What is the Washington ESD unemployment phone number - can't find it anywhere

Thank you! I'll try calling first thing tomorrow morning then.

I tried calling at 8am sharp last week and still waited 45 minutes on hold, but at least I got through eventually.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that, is it legit? I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it's legitimate. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. Saved me tons of time when I had issues with my claim status.

Any insider tips on best ways to actually get through?

Keep trying different times of day. Mid-morning around 10am sometimes has lower volume than opening time. Also try calling on Wednesdays or Thursdays rather than Mondays when everyone calls after the weekend.

The system is overwhelmed. Washington ESD doesn't have enough staff to handle all the calls they're getting daily.

Tell me about it. Been trying to reach them for a month about an overpayment notice.

How much does Claimyr cost? Is it worth it?

I think it varies but honestly after weeks of getting nowhere, it was worth every penny to finally resolve my claim issue.

I'm skeptical of paying for something that should be free but if it actually works...

Thank you! I'll try that number. How long are the wait times usually?

I've waited over 2 hours before and still got disconnected. It's a nightmare honestly.

This is exactly what happened to me. Got through after 2 hours, agent said they couldn't help with my adjudication issue and needed to transfer me to someone else. Got disconnected during the transfer.

That's the worst! At least with services like Claimyr, if you get disconnected they'll keep trying to get you reconnected.

What's the difference between these numbers? I'm so confused by all this.

The weekly claims line is mostly automated for filing your weekly claim. The customer service line is where you can actually talk to agents about problems with your claim.

I didn't know there was online chat! Is it on the main ESD website?

Yeah but it's not always available. Seems like they turn it on and off randomly.

The chat is usually only for basic questions. For anything complex like adjudication or appeals you still need to call.

Is this legit? I've never heard of it before but I'm desperate at this point.

Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Much better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

How much does it cost though? I can't afford to pay extra just to talk to ESD.

Good advice, I'll try that tomorrow morning. What claim info should I have ready?

Your claim effective date, last employer info, and any correspondence numbers from letters ESD sent you. Having all that ready speeds things up once you get connected.

Late afternoon around 3-4pm sometimes works. Call volume drops off a bit then.

Friday afternoons are usually better too. Less people calling then.

I feel the same way! It shouldn't be this difficult to get help with unemployment.

The whole system is broken. They make it nearly impossible to reach anyone on purpose.

What time did you call?

Called around 11:30am. Probably just got lucky with timing.

Same here. The system worked fine before 2020 but now it's completely overwhelmed.

Have you tried that Claimyr thing people mentioned? Might be worth it if you're spending that much time calling.

I might have to. This is ridiculous that we need to pay a third party just to access government services.

Good point! What other info should I have ready?

Your last employer info, bank account details if you need to update direct deposit, and any letters or notices you've received from Washington ESD.

It's all the same number - 833-572-8400. They route you internally based on your issue.

There might be a separate number for employers but for claimants it's all the same line.

That's risky though. If there's an actual problem with your claim you could end up with an overpayment later.

True, but what else can you do when you literally can't get through to anyone?

I didn't know representatives could help with ESD issues. How do I find my representative?

You can look up your district on the Washington State Legislature website. Most rep offices have caseworkers who deal with ESD problems.

There's no chat feature on the ESD website. You might be thinking of a different state's unemployment system.

Oh that's disappointing. I thought that would be easier than calling.

I'm seriously considering trying this. The regular phone system is just not working for me.

I used Claimyr too after seeing it mentioned in another forum. Worked exactly as advertised. Worth checking out the demo video to see if it's right for your situation.

I agree it's frustrating but right now I just need to get through to someone about my claim.

It's definitely not ideal but at least there are options now. Better than being completely stuck.

How do I know which number to call? My claim is just sitting there not moving forward.

If your claim isn't moving forward, that sounds like it might be in adjudication. You'd need to talk to the main customer service line about that.

Thank you for listing all of these! I'm going to save this comment.

Super helpful to have them all in one place. Should be pinned somewhere.

That's exactly what I'm worried about happening to me. So frustrating.

This is exactly why I switched to using Claimyr. No more wasted hours on hold.

I'll try different times and see what works. Thanks for the suggestion.

No problem! Sometimes it's just about finding the right window when call volume is lower.

Yes, the TTY number for Washington ESD is 711. You can use that to relay calls to any of the main ESD numbers.

Perfect, thank you so much! That's exactly what I needed.

That's encouraging to hear! I'll keep trying. What time of day did you finally get through?

It was around 10:30am on a Tuesday. Seemed like a random time but that's when it worked for me.

Good to know. I'm just trying to check on my claim status so the main line should work for me.

Yeah for basic claim status questions the main customer service line is definitely the right place to start.

I don't think that's true. The phone system is just overwhelmed. It's not discriminating based on caller ID or anything like that.

ok thanks, just wasn't sure. the whole thing is so frustrating

That's exactly the kind of situation I'm in. I think I need to try this service.

Definitely worth checking out. The demo video on their site shows you exactly what to expect.

Interesting observation. I'll try calling on Wednesday and see if it makes a difference.

It's just my personal experience but I've had better luck mid-week for sure.

I tried that but never got a response. How long do they usually take to respond to messages?

It can take up to 10 business days, which is why phone calls are better for urgent issues. The messaging system is pretty slow.

Good luck! Hope you get through quickly either way.

Let us know how it goes! Always helpful to hear about people's experiences with getting through to ESD.

I will definitely update this thread once I get it sorted out. You all have been so helpful!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to know that 8:02 AM worked for you - I've been trying right at 8:00 AM but maybe calling just a couple minutes later helps avoid the initial rush. An hour and a half on hold is still frustrating but at least you didn't get disconnected like so many others have experienced. I'll definitely have all my documents ready beforehand. Really appreciate the specific timing advice!

This is really encouraging! I've been trying at exactly 8:00 AM like everyone suggested but keep getting busy signals or disconnected after hours of waiting. I never thought about calling a few minutes after 8 - that's such a smart tip! I'm going to try 8:02 or 8:03 AM tomorrow and see if that helps me get through. Having all the documents ready is great advice too since I definitely don't want to fumble around once I finally get an agent on the line. Thanks for sharing what actually worked for you!