How to contact Washington ESD unemployment customer service - phone keeps hanging up

It's so frustrating! I thought maybe I was doing something wrong but sounds like it's happening to everyone.

The call volume has been insane lately. Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's your best shot.

Good tip about the 8am thing. Do you know if there are different numbers for different types of issues?

The main customer service line handles most issues but there are separate numbers for appeals and overpayments. Check the Washington ESD website for the specific number you need.

That sounds too good to be true... does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah I was skeptical too but it really did connect me. Worth trying if you're stuck like I was.

Is there a cost for this service? Seems like something they'd charge for.

RIGHT?? It's like they're actively trying to make it impossible to reach them.

I understand the frustration but remember they're dealing with thousands of calls daily. The system is overwhelmed but there are ways to get through.

This is exactly what I need help with! I did my job searches but the system won't let me enter one of them properly.

That's a common glitch. The agent can manually enter it for you or override the system error. Just have all the details ready when you call.

47 times?? That's dedication lol. But seriously that's awful.

desperation not dedication haha. bills dont pay themselves

I tried that but there's no option to edit the entry that's causing problems. It just shows an error message.

Then you definitely need to speak with an agent. They have backend access to fix those system errors.

I sent a message 2 weeks ago and still no response. Phone is probably faster if you can get through.

Yikes, 2 weeks? That's not helpful at all.

Ok you've convinced me to try it. This is exactly the kind of issue I need help with.

Does it work for all types of unemployment issues or just certain ones?

It just gets you connected to a regular Washington ESD agent, so they can help with whatever you'd normally call about.

I didn't know WorkSource could help with unemployment claims. That's good to know.

They can't do everything but for work search requirements and some basic claim questions, they're often easier to reach.

No problem! Hopefully we can all get through to someone soon.

While I understand the frustration, it's more about being understaffed than intentionally discouraging calls. The demand is just much higher than their capacity.

Either way the result is the same - people can't get help when they need it.

15 tries in 2 minutes? That's some serious speed dialing skills!

You do what you gotta do lol. But yeah, persistence and perfect timing seemed to be the key.

That's two people now saying it works. I'm definitely going to try it.

Same here. If it saves me from calling 50 times a day it's worth it.

Congrats! Were you able to resolve your work search issue?

yep, took like 2 minutes once i was talking to someone. so much time wasted just trying to get through though

Good point. I'll make sure to have everything organized before I try calling.

That's exactly my situation. I'll definitely mention that when I get through.

Good luck! Hope you get it sorted out quickly.

Hope it works for you! Let us know how it goes.

Good luck with your work search issue. Those system glitches are annoying but usually quick fixes once you reach an agent.

Awesome! Glad it worked for you too.

That's great news! Definitely going to try it for my issue.

nice! wish i had known about this before spending days calling manually

Yeah, it's crazy how many people are struggling with the same issues. At least we can help each other out.