How to reach Washington ESD unemployment office - phone lines always busy
I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for over a week now about my unemployment claim and I can't get through to anyone. The main customer service line just rings busy or disconnects me after being on hold for 2+ hours. My claim has been stuck in adjudication for almost a month and I really need to speak with someone to find out what's going on. Has anyone had success getting through to a real person lately? What's the best time to call or is there a better number to try?
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Natasha Kuznetsova
same problem here, been calling for 3 weeks straight and never get through
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Oliver Schulz
•It's so frustrating! I don't understand how they expect us to resolve issues if we can't talk to anyone.
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AstroAdventurer
•The phone system is definitely overwhelmed. I've had better luck calling right at 8am when they first open, but even then it's hit or miss.
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Javier Mendoza
I had the same issue with my adjudication taking forever. The trick is to call the moment they open at 8:00 AM sharp. Keep redialing if you get a busy signal - sometimes it takes 20-30 attempts but you'll eventually get in the queue.
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Oliver Schulz
•I've tried that but my work schedule makes it hard to call right at 8am. Are there any other times during the day that might work better?
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Javier Mendoza
•Mid-morning around 10:30-11am sometimes has shorter wait times, but honestly early morning is still your best bet.
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Emma Wilson
Actually, I just discovered something that saved me hours of calling. There's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that handles the calling for you. I was skeptical at first but they actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent within 30 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ
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Malik Davis
•Is this legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point but I don't want to give my info to some random service.
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Emma Wilson
•I was worried about that too but they don't ask for personal info upfront. They just handle the calling part and transfer you when they get through. Worked great for me.
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Isabella Santos
•How much does it cost though? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford to pay extra fees.
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AstroAdventurer
The Washington ESD phone system has been a nightmare since the pandemic. They're still dealing with a massive backlog and understaffing issues. For adjudication problems specifically, you might want to try the dedicated adjudication line if you can find it.
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Oliver Schulz
•I didn't know there was a separate adjudication line. Do you have that number?
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AstroAdventurer
•I don't have it memorized but it should be on the Washington ESD website under contact info. The main customer service line can handle adjudication too though.
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Ravi Gupta
UGH this is exactly why I hate dealing with government agencies. They make it impossible to get help when you need it most. I've been calling every day for two weeks and NOTHING.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•I feel your pain. It's like they don't want us to be able to reach them.
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GalacticGuru
•Try not to get too discouraged. The system is broken but people do eventually get through.
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Freya Pedersen
Have you tried using the secure messaging system on the Washington ESD website? Sometimes that gets a faster response than calling.
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Oliver Schulz
•I sent a message through SecureAccess Washington but haven't heard back in over a week. Not sure if that's normal or not.
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Freya Pedersen
•They're supposed to respond within 2-3 business days but it's been taking longer lately. Keep trying the phone too.
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Omar Fawaz
I work in customer service and honestly feel bad for the Washington ESD agents. They're probably swamped with calls and doing their best. The system needs more funding and staff.
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Ravi Gupta
•I get that they're overworked but that doesn't help me when I can't pay my bills because my claim is stuck.
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Omar Fawaz
•You're absolutely right, I didn't mean to minimize your frustration. The situation is unfair to everyone involved.
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Chloe Anderson
Try calling the local WorkSource office in your area. Sometimes they can help with basic Washington ESD questions or at least point you in the right direction.
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Oliver Schulz
•That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. Do they handle adjudication issues too or just general questions?
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Chloe Anderson
•They can't resolve adjudication directly but they might be able to give you better contact info or advice on how to reach the right department.
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Diego Vargas
What kind of adjudication issue are you dealing with? Sometimes knowing the specific problem can help determine the best way to get it resolved.
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Oliver Schulz
•It's something about verifying my identity. I submitted all the documents they requested but it's been sitting there for weeks with no movement.
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Diego Vargas
•Identity verification can take forever unfortunately. Make sure you have copies of everything you submitted in case they need you to resubmit.
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Anastasia Fedorov
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked. Got through to Washington ESD in about 45 minutes instead of spending all day redialing. Worth checking out if you're stuck.
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StarStrider
•Did they help you resolve your actual issue or just get you connected?
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Anastasia Fedorov
•They just handle getting you connected to an agent. Once you're talking to Washington ESD, it's up to you to explain your situation and get help.
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Sean Doyle
Keep track of all your call attempts with dates and times. If this drags on much longer you might need that documentation for an appeal or complaint.
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Oliver Schulz
•Good point, I should start keeping better records. This whole process is so much more complicated than it should be.
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Zara Rashid
Try calling during lunch time around 12-1pm. I've noticed sometimes the hold times are shorter then, maybe because fewer people are calling?
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Luca Romano
•That's when I usually try too but still end up waiting forever
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Zara Rashid
•Yeah it's still a long wait but sometimes better than peak hours
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Nia Jackson
The whole Washington ESD system needs a major overhaul. It shouldn't be this hard to get basic help with unemployment claims.
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Mateo Hernandez
•Agreed, but unfortunately that's not going to help us right now when we need answers.
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CosmicCruiser
Have you tried calling different numbers? Sometimes the main line is jammed but other department numbers have shorter waits.
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Oliver Schulz
•I've only been trying the main customer service number. Do you know any other numbers that might work?
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CosmicCruiser
•Check the Washington ESD website - they list different numbers for different types of issues. Might be worth trying a few.
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Aisha Khan
Honestly the phone system is so broken that using a service like Claimyr makes sense. At least then you're not wasting your own time sitting on hold all day.
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Ethan Taylor
•How do you know it's not a scam though? Seems too good to be true.
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Aisha Khan
•I was skeptical too but they have good reviews and they don't ask for sensitive info. Plus they have that video demo showing exactly how it works.
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Yuki Ito
I finally got through after 3 weeks of calling and the agent was actually really helpful. Don't give up - eventually you'll get someone who can help resolve your adjudication.
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Oliver Schulz
•That gives me hope! What time of day did you finally get through?
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Yuki Ito
•It was around 9:30am on a Tuesday. I think I just got lucky that day but persistence definitely pays off.
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Carmen Lopez
Make sure you're calling the right number for your specific issue. The general customer service line handles everything but there might be a more direct route for adjudication problems.
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Oliver Schulz
•I'll double-check the Washington ESD website to make sure I'm using the best number. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
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Andre Dupont
Update us when you finally get through! I'm dealing with the same issue and curious what they tell you about the adjudication delays.
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Oliver Schulz
•Will do! I'm going to try some of these suggestions this week and see if I can finally reach someone.
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