How to get unemployment on the phone - Washington ESD line always busy

At least you're getting a busy signal - half the time I get through to the menu system and then get disconnected after 30 minutes on hold.

Try calling right at 8am when they open. Sometimes you can get in the queue before it fills up.

I'll try that tomorrow. Did you have to wait long when you got through?

About 45 minutes on hold, but at least I didn't get disconnected. The rep was helpful once I finally spoke to someone.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.

Yeah I was doubtful too but it actually worked. They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get someone on the line.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already struggling with bills while waiting for my claim to process.

I tried the secure messaging but it's been 5 days with no response. My claim is stuck in adjudication and I really need to talk to someone.

Adjudication issues definitely need phone contact. Those cases are too complex for automated responses.

Right? It's like they make it impossible on purpose. I have bills to pay and can't wait weeks for answers.

The staffing shortage is real though. They're dealing with way more calls than they can handle.

Good to know! I hung up yesterday when they said the specialist queue had a 2 hour wait. Should have stuck it out.

Yeah once you're in the system, stay in the system. Starting over means going to the back of the line.

That's insane! Three hours on hold would eat up my whole phone battery.

I plugged into the wall charger and just waited it out. Was worth it to finally get answers about my pending payments.

47 calls though? That seems excessive even for Washington ESD

How did the appeal go? I'm worried mine might get disqualified too since I left my last job due to a hostile work environment.

He got it overturned! The key was being able to actually talk to someone and explain his situation properly instead of just filing paperwork.

Two weeks is a long time when you're waiting for unemployment benefits though. Some people can't wait that long.

True, but what other option do we have? The system is what it is.

That's a good idea! I didn't think about trying WorkSource. Do they have better phone access?

Hit or miss, but generally less busy than the main Washington ESD line. They can at least point you in the right direction.

My local WorkSource office is appointment only now, but they do phone consultations for job search requirement questions.

Three weeks in adjudication is rough. Have you tried reaching out to your state representative? Sometimes they can help with Washington ESD issues.

I didn't know that was an option. How do you contact them about unemployment issues?

Most state reps have constituent services that can help with agency problems. Worth a shot if you've been waiting that long.

But can tech support help with claim questions or just website problems?

Just website stuff usually, but sometimes they can transfer you internally which might be faster than the main line.

That's basically what Claimyr does - they handle the calling and waiting so you don't have to. Might be worth looking into if you're spending that much time on hold.

Is it reliable though? I'd be worried about giving my info to a third party service.

They don't need your login info or anything sensitive. They just call Washington ESD on your behalf and connect you when they get through.

8:03am on which day? I wonder if certain days are better than others.

It was a Wednesday. Tuesdays seem to be the worst from what I've observed.

Thanks for the update! I'm going to try that. This phone situation is impossible otherwise.

Good to hear a success story. I've been on hold for 2 hours today with no luck.

Yeah, 2 hours on hold was my limit too. This was much less stressful and actually got me the answers I needed.

Thursday and Friday seem slightly better in my experience, but it's still hit or miss.

Mondays are definitely the worst because of weekend backlog. I avoid calling on Mondays now.

A callback system would be amazing! I could go about my day instead of being tied to the phone for hours.

Some states also have virtual queues where you can see your position. At least you'd know if you're making progress.

What time did you call? And how long were you on hold once you got in the queue?

Called at 11:47am and was on hold for about 90 minutes. Felt like forever but was worth it to get my claim status updated.

How many times did you redial before getting through?

Usually between 15-25 attempts, but it's faster than waiting hours on hold only to get disconnected.

This actually worked for me too. Persistence pays off with the Washington ESD phone system.

Congrats! Which method finally worked for you?

Combination of early morning calling and using the redial strategy. Took about 45 minutes of attempts but finally got through.