Got approval after calling Governor Inslee's office - ESD claim finally processed!
Been stuck in ESD limbo for almost 7 weeks with my claim showing 'pending' the whole time. Called the regular ESD number probably 30+ times and either got disconnected or was told 'we'll escalate this' with zero results. Finally got desperate enough yesterday to call Governor Inslee's office (360-902-4111 extension 3) after seeing someone mention it on another forum. The person I spoke with was incredibly nice and took down all my info. They said they'd contact ESD's executive team directly. I was skeptical but literally CHECKED MY ACCOUNT THIS MORNING AND MY CLAIM IS APPROVED! Shows 'pending payment' now! If you're stuck in ESD hell like I was, try the governor's office - they actually seem to care and get results when the regular channels fail. I almost gave up and am still in shock this actually worked.
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Molly Chambers
That's fantastic news! The Governor's Office Constituent Services team can indeed help with ESD issues when you've exhausted other options. They essentially create a priority escalation ticket that goes to specialized ESD staff. For others reading this, just remember this should be a last resort after you've tried the regular channels first. Glad to hear you'll be getting your benefits soon!
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Adrian Hughes
•Thanks! And yes - I definitely tried everything else first. Weekly messages through the ESD portal, calling constantly at different times of day, even sent a written letter. Nothing worked until I tried this route. Wish I'd known about it weeks ago honestly.
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Ian Armstrong
omg thank u for sharing this!!! been waiting for 5 weeks myself and getting desperate. gonna try calling tmrw!!!
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Eli Butler
•Just tried calling the governors office and the guy told me they don't deal with unemployment issues directly?? Did you talk to someone specific or get transferred somewhere?
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Marcus Patterson
Yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it. Been waiting almost 3 months on my claim for "adjudication" whatever that means. Called ESD like 100+ times, sent messages every week, even drove to a WorkSource office and they just told me to "be patient" LOL. The whole system is DESIGNED to make you give up. But fine I'll try calling this number tomorrow I guess what do I have to lose at this point.
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Adrian Hughes
•I totally get the skepticism - I felt exactly the same way! I'd pretty much given up hope. But seriously, it worked for me. Make sure you have your claim ID ready when you call. And yeah, be super polite even though I know how frustrating everything is. The person I talked to seemed genuinely concerned and wanting to help.
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Lydia Bailey
Have any of you guys tried using Claimyr? Before I heard about the governor's office trick, I was desperate to get through to ESD and found this service that gets you connected to an actual ESD agent instead of waiting for hours. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. It worked for me when I was trying to get my standby status approved. Might be worth checking out if you can't get through using regular methods.
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Mateo Warren
•I've used Claimyr twice now for different issues with my claim. It's definitely legit and got me through to actual agents both times when I couldn't get through on my own after days of trying. But calling the governor's office is free, so might be worth trying that first if your issue has been going on for weeks like the OP's situation.
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Sofia Price
Tried calling that number just now and it went to voicemail?? Is there a certain time of day that's better? I'm in the same boat - claim says "adjudication in progress" for 4 weeks now with no updates and no way to find out what's happening. I've used up all my savings at this point and don't know how I'm going to make rent next month if this doesn't get resolved soon.
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Alice Coleman
•I believe the Governor's Constituent Services office is open normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. They do close for lunch from 12-1pm sometimes. Keep trying - if you've truly been stuck for weeks with no resolution through normal channels, they should be able to help expedite your claim.
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Mateo Warren
Something similar happened to me last year! I was stuck in adjudication for almost 2 months before I finally got through to someone who could actually help. In addition to the Governor's office, you can also try contacting your state representative or senator. They often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with unemployment issues. Just go to leg.wa.gov and look up who represents your district. I emailed mine and heard back within 2 days - they contacted ESD on my behalf and my claim was processed the following week. It's ridiculous we have to go to these lengths, but at least there are options when the system fails.
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Ian Armstrong
•thx for this tip too! just looked up my rep and sent an email explaining my situation. fingers crossed something works!!! been eating ramen for weeks lol
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Sofia Price
Did anyone have to provide any special information when calling the governor's office? Like, do I need my claim ID, social security number, etc.? I want to be prepared before I call tomorrow. Also, should I mention that someone on a forum recommended calling, or just explain my situation?
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Adrian Hughes
•Have your claim ID ready for sure. I also had my SSN, the date I filed, and a brief timeline of all the ways I'd already tried to resolve it (dates I called ESD, messages I'd sent, etc.). Just explain your situation honestly - that you've tried all the normal channels and are stuck. You don't need to mention the forum. The person I spoke with seemed very familiar with helping people with ESD issues, so this isn't uncommon.
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Eli Butler
What's the difference between "approval" and "pending payment"? Mine has said pending for like 3 weeks now but I haven't received any money. Will it actually pay out or is this just another step where it can get stuck?
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Molly Chambers
•"Pending payment" means your claim has been approved and payment has been authorized, but the funds haven't been released yet. This typically takes 2-3 business days for direct deposit or 3-5 days for debit cards. If it's been pending payment for more than a week, I'd recommend contacting ESD to see if there's an issue with your payment method. Make sure your direct deposit information is accurate in the system.
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