Is the Washington ESD unemployment website down right now - can't access my claim

Thanks for confirming! I was starting to think it was just my internet connection.

Try clearing your browser cache and cookies first. Sometimes that helps with Washington ESD login issues.

That's so frustrating! What happens if we can't file by the deadline because their system is down?

Usually they extend the deadline or don't penalize you if there are documented system outages. Keep trying though.

Is that legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They help you navigate the phone system to reach a real person at Washington ESD.

Never heard of that but anything's better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get disconnected.

Good idea, I'll try Firefox instead of Chrome and see if that works.

Incognito mode worked for me! Thanks for the tip.

You're probably right. I need to get better about filing earlier in the week.

Same here. I learned that lesson after getting locked out one Sunday and panicking about my benefits.

Take a deep breath. If it's a system outage, Washington ESD usually doesn't penalize claimants. Document your attempts to file.

How do I document it? Should I take screenshots of the error messages?

Yes, screenshots help. Also note the time and date you tried to access the site.

Right?? Other states have way better unemployment systems. Washington is so behind.

To be fair, they did upgrade some parts of the system recently. But yeah, it still has major issues.

Thank you for the update! I'll keep refreshing.

What time did you get through? Wondering if certain times work better.

It was around 8:30 PM. Maybe traffic is lighter in the evening?

Oh I didn't know about the phone option! That's really helpful to know.

The phone system is actually pretty easy once you get used to it. Sometimes faster than the website.

How much does it cost? I'm barely getting by on unemployment as it is.

I'd rather not get into specific costs here, but it was worth it for me to avoid the stress and wasted time. Check their site for details.

Smart approach. I should probably start keeping better backup records too.

That's really good advice. I always forget to back up my job search log entries.

Awesome! I'm going to try again right now.

Thanks for the heads up! Finally got mine submitted too.

The mobile site is actually pretty decent. Never thought to try that during an outage.

Good to know! I'll bookmark the mobile version as a backup.

They sometimes post on their social media but not always. Usually it's just 'we're experiencing high volume' messages.

I follow their Twitter account and they do post about major outages there occasionally.

Same here! Lesson learned about waiting until Sunday night.

Tuesday through Thursday are definitely the best days to avoid website issues.

That's exactly my situation right now! My claim has been pending for 3 weeks.

Definitely worth trying if you're stuck. The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part.

Glad you got it sorted out! These website issues are frustrating but usually resolve within a few hours.

Great to hear! And remember, if you ever need to actually speak with someone at Washington ESD, those alternative methods we discussed can really help.

Welcome to the club! The Sunday night struggle is real with Washington ESD. Definitely try the incognito mode first - that seems to work for a lot of people. And yeah, filing mid-week is a game changer. I used to stress every Sunday until I switched to filing on Tuesdays. Way less traffic on the system and you don't have to worry about these weekend crashes. Hope you get through soon!

I feel your pain! Just went through the same thing earlier today. The incognito mode trick actually worked for me after about 3 tries - sometimes you have to be persistent with it. If that doesn't work, definitely try the mobile version of the site (just go to the same URL on your phone). The automated phone system at 800-318-6022 is also a solid backup if you're really stuck. Don't stress too much about the deadline - like others mentioned, ESD usually accommodates system outages. Just document your attempts with screenshots if possible. Hang in there!