Need the unemployment office phone number - Washington ESD contact info

3 hours?? That's insane. Do they have any other numbers or better times to call?

I tried calling at 8am sharp when they open and still waited 2 hours. The system is just overwhelmed.

What's your adjudication about? Mine just says pending with no explanation.

They're reviewing my job separation. My former employer is claiming I quit but I was actually laid off. It's been 3 weeks now.

Is that legit? How does it work exactly?

Yeah it's real. They basically keep calling Washington ESD for you and then conference you in when they get an agent on the line. Much better than sitting there listening to hold music all day.

I used Claimyr too after seeing it mentioned here. Got through to an agent in about 45 minutes instead of the usual 3+ hour wait. Worth checking out for sure.

It's ridiculous. People are struggling to pay rent and buy food while Washington ESD can't even answer their phones.

The staffing issues got worse after COVID. They're supposedly hiring more people but it's not helping yet.

Good idea, I'll try that tomorrow morning. What do I need to have ready when I call?

Have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and any documents related to your issue. They'll ask for your SSN right away to verify your identity.

I tried the chat yesterday and it said 'currently unavailable' all day.

Yeah the chat is hit or miss. Usually only works during business hours and even then it's spotty.

What kind of account issues do they handle on that line?

Password resets, login problems, that sort of thing. But they've helped me with simple claim status questions before too.

What did you need help with? Was it worth the wait?

I had an overpayment notice that was wrong. The agent fixed it immediately once I explained the situation. Definitely worth it in the end.

Good point. I should probably write down all my questions before I call too.

Exactly! Make a list of everything you need to ask. Once you get through you don't want to waste time trying to remember what you needed help with.

There's a callback feature? Where do you find that on the website?

It's buried in the contact section but like I said, it doesn't actually work. Save yourself the trouble and just call directly.

That's the second person who mentioned Claimyr. I might have to check it out if I can't get through tomorrow.

Yeah it's worth trying. The video demo shows exactly how it works so you know what to expect.

Good thinking. I'll make sure my phone is fully charged too.

And have a charger handy! Nothing worse than your phone dying while you're on hold.

Thanks for the tip! I hate navigating those automated menus.

Yeah the automated system can't help with most real issues anyway. Better to go straight to a human.

That would be amazing. My claim has been pending for over a week now.

Definitely mention that when you get through. Sometimes it's just a simple verification issue they can fix immediately.

Good to know. I was wondering if they had weekend hours.

Nope, strictly business hours. And they're closed on state holidays too.

Interesting theory! I'll try different times and see if that makes a difference.

It's worth experimenting. Every little bit helps when you're trying to avoid those 3+ hour waits.

Great advice. I should probably have a pen and paper ready before I call.

Exactly! And if they make any changes to your claim, ask for a confirmation number or reference number for your records.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful tips! I feel much more prepared to call now.

You're welcome! Hope you get through quickly and get your issue resolved.