Impossible to reach ESD agents by phone - any working tricks to get through?
I've been trying for TWO WEEKS to speak with someone at ESD about my claim and I'm completely losing it! Every time I call, it's either 'high call volume' and immediate disconnect or I'm stuck on hold for 2+ hours only to get disconnected! They haven't responded to any of my messages through eServices either. At this point I need to talk to an actual human who can review my claim and answer my questions. Does anyone know any tricks for getting through? Are there specific times when the lines aren't completely jammed? Early morning? Late afternoon? Do they even answer calls on Fridays? I feel like I'm playing some sick lottery game just trying to get basic help with my benefits. I'm desperate here and bills are piling up. Any advice would be seriously appreciated!
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Anna Xian
call at EXACTLY 7:59am... not 8am, not 7:55. literally 7:59. thats how i got thru last month after trying for days. also thursdays seem better than mondays for sure. good luck!!
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Thank you! I'll try the 7:59 trick tomorrow morning. Did you call the regular number or one of the specialized lines?
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Jungleboo Soletrain
I've been working with ESD claims for years, and the phone system has definitely gotten worse recently. A few tips that might help: 1. Call on Wednesday mornings between 8:00-8:30am. Their systems reset overnight Tuesday, and Wednesdays typically have lighter call volumes than Mon/Tues. 2. When you do get through, immediately ask for a direct callback number from your claims specialist. Many will provide their extension for follow-up questions. 3. Be very specific about your issue when prompted by the automated system - this helps route you to the correct department faster. 4. Make sure you've already uploaded any required documentation to your eServices account before calling. This saves time when you finally connect with someone. Hope this helps! The system is frustrating but not impossible to navigate.
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Rajan Walker
•This is all great advice except for #2 - they NEVER give out direct extensions anymore! I've asked multiple times and they always say "policy doesn't allow it" which is total BS. The whole system is designed to make it hard to get help.
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Nadia Zaldivar
After trying for 3 weeks to reach ESD about my adjudication issue, I finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. It basically keeps dialing for you and gets in line so you don't have to keep calling back. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 I was super skeptical at first but it actually worked! The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got my issue resolved. Just sharing because I know how maddening the phone system is.
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TillyCombatwarrior
•Thank you!!! I've never heard of this but I'm at my wit's end and willing to try anything at this point. Going to check out that video now.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
lol good luck. been trying to reach them for a month. ESD is a complete joke. they expect us to answer THEIR calls within 5 minutes or we get disqualified but they can just ignore us forever???? make it make sense
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Ev Luca
•While I understand your frustration, ESD is severely understaffed right now. There was a budget cut in January 2025 that reduced their call center staff by nearly 30%. They're working to hire more people, but the training process takes about 6 weeks before new agents can handle calls independently. In the meantime, try using the eServices message center for non-urgent questions and specify in the subject line exactly what you need help with. They're currently prioritizing messages about adjudication issues and payment holds.
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Avery Davis
Try calling the technical support line instead of the main claims line. When you get someone from tech support, explain that you've been unable to reach claims for weeks. Sometimes they'll transfer you directly to a claims specialist, bypassing the main queue. Worked for me twice in the past month!
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Collins Angel
•I tried this yesterday and got yelled at by the tech support person who said they can't transfer to claims and that I was "gaming the system" by calling their line. So your mileage may vary with this approach...
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TillyCombatwarrior
UPDATE: I finally got through!!! Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and was connected to an agent in about 30 mins. They fixed my claim issue right away - turns out there was a simple verification problem they could have solved in 5 minutes if I could have just reached them weeks ago! So frustrating but at least it's resolved now. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!
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Anna Xian
•awesome! glad u got it figured out. the whole system is so broken its ridiculous.
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