Frustrated: How to get directly connected to an ESD adjudicator after getting through the main line?

Unfortunately, there's no direct line to the adjudication department that I'm aware of. The system is designed so that adjudicators contact you, not the other way around. When they're ready to review your case, they'll either call you for an interview or make a determination based on the information they already have. Make sure your contact info is up-to-date in your eServices account, and check that your voicemail isn't full. Also, look in your eServices account under

Thanks for the response. My contact info is all updated and I've already uploaded my termination letter and last pay stub through the document upload portal. There's a pending issue labeled \

OMG I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!! i was stuck in adjudcation for 9 WEEKS last spring bcuz my former boss lied and said i was fired for misconduct when actually they eliminated my position!! it was TORTURE waiting.....they never called me either just emailed one day saying it was resolved. make sure u check ur email spam folder too cause thats where mine went

9 weeks??? I'm seriously going to be homeless before this gets resolved. Did you do anything special to move things along or just wait it out? And thanks for the tip about checking spam - I've been doing that obsessively.

After dealing with a similar situation (4 weeks in adjudication), I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They can't guarantee you'll speak to an adjudicator specifically, but the agent I spoke with was able to see notes on my claim and give me more info about what was causing the delay. They also submitted an escalation request for me. Worth checking out their demo video: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The website is claimyr.com if you're interested.

is that even legit? sounds like paying for something that should be free

It is legitimate - they just use technology to continually call ESD for you instead of you having to manually redial for hours. The ESD agent told me they're seeing more claimants use it. After my call, my adjudication was completed within a week, though I can't say for sure if it was because of the escalation or just timing.

I worked for ESD during the pandemic surge (no longer there). Here's what you need to know about adjudication:\n\n1. Adjudicators are assigned cases based on priority and complexity\n2. Restaurant industry separations often require more investigation because employers frequently contest them\n3. The general call agents cannot transfer you to adjudication - this is by design\n4. Adjudicators will call when they need more information, but many cases are decided on documentation alone\n\nYour best bet is to:\n- Ensure ALL documentation is uploaded (termination letter, any communications about the layoff)\n- Continue filing weekly claims while waiting\n- If it's been over 6 weeks, request an escalation through the general line (the agent can submit this)\n- Check your Secure Message Center daily for any requests for information\n\nOne lesser-known fact: if your financial hardship is severe (eviction notice, utility shutoff), mention this when requesting escalation as these cases can sometimes be prioritized.

Thank you so much for this detailed information! I actually do have an eviction warning (not a formal notice yet) that I could mention. When you say request an escalation - do I just call the main line again and specifically ask for that? Is there specific terminology I should use?

Yes, call the main line and specifically say: \

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll call tomorrow morning as soon as they open and request exactly that. Fingers crossed it helps move things along.

just want to warn you they NEVER called me back when i was in adjudication. after 5 weeks my status suddenly changed to approved and money showed up a few days later. try sending messages thru the eservices portal too, i sent like 4 before finally getting a response. the system is broken imo

I faced a similar situation with my construction job layoff earlier this year. After waiting 5 weeks in adjudication, I contacted my state representative's office. Many people don't realize this, but your state legislators have constituent services staff who can often help with ESD issues. I emailed my representative explaining my situation, included my claim ID and contact information, and within 3 business days, I received a call from someone at ESD reviewing my case. My issue was resolved the following week. The key is to be very specific in your email about your financial hardship and how long you've been waiting. Worth trying in addition to the other suggestions here.

wow this actually sounds smart, never thought about calling my rep

It really works! Just make sure to find your specific district representative, not just any state legislator. You can find yours by entering your address here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

That's brilliant - I hadn't considered reaching out to my representative. I'll definitely try this route if the escalation doesn't work. Thank you for sharing this tip!

hey did u ever solve this? im having the same issue now and wondring if any of this advice worked for u

UPDATE: I got through! Combining a few approaches worked for me. I called ESD and specifically requested an escalation due to financial hardship (got a ticket number). I also emailed my state rep as suggested above. Not sure which one did it, but 4 days later I got a call from an adjudicator who reviewed my documentation while on the phone with me. She approved my claim on the spot and I received backpay for all weeks yesterday. If you're struggling, definitely try both the escalation request AND contacting your state rep!