How to get through to Washington ESD unemployment office - tried calling for days

The phone system at Washington ESD is absolutely overwhelmed right now. I've been dealing with unemployment claims for years and the wait times have gotten ridiculous. Your best bet is to call right at 8am when they open, but even then you might wait 2-3 hours. Make sure you're calling the right number for your specific issue - there are different lines for different problems.

I was in the exact same situation last month - adjudication for 5 weeks and couldn't reach anyone. I finally discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to Washington ESD in under an hour. They handle all the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for me!

The key is persistence and timing. I've gotten through three times in the past month by calling exactly at 8:00 AM sharp. Use a landline if you have one - cell phones seem to get dropped more often. Also try calling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Monday and Friday are the worst days.

OMG I feel your pain! I've been trying for 3 weeks and it's driving me crazy. My rent is due next week and I don't know what to do. Why is it so hard to just talk to someone?? This is supposed to be a service for people who need help!

Try the online messaging system first before calling. Sometimes you can get answers faster that way, especially for simple questions about your claim status.

The Washington ESD phone system is a joke. I've wasted probably 40 hours on hold over the past two months. They need to hire more people or fix their system because this is unacceptable.

I had success using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. Took about 45 minutes and I was talking to a Washington ESD agent. They were able to explain exactly what documents I needed to submit for my adjudication. Definitely recommend it if you're desperate like I was.

Another option is to visit a WorkSource office in person. They can sometimes help you get through or at least give you better information about your claim status.

I keep a phone log of every time I call - time, duration on hold, outcome. It's depressing but at least I can track patterns. Seems like Wednesday mornings around 10am have slightly better success rates.

Just got off the phone with Washington ESD after using Claimyr this morning. They connected me in 38 minutes and the agent was really helpful explaining my adjudication delay. Turns out they needed verification of my previous employer's closure. Would never have figured that out without talking to someone directly.

For what it's worth, I finally got through last Friday after calling 47 times over two weeks. The agent told me they're processing claims from early December right now, so if you filed recently you might be waiting a while regardless.

Pro tip: if you do get through, ask for a direct callback number. Some agents can schedule you for a callback instead of making you go through the main system again.

same boat here, been calling for weeks with zero luck. might try that claimyr thing since regular calling isn't working at all

The reality is Washington ESD is understaffed and overwhelmed. They process thousands of claims with limited agents. It's frustrating but the system is what it is. Keep trying or use alternative methods like the services people mentioned.

I tried calling 200+ times over 3 weeks before giving up and using a callback service. Got connected same day and resolved my issue. Sometimes you have to think outside the box.

Check if your issue can be resolved through the online portal first. Not everything requires a phone call, though adjudication issues usually do need human intervention.

My cousin works in customer service (not unemployment) and she says the best time to call any government agency is Tuesday-Thursday between 10am-2pm. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely.

Don't give up! I know it's frustrating but your claim will get processed eventually. The adjudication process is slow but thorough. Document everything and keep trying to reach them.

Update: Just wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions. I ended up using Claimyr and got through to Washington ESD this afternoon. Turns out I needed to submit additional documentation for my work separation. Finally have a clear path forward!

I'm in a similar situation - been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication case. Based on all the advice here, I think I'm going to try that Claimyr service since the traditional calling method clearly isn't working for most people. It's frustrating that we have to pay a third-party service to access a government agency that's supposed to serve us, but if it actually works and gets me connected to someone who can explain what's holding up my claim, it might be worth it. Has anyone who used Claimyr had any issues with the service or felt like it wasn't worth the cost?