In-person ESD office for in-person claim help near Maple Valley? (Not WorkSource)

Unfortunately there aren't any dedicated ESD unemployment offices where you can just walk in anymore. They consolidated everything to call centers years ago. WorkSource locations are supposed to have ESD staff but most don't handle claim issues directly.\n\nI had the EXACT same problem last year with a redetermination request. Sent it 4 different ways and nothing. What finally worked was using Claimyr to get through on the phone (claimyr.com). They have this system that holds your place in line so you don't have to keep redialing. I was skeptical but their video demo convinced me: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Got through in about 45 minutes when I had been trying for WEEKS before that. The agent was able to see none of my documents had been scanned into their system yet!

Thank you for the info - really disappointing they don't have in-person options anymore. Do you remember what the Claimyr service cost? At this point I'm desperate enough to try anything.

Theres NO actual ESD offices for us regular people. Its all phonecalls and emails now. Total garbage system design if u ask me!!! The

I feel your frustration, been there! But technically the SeaTac WorkSource does have dedicated UI specialists on certain days. The problem is they're booked weeks ahead and you need an appointment. They don't take walk-ins for UI claim issues anymore.

I went through something similar a few months ago and found a workaround. Instead of trying to resolve the issue directly, I contacted my state representative's office and explained my situation. They have special liaisons with ESD who can look into your case. I emailed my rep on a Tuesday and by Friday, I received a call from someone at ESD to address my redetermination request.\n\nYou can find your representative here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/\n\nWhen you contact them, be sure to include:\n- Your full name\n- Contact information\n- Last 4 of SSN or ESD claim ID\n- A brief description of your issue\n- What steps you've already taken\n\nThey're surprisingly effective at cutting through the red tape. Good luck!

This is genius! I didn't even think about contacting my representative. I'm going to try this right away - thank you so much for the suggestion and for including the link. I'll let you know if it works out.

Hve u tried faxing ur docs to the APPEALS office instead of the regular fax number? Sometimes they actually check those faxes faster cuz appeals have deadlines. Worked 4 me.

This is actually incorrect advice that could cause more problems. The appeals office and the redetermination process are completely different departments at ESD. Sending redetermination documents to the appeals office will likely just delay things further or cause them to be lost completely. Each office has specific procedures for handling different types of requests.

I used to work at WorkSource (quit last year) and here's what most people don't know: there ARE ESD claims specialists at SOME WorkSource locations, but only on specific days, and you MUST have an appointment. They don't advertise this well.\n\nAs of 2025, these WorkSource locations have UI specialists at least 1 day/week:\n- Renton WorkSource (closest to Maple Valley)\n- Auburn WorkSource\n- Downtown Seattle WorkSource\n\nCall the Renton one directly (not the main ESD line) and ask when their next UI specialist day is. They might be able to get you in. Bring ALL your paperwork.

Thank you SO MUCH for this insider info! I'll call the Renton WorkSource location first thing tomorrow morning. Really appreciate you taking the time to share this - it gives me hope that I might actually get this resolved!

my cousin had the same exact issue!!! she said she finally got through by calling at exactly 7:59am right before they open at 8. have you tried that? also did you send your redetermination on the right form? there's like 3 different forms and if you use the wrong one they just ignore it which is RIDICULOUS

I tried calling at 7:59 every day for a WEEK and still got the stupid message about high call volume!!! I swear they just have that message on all the time so they dont have to answer!!!!!

I want to clarify something important for everyone in this thread. As of January 2025, there are NO standalone ESD unemployment offices anywhere in Washington State. The entire UI system operates through:\n\n1. The online eServices portal\n2. The ESD call center (which is notoriously difficult to reach)\n3. Limited UI specialists at SOME WorkSource locations (by appointment only)\n\nFor your redetermination request specifically, these are the current official methods:\n\n- Mail: Employment Security Department, P.O. Box 19019, Olympia, WA 98507-0019\n- Fax: 844-652-7967 (must include a cover sheet with your name and claim ID)\n- Secure Message: Through your eServices account (recommended method)\n\nKeep in mind that processing is currently taking 4-6 weeks due to high volume. I recommend trying both the state representative route mentioned earlier AND attempting to schedule with a UI specialist at your nearest WorkSource that offers that service.

Thank you for laying all this out so clearly. I've already tried all three of those official methods, but I'll try the WorkSource UI specialist appointment and contacting my state rep in parallel. The 4-6 week timeline is helpful to know - at least I have some expectation of when I might hear back.

Hey there! I was in your exact situation last month - redetermination lost in the void and couldn't get through on the phone. I ended up trying the Claimyr service someone mentioned above, and I hate to admit it worked really well. But here's a hack: if you can find someone who works for the state government (any department), they often have internal contact numbers or can help escalate your issue. My neighbor works for DOL and was able to get me in touch with someone at ESD directly. \n\nAlso, don't forget to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the redetermination! I made that mistake and it caused even more problems.

That's a great reminder about continuing to file weekly claims - I've been doing that faithfully. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who works for the state, but sounds like I have a few other options to try from this thread. Thank you!