ESD phone nightmare - is there ANY way to talk to a real person?

same boat, been trying for 2 weeks straight. its like they dont want us to reach them lol

The phone system is definitely frustrating, but there are a few tricks that sometimes work. First, try calling on Wednesday or Thursday - for some reason those days seem to have slightly lower call volumes. Also, try calling at exactly 1:05pm after the lunch rush. Sometimes they have more staff available then. For adjudication specifically, have you tried the special adjudication line at 833-572-8400? It's different from the main claims line, and occasionally easier to get through. Also make sure you're including your full claim ID number in any messages you send through eServices. Hope this helps!

I had the EXACT same problem last month when my claim got flagged for identity verification. Couldn't get through no matter what I tried. Wasted like 40+ hours just hitting redial. What finally worked for me was Claimyr. It's this service that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you back when they get an actual person on the line. Saved me days of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Not cheap but worth every penny when your benefits are on the line.

I work in HR and deal with ESD regularly. Here's what you need to know about adjudication cases: 1. Adjudication cases are taking 5-7 weeks on average right now, so your 6-week wait is unfortunately typical 2. The main ESD line (800-318-6022) has the longest wait times. The claims center numbers for specific regions can sometimes be faster: - Northwest: 800-755-8296 - Olympic: 800-755-6304 - Central: 800-680-7072 - Southwest/Vancouver: 800-281-8097 3. When you do get through, ask for a direct callback number from your claims specialist. They won't always give it, but sometimes they will. 4. Make sure your phone accepts calls from blocked/unknown numbers - ESD often calls from blocked numbers 5. Keep documenting all your attempts to contact them - dates, times, methods. This can help if you need to file an appeal later. Hope this helps!

I HATE ESD WITH A PASSION!!!! Been on unemployment 3 times in my life and EVERY SINGLE TIME it's the same garbage. They make it IMPOSSIBLE to reach them then blame YOU when things go wrong with your claim!!!! I spent TWENTY TWO HOURS on hold last month only to get hung up on when they finally answered. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY YOU BENEFITS!!!!!

My sister works at WorkSource and says that sometimes you can get help with ESD issues through them. Have you tried contacting your local WorkSource office? They're technically different organizations but they have connections that might help. Just thought I'd mention it since no one else has.

I'm an employment attorney and frequently help clients with ESD issues. Something important to note: if your claim has been in adjudication for more than 30 days, you may have grounds for what's called a "prompt payment" complaint. While not widely known, federal UI laws require states to make payment "when due" - courts have interpreted this to mean within 21 days for most claims. You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor if your claim is taking excessively long without justification. That said, the advice others have given about regional numbers and specific timing for calls is good. I'd also recommend sending a detailed message through eServices specifically mentioning the length of your adjudication period and requesting expedited review based on financial hardship if you're facing eviction or utility shutoffs. Document all contact attempts with dates and times. This documentation will be crucial if you eventually need legal assistance.

I dunno if this helps but I had a similar issue back in January when my claim kept saying "pending" for weeks. I ended up contacting my state representative's office and explained my situation. Their constituent services person made some calls and suddenly my claim was processed within 48 hours. Might be worth a try if nothing else works?

Just wanted to follow up - did any of these suggestions work for you? I'm curious if you ended up trying Claimyr or one of the other methods people suggested here.