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!

Hey James, I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago - the "able and available" flag is so frustrating when you know you answered everything correctly. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the automated system at 11:47 PM and used the option to request a callback instead of staying on hold. I know it sounds weird, but they actually called me back the next afternoon! The rep explained that sometimes the system flags claims randomly for quality assurance, even when there's no actual issue. She cleared my flag in about 5 minutes once I got through. Also, make sure you're not using any VPN or public wifi when filling out your weekly claims - apparently that can trigger automatic reviews too. Hope this helps and you get it sorted out soon!

I just wanted to share another strategy that worked for me recently - I started calling the Spanish language line (even though I don't speak Spanish) and then asked to be transferred to an English-speaking agent when someone picked up. The wait times on the Spanish line are usually much shorter, and they were happy to transfer me. Got through in about 15 minutes versus the hours I was spending on the main English line. Also, for what it's worth, I had the same "able and available" flag show up on my claim last month even though I answered everything correctly. Turned out it was triggered because I had searched for jobs in a slightly different city than my usual area that week, and their system flagged it as a potential relocation issue. Once I explained to the agent that I was just expanding my job search radius, they cleared it immediately. Sometimes these flags are way more sensitive than they should be!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been trying to reach ESD for over two weeks about a payment issue. The frustration is real! One thing that's helped me is setting up multiple alarms throughout the day and calling at random times, not just during "peak" hours. I actually got through to someone at 2:47 PM on a Friday afternoon when I was just trying one more time before giving up for the week. Also, if you have any documentation about your job search activities or availability during the week that got flagged, make sure to have it ready when you do get through. The agent was able to resolve my issue much faster when I could provide specific details about what I did that week. Don't give up - I know it feels impossible but people do get through eventually!

I just went through this exact same nightmare last month! After 4 weeks of failed attempts, here's what finally worked for me: I used the "Contact Us" form on the ESD website instead of calling. I know it sounds like a long shot, but I got a response within 3 business days and they actually resolved my "able and available" flag without me ever having to speak to anyone on the phone. In the form, I included my Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and a detailed explanation of the issue. Make sure to select "Urgent - Benefits on Hold" as the priority level. They responded with an email explaining that my flag was triggered by what they called a "system anomaly" and cleared it immediately. Sometimes the online route is actually faster than the phone system, especially for these automated flags that shouldn't have happened in the first place. Worth a shot while you're also trying the other phone strategies people mentioned!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to get through for 2 weeks about my claim being stuck in pending status. I've tried calling at 8 AM sharp, using the callback feature that Nina mentioned, and even the employer services transfer trick that Grace suggested. The callback option is actually under the main menu - you have to listen through all the prompts and it's option 6 or 7 I think. Got a callback after 3 days but then got disconnected when they tried to transfer me to the right department! So frustrating. I'm going to try Taylor's suggestion about the Contact Us form on the website today. Also planning to visit my local WorkSource office this week if that doesn't work. This whole system is such a mess - how are people supposed to pay rent when legitimate claims get stuck for weeks over "system anomalies"? Hang in there James, we'll get through this somehow!

I'm in a very similar situation and have been following this thread closely! After reading everyone's suggestions, I decided to try a combination approach yesterday. I called the Spanish line that Evelyn mentioned at exactly 8:00 AM, got through to someone in about 20 minutes, and they transferred me to an English-speaking agent who was incredibly helpful. Turns out my "able and available" flag was also triggered by what they called a "routine system review" - basically random quality control that had nothing to do with my actual answers. The agent cleared it while I was on the phone and said my payments should resume within 24-48 hours. For anyone still struggling, I really recommend the Spanish line transfer method - it seems to be the most reliable way to actually reach a human being. The key is being polite and explaining that you need English assistance when they answer. Don't give up everyone, there are real people there who want to help once you can actually reach them!