ESD phone number for claim issues & what to do about lost ReliaCard?

For claim issues, the main ESD customer service number is 800-318-6022. BUT good luck actually getting through - they're constantly overwhelmed. You'll need to call right when they open at 8am and be prepared to spend hours on hold. Sometimes you just get disconnected after waiting forever. For the ReliaCard, that's managed by US Bank, not ESD. You need to call US Bank directly at 855-279-1270 to report it lost and request a replacement. They'll deactivate your old card and send a new one. Takes about 7-10 business days to arrive.

I lost my ReliaCard last month too! Definitely call US Bank directly - had my new card in about a week. They were actually pretty helpful. Just make sure you have your SSN and some other identifying info ready when you call.

For getting through to ESD, I finally had success using Claimyr. It's a service that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when they get an ESD agent on the line. Saved me from hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 For the ReliaCard, everyone else is right - you contact US Bank directly. I think you can also report it lost through their app or website if you've set up online access already.

Just to add to the ReliaCard discussion - make sure you update your address with US Bank if you've moved recently. I had mine lost in the mail because they had my old address. And FYI you can also set up direct deposit to your regular bank account through ESD's website if you don't want to deal with the ReliaCard anymore. That's what I did after all the hassle.

i tried calling esd like 50 times last month lol. best time is tuesday or wednesday right at 8am. monday and friday are the worst. also try the 833-572-8400 number sometimes it works better than the main one

If your claim is stuck in pending status for more than 3 weeks, you can also try contacting your state representative. I know it sounds extreme, but they can sometimes help push things along with ESD. I had to do this last year when my claim was stuck in adjudication for 2 months with no movement. Had a response within days after my rep's office reached out.

Just wanted to share another option - if you have a local WorkSource office near you, they sometimes have direct lines to ESD that can be more reliable than calling the main number. I went to my local WorkSource when I was having similar issues and they were able to get me connected within an hour. Worth checking if you have one nearby and they're doing in-person appointments. Also, for the ReliaCard replacement, US Bank can expedite it for a fee if you really need the funds quickly - I think it was like $15 but got my card in 2-3 days instead of the usual week.