. Keep the message clear and concise 2. Include their claim ID number 3. Specifically describe the issue (adjudication, payment delay, etc.) 4. Ask for a specific action or resolution Also, contacting their state representative has worked for some people with urgent issues. Representatives often have dedicated contacts at ESD who can escalate cases.

I had the same issue! What worked for me was calling the CLAIMS CENTER, not the main ESD number. The Claims Center number is different and sometimes has shorter wait times. Also, try selecting the option for "new claim" even if that's not your issue - sometimes those queues have actual humans answering. If all else fails, try the trick where you select the Spanish language option, then when a Spanish-speaking agent answers, politely ask if they can help in English (most can). For some reason those queues are less crowded. Hope your friend gets through soon! The waiting game with ESD is absolutely horrible.

The Claims Center number is 800-318-6022. And yeah, the Spanish option worked twice for me! Just be polite about it since they're trying to help Spanish speakers, but most agents are bilingual and can easily switch to English.

just tried that claimyr thing this morning after seeing it here and IT WORKED!!!! talked to an actual person after 2 weeks of trying on my own. my issue isnt fixed yet but at least i got through and they put notes on my account. just wanted to update you guys