Unable to reach ESD agents - phone system only gives 2 options with no human contact

Welcome to ESD hell. The phone system is designed to keep you trapped in an endless loop of automated messages. I spent TWO WEEKS trying to reach someone about my adjudication issue last month. What worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - like literally dialing at 7:59 and hitting send at 8:00 on the dot. Even then, I had to wait on hold for 1.5 hours, but at least I got through to a human eventually.

their system is total garbage. been on unemployment 3 times in last 5 yrs and it gets worse every time. try hitting 7 then 0 repeatedly sometimes that bumps you to a person. or say "agent" over and over if its voice activated

I had the exact same "able and available" flag on my weekly claim last month! The problem is that their system is overwhelmed and understaffed. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call early in the morning (7:59am, ready to hit dial right at 8:00am) 2. Select option 7 for unemployment insurance 3. Then select option 2 for claim questions 4. After that, select option 3 for payment issues 5. DON'T hang up even if you're on hold for hours Alternatively, you can send a secure message through your eServices account. Go to your dashboard, click on "Send a message" and select "Claim Questions" from the dropdown. Describe your "able and available" issue clearly and they should respond within 5-7 business days. The "able and available" flag usually happens if you answered "no" to any of the job search questions or indicated limited availability in some way. It's fixable but you do need to speak with an agent.

Sorry you're dealing with this frustration. It's a common problem with ESD. I had a similar issue last month, and after trying for days with no success, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an ESD agent without the endless wait. They basically keep dialing for you until they get through, then connect you with the agent. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

the whole system is DESIGNED to be impossible to navigate!! they WANT you to give up so they don't have to pay benefits. same thing happened to me and i lost 3 weeks of payments because i couldn't reach anyone to fix a simple mistake on my claim. the government doesn't care about regular people. wake up people!!!

Have you tried contacting your state representative? I was stuck in limbo for WEEKS with my claim last year, and after exhausting all options, I emailed my state rep's office. Their constituent services person contacted ESD on my behalf, and miraculously my issue was resolved within 48 hours. Just Google "[your county] state representative" and most have contact forms specifically for helping with unemployment issues.

ESD claims specialist here. For "able and available" flags specifically, you should: 1. Submit documentation through your eServices account explaining your situation 2. Continue filing weekly claims while the issue is being resolved 3. Keep detailed records of all your job search activities If you need to speak with someone directly, the least busy call times are typically Tuesday-Thursday between 1:30-3:30pm. The morning rush is when most people call. Also, if you're using a cell phone, try calling from a landline if possible - for some reason our system connects landline calls more consistently. The "able and available" flag is usually a quick fix once you reach someone, so don't panic. Your benefits aren't lost - they'll be paid retroactively once the issue is resolved.