What happens if I miss my unemployment phone interview - Washington ESD consequences?

I've been trying to call all morning but keep getting the busy signal. How am I supposed to reach them when their phones are always jammed?

Try calling right at 8am when they open. That's usually the best time to get through to someone.

Did they give you a hard time about rescheduling or were they understanding?

the agent was pretty understanding actually, just had to explain why I couldn't make the original time

What if I can't get through to reschedule before the interview time? Should I just call at the appointment time and explain?

Yes, definitely call at the scheduled time if you can't reschedule beforehand. They might be able to conduct the interview then or at least document that you tried to participate.

Never heard of this before. Is it legit or just another scam?

It's legitimate - they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. I used it when I couldn't get through for my own adjudication issue and it worked great.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already strapped for cash waiting for my claim to get approved.

I feel your frustration but getting angry won't help the situation. The system is definitely overwhelmed but there are ways to get through.

Easy for you to say when you're not facing eviction because your claim has been stuck in adjudication for 2 months!

How long did the whole appeal process take? I can't afford to wait months for this to get resolved.

took about 6 weeks total from filing the appeal to getting the hearing decision. not fun but better than losing the claim entirely

I'll double-check my letter. The issue is about whether I was terminated or quit voluntarily. My employer is claiming I quit but I was actually fired.

Definitely try to get documentation of the termination - termination letter, emails, witness statements. That kind of evidence can be very helpful.

The problem is I work in retail and can't just disappear for 30 minutes during my shift. My manager would not be happy.

Talk to your manager and explain the situation. Most employers understand that unemployment stuff is important and time-sensitive.

Was this the Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier? How does it actually work?

Yeah, you give them your info and they call Washington ESD for you. When they get an agent on the line, they conference you in. Saves you from sitting on hold all day.

Yeah I definitely won't ignore it. This claim means too much to me financially to just let it go.

good attitude. the squeaky wheel gets the grease with Washington ESD unfortunately

Good tip! I'll log in and see if there are any messages I missed.

The messaging system is usually faster than phone calls for non-urgent stuff, but for interview rescheduling you probably still need to call.

Is the appeal hearing also done by phone or do I have to go somewhere in person?

Most appeal hearings are still done by phone. You'll get a notice with the date, time, and phone number to call.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. People are desperate to get through to actual humans at Washington ESD.

might have to look into that if I have more issues. this whole process is exhausting

Wait, I should keep filing even if I get denied? I thought you had to stop filing once you're denied.

Nope, keep filing. It preserves your right to those weeks if your appeal is successful. Just make sure you're still meeting all the requirements like job searching.

Glad it worked out! That's exactly what I was hoping would happen when I suggested Claimyr.

This gives me hope. I've been trying to reach them about my own adjudication for days with no luck.

Definitely try the service if you're having trouble getting through. It's worth it just for the peace of mind.