Time zone confusion with ESD phone hours - East Coast trying to reach Washington unemployment

Yes, 8am PST would be 11am Eastern Time. Unfortunately, the phone situation hasn't improved much. My experience last month trying to reach ESD was brutal - spent 3 days calling non-stop just to get disconnected repeatedly. The main number is 800-318-6022. You basically have to start calling exactly when they open and keep hitting redial for possibly hours.

The phone system is definitely still a challenge. To directly answer your questions: 1. Yes, 8am PST = 11am EST. 2. The correct main number is 800-318-6022. 3. For claims needing "additional information" status, check your husband's eServices account for any alerts or messages as those typically indicate what specific information they need. 4. Check if there's an adjudication letter in his online correspondence folder explaining what info they need. One thing that might help - they've improved the eServices messaging system somewhat, so try sending a detailed message through his account. Sometimes they respond within 5-7 business days that way. If you absolutely need to speak with someone, the best time to call is exactly at 8:00am PST (11:00am your time), but be prepared to keep calling for potentially hours.

lol nothing has changed with esd phones. still garbage. been on unemploymnet 3 times since 2020 and its always the same. good luck!!!

When my claim showed "needs additional information" last month, it was because they needed to verify my identity. The annoying thing was they never sent any notification about what they needed! I only found out by eventually getting through to someone. If your husband's claim has been in this status for 2 weeks already, I'd definitely try to speak with someone. I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to ESD. It basically places the call for you and calls you back when it gets through to a representative. Saved me countless hours of redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Also, since you're out of state now, make sure you mention that when you do reach someone. Sometimes they need to note that in the system, especially if your husband is looking for work in your current state rather than Washington.

Did you try checking the online message center? Sometimes they send a message telling what additional info they need but don't bother emailing you to let you know there's a message waiting. The ESD system is so user-unfriendly it's ridiculous.

I had the same "needs additional information" status a few months back in January 2025. In my case they were trying to verify my work history with my previous employer, but my employer wasn't responding to them. What was frustrating was that I only found this out after FINALLY reaching someone on the phone. I think they're more understaffed than ever with all the budget cuts. My neighbor works for a state agency (not ESD) and said most agencies are running with 25-30% fewer people than before. Make sure your husband keeps filing his weekly claims even while this is getting resolved. That was the one helpful piece of advice I got - if you stop filing weekly claims while waiting for them to fix the issue, it causes even more problems.

Just wanted to add - make sure he's completing his 3 job search activities each week and documenting them properly in the system. Even with the claim showing "needs additional information," they'll eventually review his job search activities when they process the claim. One of my friends got disqualified for benefits because she didn't realize she still needed to do job searches while her claim was in pending status.

Just to clarify on the out-of-state job search question - yes, job search activities in your current state DO count toward Washington's requirements as long as they're properly documented in his eServices account. The key is that he needs to be able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. Regarding the "needs additional information" status - one other place to check is the "Upload a Document" section in eServices. Sometimes there will be categories of documents they're requesting there, even if it's not clearly communicated elsewhere. Also, while checking the phone hours is important, do be aware that the call volumes are highest right when they open. Sometimes calling mid-day (around 1-2pm PST/4-5pm EST) can have slightly better results as the morning rush has subsided.

just wanna say i feel ur pain... ESD is the WORST!!! moved from seattle to phoenix last year and had to deal with them remotely for 2 months. nightmare. good luck!!!