ESD phone nightmare - 87 calls and still can't reach a human at unemployment office

Welcome to ESD hell. I went through the exact same thing 2 months ago - took me 5 weeks to get anyone on the phone. The regular numbers are completely useless. Try calling right when they open at 8:00am, but even then expect to wait an hour minimum. The whole system is broken.

5 WEEKS?!? I can't wait that long! Did they at least backpay you for all that time? This is ridiculous.

This has been happening to literally everyone. The ESD phone system is completely overloaded. I was in the same situation last month with an adjudication issue. After wasting hours calling, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that somehow got me through to an ESD agent in less than 30 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nIt's ridiculous we have to use a third-party service to reach our own unemployment office, but it actually worked when nothing else did.

isnt that just another scam? i dont trust giving my info to some random company when i already cant get help from esd

Not a scam - they don't ask for any sensitive information. They just connect your call through their system that navigates the phone menus and waits on hold for you. The ESD agent I spoke to actually told me lots of people are using it now because it's the only way to get through.

I understand your frustration with the phone system. Here are some tips that might help:\n\n1. Call exactly at 8:00am when the lines open\n2. Try calling on Wednesday or Thursday (slightly lower call volumes)\n3. Have your claim ID, SSN, and a list of specific questions ready\n4. If you're facing financial hardship while waiting, you can submit a hardship request through eServices\n5. Make sure you're continuing to file your weekly claims even while waiting\n\nIf your claim is in pending status for more than 3 weeks, it's likely in adjudication. When you do reach someone, ask specifically about the adjudication issue and estimated timeframe.

Thanks for the tips. I've been trying the 8am thing but still can't get through. What's this hardship request? Would that actually speed things up? I'm definitely going to look into that.

lol i gave up trying to call them. waste of time. better off just filing weekly and waiting. system is total garbage but they backpay everything once its fixed. took 2 months for mine last year but got all the money eventually

This is terrible advice. You absolutely should NOT just wait and hope things work out. If your claim has issues, they won't magically resolve themselves. You need to contact ESD and get it addressed or you risk not getting paid at all.

Sorry you're dealing with this frustration. I work with employment services (not ESD directly) and can tell you their phone system has been severely understaffed since 2023 when they cut 35% of their call center staff. Here's what actually works:\n\n1. Call 360-486-5800 instead of the main number (it's the technical support line but often has shorter waits)\n2. Use the WorkSource office nearest you - they sometimes have direct lines to ESD reps\n3. Continue filing weekly claims while you wait\n4. Document everything - dates/times of calls, names of any representatives\n\nThe pending status almost always means there's an issue requiring adjudication, which currently has a 4-6 week backlog. Without talking to someone, you won't know what documentation they need from you to resolve it.

THANK YOU for that alternate number! I'll try it first thing tomorrow morning. The WorkSource idea is brilliant too - there's one about 15 minutes from me. Going to try both approaches.

same problem here they put me on hold for 2 hours then hung up!!! system is rigged dont waste ur time calling better to just wait or find work cuz esd is useless

Update: I finally got through to ESD this morning using that Claimyr service I mentioned. My issue was that they needed additional identity verification documents but never notified me! Just a \

That's exactly what's happening to me! No notification, just stuck in pending. I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow if I can't get through with that alternate number. Thanks for the update - gives me hope this nightmare might end soon.

have u tried calling ur state representative? thats what i did and they contacted esd for me and fixed everything in like 3 days. look up who ur rep is and call their office

This is actually excellent advice. State representatives' offices often have liaison contacts at ESD who can escalate claims. Just be sure to provide your representative with your claim ID, full name, contact information, and a signed authorization allowing them to inquire about your case.