Getting through to ESD by phone seems impossible - has anyone succeeded?

I was in the same boat last month when my claim went into adjudication for no apparent reason. I tried calling for two weeks straight with zero luck. I eventually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that somehow gets you through to ESD's phone lines. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It actually worked for me - got through to an agent in about 40 minutes instead of spending days redialing.

Try calling EXACTLY at 8:00 AM when they open. Not 8:01, not 7:59. EXACTLY 8:00. That's how I finally got through after trying for weeks. Also, Mondays and Tuesdays are their busiest days, so try Wednesday or Thursday if possible. The 'able and available' review usually happens when something in your weekly claim responses triggers a flag - like if you said you weren't available for work on certain days or if you were out of town. Did you indicate any availability limitations on your weekly claim?

i had the same 'able and available' thing happen on my claim back in january... turns out it was because i put that i had a doctors appointment on one of the days... even tho it was only for 2 hours in the afternoon! such bs. had to wait 5 weeks for them to clear it up and i never even got to talk to anyone on the phone. just randomly fixed itself one day

I've worked in workforce development for years and can tell you that the phone system at ESD is notoriously difficult to navigate. Some things to try: 1. Contact your WorkSource office directly - sometimes they have direct lines to ESD representatives 2. Send a secure message through your eServices portal - include your claim ID and specific details about the 'able and available' flag 3. Try the technical support line instead of the claims line - sometimes they can transfer you 4. Contact your state representative's office - they often have liaisons who can escalate ESD issues The 'able and available' review is typically triggered when the system detects potential availability conflicts. Even answering all questions correctly can sometimes trigger an automatic review if certain keywords or patterns are detected in your responses.

UGH the ESD phone system is a JOKE!!!!!!!! I've been trying for MONTHS to get someone on the phone about my overpayment notice. $4,250 they say I owe back even though THEY made the mistake!!!! I've started calling from different phones thinking maybe they've blocked my number or something LOL. Getting desperate. Might try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned if it actually works. Has anyone else used it?

Here's what worked for me last week - call the main number but instead of selecting the unemployment benefits option, choose the employer services option. They usually have shorter wait times, and once you get a person, explain that you need to be transferred to unemployment claims. Many of them will transfer you directly without making you go back through the main queue. I got through in about 25 minutes using this trick versus the 2+ hours (or never) through the regular line.

One thing to check - log into your eServices account and look at your weekly claim that got flagged. Click on it and see if there's any additional information about why it was flagged. Sometimes they'll mention specific issues that need to be addressed. Also, double-check that you didn't accidentally answer 'No' to the question about being able and available for work. I've seen people click the wrong option by mistake and it causes all kinds of problems. If you see any specific error codes or messages, post them here and I might be able to provide more specific guidance.

my neighbor works for esd (not in claims but different dept) and she says they're super understaffed right now. apparently they had a bunch of people quit after they forced everyone back to the office. so thats probably why nobody can get through on the phones.

I gave up on calling and drove to my local WorkSource office in person. They couldn't fix my claim directly but they helped me fill out an escalation form that apparently goes to a special team. My issue got resolved in about 8 days after that. Might be worth trying if you're completely stuck!