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

Thanks! I'll try that number. How long did you usually wait on hold when you did get through?

When I actually stayed connected, it was usually 45 minutes to over an hour. Most of the time I just got hung up on though.

Is the technical support line any better for getting through? My issue might be more technical since my weekly claims aren't showing up properly.

Not really, it's the same overloaded system. You might have better luck early in the morning like 8 AM sharp when they open.

I tried the 8 AM thing and still got disconnected after 20 minutes. This system is broken.

Wait, so they actually call Washington ESD for you? How does that work exactly?

Yeah, you give them your info and they handle all the calling and waiting. When they get an agent on the line, they connect you. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.

That sounds too good to be true. Is it legit? I'm desperate but don't want to get scammed.

I thought the same thing but it worked for me. They're not asking for your SSN or anything crazy, just basic contact info so they can call you back when they get an agent.

Have you tried using the secure messaging system in your eServices account? Sometimes that works better than calling.

I sent a message 10 days ago and haven't heard anything back. This whole system is a joke.

Thank you for the complete list! I'm going to try them all starting first thing Monday morning.

I've tried all those numbers multiple times. The job search services one might be a little less busy if your question is about WorkSourceWA requirements.

I feel you. It's like they designed the system to discourage people from calling for help.

Right?? And then they expect us to just wait indefinitely while our bills pile up.

Good point! What specific information should I have ready? I don't want to mess up my one chance if I get through.

Definitely your claim number, social security number, recent employer info, and any correspondence numbers from letters they've sent you. Also have your calendar ready in case they want to schedule a phone interview.

That gives me hope! Was there anything specific you did or just lucky timing?

I think it was mostly timing. I called right when they opened and didn't hang up even when it said they were experiencing high call volume.

I'm going to try that exact same approach tomorrow morning. Tuesday at 8 AM sharp!

I used it about a month ago when I couldn't get through about my standby status. It actually worked - they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Was worth it to me since I'd already wasted hours trying to call myself.

Ok that's two people saying it worked. Maybe I should check out that video demo they mentioned.

I'm still skeptical but at this point I'm willing to try anything. Been trying to reach ESD for over a month about my overpayment notice.

Exactly! It used to take maybe 15-20 minutes to get through. Now it's hours if you're lucky enough not to get disconnected.

And they wonder why people get frustrated and give up on their claims. The system is designed to wear you down.

That's a good point. I'm sure the agents are doing their best with what they have to work with.

Maybe, but they need to hire more people or fix the phone system. This has been going on way too long.

Interesting! I wouldn't have thought lunch time would be better. I'll try that if the early morning approach doesn't work.

That's actually smart thinking. Most people probably call first thing in the morning or right after work.

Good tip! My issue is more about claim status but I'll keep that in mind for future reference.

What's the WorkSourceWA number? I have questions about my job search log.

It varies by location but you can find your local office number on the WorkSourceWA website. They're usually more accessible than the main ESD line.

That's awesome! I'm definitely going to check them out. Did they ask for a lot of personal information?

Just basic contact info so they could call me back when they got an agent. Nothing that felt sketchy or unsafe.

Ok you've convinced me. Going to try Claimyr tonight. Thanks for the update!

6 weeks is way too long. Have you tried contacting your state representative's office? Sometimes they can help with ESD issues.

no i didn't know that was an option how do i find my representative?

You can look it up on the Washington State Legislature website. Enter your address and it'll show your district and representatives.

That's dedication! I don't know if I have the patience for that but I might have to try it.

I did that for 4 hours straight last week and never got through. Sometimes the system is just completely overloaded.

True, some days are definitely worse than others. I've noticed Mondays and Fridays are usually the worst times to try calling.

Agreed! You all have given me way more useful information than I expected. Hopefully one of these approaches will work.

Good luck! Come back and let us know what works for you. Always helpful to hear success stories.

Will do! I'll update this thread once I finally get through to someone.

That's a smart combination approach! I hadn't thought about trying later in the evening - that's actually a really good point about people getting off work. The ESD lines are open until 4:30 PM on weekdays, so calling around 3:30-4:00 PM might catch that sweet spot when the morning rush has died down but before they close. Let me know how the 8 AM method works out for you first though - I'm planning to try that myself this week!