ESD phone lines constantly busy - how to actually reach a human at unemployment?
I'm at my wits' end trying to reach ESD customer service about my claim! I've been calling literally right when they open at 8am for THREE days in a row, and I immediately get the 'due to high call volume we cannot take your call' recording before it hangs up on me. I've tried calling at different times throughout the day too, always the same result. I need to speak with an actual person because there's an issue with my claim that can't be resolved through the online portal. I sent messages through eServices over a week ago but haven't gotten any response. Has anyone successfully gotten through to a real ESD agent recently? Any tricks or best times to call? I'm desperate at this point - bills are piling up and I need this resolved ASAP.
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Yuki Sato
same problem here been trying for 2 weeks straight!! ESD phone system is a joke honestly
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Ethan Wilson
•2 weeks?! That's terrifying... I can't wait that long. Did you ever get through?
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Carmen Flores
I finally got through after 3 weeks of trying. What worked for me was calling at exactly 7:59am (not 8:00) and spamming redial for about 15 minutes straight. Eventually got put in a queue with a 2 hour wait, but at least I wasn't rejected immediately. Their phone system is completely overwhelmed right now.
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Ethan Wilson
•Thanks for the tip! I'll try calling at 7:59 tomorrow morning. Did you just keep hanging up and redialing when you got the busy message?
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Carmen Flores
•Yep - just kept redialing over and over. It's frustrating but eventually you might get lucky and slip through when someone else hangs up. I set up my phone with the number ready to go at 7:58 and just kept hitting call, hang up, call again. Super annoying but it worked... eventually.
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Andre Dubois
I had the same issue for weeks, couldn't get through no matter what time I called. I finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that basically connects you with ESD agents by navigating their phone system. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 I was skeptical but desperate, and it actually worked. Got connected with an agent in about 30 minutes when I had been trying unsuccessfully for almost a month on my own. Just sharing what worked for me when I was in your exact situation.
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Yuki Sato
•is that legit?? sounds kinda sketchy to me
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Ethan Wilson
•Interesting, I've never heard of this. I'll check out that video. At this point I'm willing to try anything if it means getting my claim fixed.
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CyberSamurai
ESD's current call volume is extremely high after their system updates last month. Your best options right now are: 1. Call at 7:58am exactly (their system sometimes opens a minute or two early) 2. Try calling on Thursdays - statistically their lowest volume day 3. Use the callback feature if you get through to the menu system 4. Continue sending messages through eServices (they're backed up but are legally required to respond) 5. If your claim is in adjudication or has a specific issue, try contacting your state representative's office - they have direct lines to ESD liaisons Make sure you have your claim ID, SSN, and detailed notes about your issue ready when you call. The average wait time right now is 1-3 hours if you get into the queue.
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Ethan Wilson
•Thank you for these detailed tips! I didn't know Thursday was a lower volume day, I'll definitely try that. I never even get to the menu system or callback option - it just says they can't take my call and hangs up. How do I contact my state representative's office? My claim is showing "adjudication in progress" for 3 weeks with no movement.
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CyberSamurai
•For state rep contact, go to leg.wa.gov and use the district finder to locate your representatives. Email works better than calling - explain your situation clearly and include your claim ID (not SSN in email) and contact info. Many reps have staff dedicated to helping constituents with ESD issues. For adjudication specifically, those typically take 4-8 weeks currently, but getting stuck for longer is common. Representatives can often get updates on stalled adjudications when you can't get through yourself.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
Have u tried the WorkSource office? Sometimes they can help with basic ESD stuff or at least tell you what's going on with your claim. I went to the one in [my city] and the lady there was able to see some notes on my account that I couldn't see online. She couldn't fix my issue but at least explained what was happening.
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Ethan Wilson
•I didn't know WorkSource could help with that! There's one about 20 minutes from me. Do I need an appointment or can I just walk in?
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Most of them take walk-ins but it's better to schedule if u can. Their website lets u book appointments. Just bring ID and your claim info. They can't fix complicated issues but they can sometimes see what's going on and give better advice than the automated system.
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Jamal Carter
THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU FROM GETTING BENEFITS!!!!! They make it IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone on purpose!!!! I filed in January and didn't get ANY benefits until APRIL because I couldn't get through to fix a simple identity verification issue. This is how they save money - by making the system so frustrating people give up!!!!!
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Mei Liu
•While the system is frustrating, this isn't accurate. ESD is struggling with outdated infrastructure and understaffing, not deliberate obstruction. The call volume increased 400% after their system update in March 2025 due to various technical issues. The department lost nearly 30% of their experienced staff after pandemic funding ended, and training new agents takes 12-16 weeks. They're working on solutions, including expanded call center hours starting next month.
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Ethan Wilson
Update: I tried calling at 7:59am this morning and after redaling about 20 times, I actually got through! Was on hold for 1.5 hours but finally spoke to someone who resolved my issue. For anyone else struggling - keep trying the early morning calls and just keep redialing if you get the busy message. Persistence eventually paid off for me!
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Carmen Flores
•Glad it worked for you! The 7:59 trick seems to be the most reliable. What was your issue, if you don't mind sharing?
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Ethan Wilson
•There was an employer response that triggered adjudication, but they never sent me the questionnaire I needed to complete. The agent was able to resend it and actually processed it while I was on the phone. My payments should start processing in 48 hours she said!
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Yuki Sato
•congrats! still trying on my end... maybe tomorrow will be my lucky day
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