Washington ESD unemployment website not working - can't access my claim

yeah the site has been super slow for me too, especially in the mornings

The Washington ESD website has been having intermittent issues this week. Try clearing your browser cache and cookies first, then attempt to access the site during off-peak hours (usually after 8pm or before 7am). If you still can't file your weekly claim by the deadline due to technical issues, you can call the customer service line to report the problem and they'll note it on your account.

I had the same problem last week and ended up using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. It's a service that helps you reach their agents without waiting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Cost me way less than the stress of missing my claim deadline.

This is a known issue that happens periodically with the Washington ESD system, especially during high traffic periods. If you're unable to file due to technical problems on their end, Washington ESD will typically provide good cause for late filing. Document your attempts with screenshots if possible and note the times you tried to access the system.

UGH this is SO frustrating!! I've been trying since yesterday morning and keep getting kicked out right when I'm about to submit. Why can't they fix their stupid website?!

Try using a different browser or your phone's mobile browser. Sometimes that helps when the desktop site is acting up

I went through this exact same thing three months ago. The website was down for like 4 days and I panicked thinking I'd lose my benefits. But when I finally got through to file, they backdated everything and there were no issues. Washington ESD knows when their system is having problems.

Has anyone tried calling the technical support line? I wonder if they can file your claim over the phone when the website isn't working.

Update on Claimyr - I used them again this morning when I couldn't get through the website and they connected me to a Washington ESD rep in about 15 minutes. The agent was able to note the technical issues on my account and confirmed my claim would be processed even if I file late due to website problems.

For everyone dealing with this issue, make sure you're accessing the correct URL: secure.esd.wa.gov. Sometimes phishing sites or outdated bookmarks can cause problems that look like the main site is down.

same here, website was completely broken yesterday around lunchtime

If you continue having issues, you can also try accessing the site through the main Washington State website (wa.gov) and navigating to Employment Security Department from there. Sometimes the direct links work when the main URL is having problems.

This is ridiculous. It's 2025 and they can't keep a basic website running. How are we supposed to comply with their filing requirements if their system doesn't work??

UPDATE: I was able to get through using the mobile site around 9pm last night! Took a while to load but I got my weekly claim filed. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and reassurance. Going to bookmark that Claimyr site just in case this happens again.

This thread convinced me to try Claimyr when I had website issues this week. Worked exactly like described - they got me connected to Washington ESD and the agent confirmed my account status. Worth it to avoid the stress of wondering if you'll miss deadlines.

For future reference, Washington ESD usually posts updates about known technical issues on their Twitter account (@WaStateESD) if anyone wants to check there first before panicking.

Glad this worked out for everyone. The website seems to be running more smoothly today from what I can tell

Just to close the loop on this discussion - if anyone experiences similar technical issues in the future, remember that Washington ESD has policies in place to protect claimants when system outages prevent timely filing. Always attempt to file as soon as possible once the system is restored, and keep documentation of your attempts during the outage period.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been dealing with Washington ESD for a while now - these website outages unfortunately happen more often than they should, especially during busy periods like holidays or when there are system updates. The good news is that Washington ESD is generally understanding about late filings when it's due to their technical issues. I've learned to always try filing during off-peak hours first (early morning or late evening), and if that doesn't work, I document everything with screenshots showing the error messages and timestamps. It's also worth signing up for their email alerts if you haven't already - they sometimes send notifications about planned maintenance or known issues. Hang in there, and don't stress too much about missing the deadline when it's clearly on their end!

I've been through this exact situation multiple times over the past year. What I've found that works best is trying to access the site very early in the morning (like 5-6 AM) when traffic is lowest. Also, if you're using Chrome, try switching to Firefox or Edge - sometimes different browsers handle their server load better. One more tip: if you get partway through filing and the site crashes, don't start over immediately. Wait about 10-15 minutes and try to resume where you left off, as sometimes the system saves your progress even when it appears to have failed. The stress is real, but I've never actually lost benefits due to their technical problems - they do track when the issues are on their end.