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.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been trying to reach someone for over a week about my claim being flagged. The automated system is incredibly frustrating - it feels like being stuck in a maze with no exit. I've been following some of the advice here and wanted to add that I found the WorkSource office locations have limited walk-in hours now (mostly by appointment only), so calling ahead before making that 40-mile drive might save you a trip. Also, if you're on Facebook, there's a Washington State Unemployment Support group where people share real-time updates about which phone numbers are working and the best times to call. Sometimes they post when they've actually gotten through to someone. Hang in there - sounds like there are several good strategies to try from the responses above. The system is broken but your benefits aren't lost forever!

I feel your pain! I went through this exact nightmare last year and it took me almost 2 weeks to reach a human. Here's what finally worked for me: Try calling the Spanish language line at 1-800-318-6022 and press 8 for Spanish, then immediately press 0 to get transferred back to English. Sometimes this bypasses some of the automated loops. Also, I had success with the "callback" option buried deep in the menu system - if you can find it, you can request a callback instead of staying on hold. Press 7 for unemployment, then 1 for general questions, then 4 for callback request. They called me back within 24 hours. One more tip: if you have any documentation about your "able and available" issue (like a doctor's note for that medical appointment), upload it to your eServices account under "Upload Documents" even before you talk to someone. This can sometimes automatically clear simple flags. Don't give up - the system is absolutely terrible but your benefits ARE there waiting for you once you get through. The 40-mile drive might actually be worth it as a backup plan if the phone tricks don't work by tomorrow.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who finally got through last week after days of trying! The combination approach worked for me: I called at exactly 8:00 AM using the menu sequence that @Amara Adeyemi shared (7 → 2 → 3), and I had already uploaded my documentation through eServices the night before like @Zara Perez suggested. When I finally reached an agent after a 2-hour hold, they could see my uploaded documents immediately and resolved my "able and available" flag in under 10 minutes. The agent mentioned that having the documentation pre-uploaded saves them time and makes them more willing to help. One thing I learned: if you get disconnected (which happened to me twice), don't start over from scratch. Call back immediately and try a different menu path. Sometimes the system recognizes you called recently and might route you differently. Also confirming what others said about continuing to file your weekly claims even while the flag is active - I got all my back payments within 3 days of the issue being resolved. The stress was terrible but the money was all there waiting. You've got this @Jamal Thompson - sounds like you have multiple solid strategies to try now!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Been stuck in this automated phone loop hell for 4 days trying to resolve an "able and available" flag on my claim. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope that there's actually a way out of this mess. I'm planning to try the 8:00 AM sharp calling strategy tomorrow using the menu sequence (7 → 2 → 3) that several people mentioned, and I'll upload my documentation to eServices tonight. It's such a relief to hear from people like @Amara Chukwu who actually got through and had their issue resolved quickly once they reached a human. The fact that we all have to become detective-level experts just to access basic unemployment services is absolutely ridiculous, but I'm grateful for this community sharing all these workarounds. The Spanish line trick and callback option suggestions are brilliant - I never would have thought of those approaches. @Jamal Thompson - hang in there! It sounds like you have a solid game plan now with all these strategies. The system is broken but at least we're not alone in figuring out how to navigate it.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their strategies and experiences here! As someone who's been lurking in unemployment forums for weeks trying to figure out how to navigate ESD's phone system, this thread is pure gold. Reading about people actually getting through and resolving their issues gives me hope that my own claim problems aren't hopeless. I've bookmarked this entire conversation and I'm going to try the 8:00 AM calling strategy combined with uploading documentation to eServices first. It's honestly shameful that we have to become phone system hackers just to access unemployment benefits we're legally entitled to, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their hard-won knowledge. The fact that multiple people have confirmed these workarounds makes me feel like I actually have a fighting chance now. Special thanks to everyone who shared specific menu sequences and timing tips - you're literally helping people pay their rent and buy groceries. This is what community support looks like! 💪