How to get through to Washington ESD unemployment on the phone - tried calling for weeks

I tried that yesterday and today - still got the busy signal both times. How early do you start dialing?

I literally start hitting redial at 7:58am so I'm ready. Sometimes it takes 20-30 redials even at opening time.

Make sure you're calling the main UI customer service line at 800-318-6022. Some of the other numbers listed online are outdated or for specific departments only.

yeah thats the one i been calling. maybe i should try the employer line instead??

No, don't call the employer line for claimant issues. That will just waste more time and they'll tell you to call the regular number anyway.

Is this legit? How much does it cost? I'm willing to pay something if it actually works because I'm losing money every day my claim is delayed.

It's legitimate - they don't ask for any personal info about your claim, just help you get connected. Check out their site for pricing, but honestly it was worth it for me to finally talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. Thanks for sharing this.

Will they handle adjudication issues from any county or do you have to live in that area?

They should be able to help with any Washington ESD claim regardless of where you live. Worth a try at least.

Wow, you're keeping track? That's dedication. What time of day seemed to work best for getting to hold music at least?

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings between 8-9am had the best success rate for getting past the busy signal. Fridays are absolutely hopeless.

omg friday is when i been trying mostly. no wonder i cant get through!

I tried that 2 weeks ago and haven't heard anything back. Do you know how long they typically take to respond to messages?

It's supposed to be 3-5 business days but with the current backlog it could be longer. The phone is still your best bet for urgent issues.

That's surprising - afternoon calls usually have even longer wait times in my experience.

I think I just got lucky honestly. But it's worth trying different times instead of just mornings.

Really? That's encouraging. Did they just call you back when an agent was available?

Yeah, they handle all the waiting and calling for you. Much less stressful than sitting on hold all day.

I'm definitely going to try this. Been calling for 3 weeks with no luck.

I'll try that tomorrow. At this point I'm willing to try any time that might work better.

That's pretty cynical but honestly probably true. The phone system definitely doesn't seem designed for actual customer service.

I work in call center tech and can confirm their system is woefully inadequate for the call volume they receive.

That's assuming I can get through to anyone at all first. But good tip for when I finally do.

True, you have to get past the initial hurdle first. The regional office numbers might be your best bet for that.

Don't give up completely! Adjudication issues rarely resolve themselves. You need to stay persistent or try alternative methods like the services others mentioned.

maybe youre right. just so tired of the whole process

That's not really fair to Spanish speakers who need that service. Plus they'll just transfer you back to English support anyway.

You're right, that wasn't a good suggestion. Just desperate for solutions here.

Good idea. I'm not quite at that point yet but it's helpful to know that option exists.

I actually did this last year and it helped. The representative's office contacted Washington ESD on my behalf and got things moving.

Thanks for the recommendation. I think I'm going to try them today since nothing else is working.

Good luck! Hope you get your adjudication sorted out soon.

73 times! That's dedication. At least it gives me hope that it's possible to eventually get through.

That's insane that you had to call 73 times just to do basic business with a government agency.

I'll try Wednesday morning next week. Thanks for the tip!

That's great news! How long did the whole process take from start to finish?

About an hour total - much better than the weeks I spent trying to call myself.