ESD website down - constant CAPTCHA failures & technical errors since 10/5
Has anyone else been completely unable to access the ESD website since last Friday? I've been trying to help my brother file his initial unemployment claim all weekend and still today (10/7). We keep hitting roadblocks - first the CAPTCHA won't validate no matter how many times we try different browsers and devices. Then when we occasionally get past that hurdle, we just get the generic 'We are experiencing technical difficulties' error page. Nothing specific about site maintenance or downtime. Super frustrating! My brother is panicking because he needs to file ASAP. Wish they'd at least put up some kind of status page with an ETA for fixing it instead of leaving everyone in limbo. Anyone know if there's another way to start a claim while the site is broken?
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Paolo Longo
I ran into the exact same problem yesterday!! Thought it was just my ancient laptop but tried on my phone too - same CAPTCHA error then the technical difficulties message. Ended up calling the claims center 37 TIMES before giving up. The website has been glitchy for months but this complete breakdown is next level frustrating.
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Keisha Taylor
•Ugh, 37 calls with no luck? That's awful. Did you try at different times of day? I'm wondering if early morning might be better for call volume.
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Amina Bah
yah its been down for me 2. tried sat nite and all day sun. captchas are the WORST even when the site works tbh
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Oliver Becker
This happens periodically with the ESD system, especially when they're doing backend updates. While frustrating, there are a few workarounds: 1. Try accessing the site between 2-4 AM when server load is lowest 2. Clear your browser cache completely before attempting 3. If you're using a VPN or ad blocker, disable them as they can interfere with CAPTCHA validation 4. Use Microsoft Edge browser (I know, but for some reason it works better with their system) If none of these work, you can file by phone at 800-318-6022, but be prepared for long wait times. Claims filed within the same week still count for that week's benefits, so your brother has until Saturday to get it submitted.
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Keisha Taylor
•Thank you for these detailed suggestions! We've tried clearing cache already but not the middle-of-night access or Edge browser. Will definitely try those approaches. Good to know about the Saturday deadline too.
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CosmicCowboy
I've had this exact same issue! I was trying to file my weekly claim yesterday and couldn't get past the CAPTCHA either. Got so frustrated I almost threw my laptop out the window lol. Called this morning right when they opened at 8am and still couldn't get through. This system is BROKEN.
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Paolo Longo
•Same!! I can't believe they don't at least have a banner or something saying "Hey our site is having issues" - it makes you feel like you're doing something wrong when it's clearly their system that's broken.
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Natasha Orlova
I work in IT systems myself and understand your frustration. The ESD site is indeed experiencing significant technical issues this week. Their authentication system appears to be failing at both the CAPTCHA level and after login. This typically happens when they're implementing security updates or migrating data systems. For those who need to file claims urgently, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an ESD agent by phone. They have a service that helps you bypass the busy signals and actually reach a human. I used it last year during a similar outage and was connected within 30 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Alternatively, try the site between 11 PM and 4 AM when server load is minimal, or wait until Wednesday as these maintenance issues typically resolve within 72 hours from when they begin.
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Keisha Taylor
•Thanks for the insight from an IT perspective! That at least helps explain what might be happening. I'll check out that Claimyr service - at this point, my brother is desperate enough to try anything to get his claim started. The late night attempt is definitely worth a shot too.
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Javier Cruz
I heard from my neighbor who works at WorkSource that ESD is doing some major system updates this week. Supposedly the site should be back up and running properly by Wednesday morning. Not sure why they couldn't put up a maintenance notice though! Government efficiency at its finest... 🙄
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CosmicCowboy
•Wednesday?! Some of us have bills due tomorrow! This is ridiculous that they'd do system updates without any warning.
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Emma Thompson
Just adding another data point - I've been trying to submit my weekly claim since Sunday and encountering the same CAPTCHA and technical error issues. Just tried again five minutes ago (Tuesday morning) and FINALLY got through! The site seems to be working intermittently. My advice is to keep trying different times of day. The system seemed much faster around 10:30 AM today.
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Keisha Taylor
•That's encouraging! I'll give it another shot right now. Maybe they've fixed some of the issues.
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Keisha Taylor
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know we finally got through! Used Microsoft Edge as suggested and tried at 11:30 AM today. The CAPTCHA worked on the first try and we were able to complete the initial application. Site was still running slow but at least it worked. Thanks everyone for your suggestions and commiseration!
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Oliver Becker
•Great news! Glad to hear Edge browser did the trick. Make sure your brother keeps track of his job search activities from this point forward (minimum 3 per week) as he'll need to document those for his weekly claims.
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