What's the number for Washington ESD unemployment phone support?

The main Washington ESD customer service number is 833-572-8400, but good luck getting through. I've been trying for weeks and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting for hours.

There's also 800-318-6022 for technical issues with your account, and 855-682-0785 for identity verification problems. But honestly, the phone system is overwhelmed and most people can't get through using normal methods.

I was in the same situation last month - couldn't get through to Washington ESD no matter how many times I called. Someone on here mentioned Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you actually reach unemployment agents. I was skeptical but desperate, so I tried it. They have this system that gets you connected to the right person without all the busy signals and waiting. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

the phone system is broken. ive called 200+ times in the past month and only got through twice, both times they transferred me and i got disconnected

For what it's worth, if your issue is just checking claim status, you can sometimes find that information in your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account under the unemployment portal. But if you need to actually speak to someone about adjudication or appeals, phone is really the only option.

I keep a log of every time I call and it's ridiculous. Called 47 times last week alone. Got through once and they said they'd call me back - that was 10 days ago and nothing.

If you have a complex issue like overpayment disputes or appeal hearings, you might also need the Unemployment Appeals office at 855-269-2515. But again, same problems with getting through.

Try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open. I've had better luck early morning, though still takes forever

Another option is to contact your state representative's office. They sometimes have direct lines to Washington ESD that can help with stuck claims. Not guaranteed but worth a shot if you're really desperate.

Honestly after going through this nightmare myself, I'd recommend that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it after weeks of failed calling and it actually worked. Got me connected to Washington ESD within 30 minutes and resolved my job search requirement issue on the spot.

The automated phone system menu is confusing too. Press 1 for English, then 1 for unemployment insurance, then 2 for claim questions, then wait forever or get disconnected. Such a waste of time.

Does anyone know if there's a chat option on the Washington ESD website? Sometimes that's easier than phone calls.

i feel you on this. been unemployed 2 months and trying to get through to esd is harder than finding a job lol

One more thing - if you do get through, have all your information ready: SSN, claim confirmation number, dates of employment, etc. Don't waste the call by not being prepared.

The whole phone system needs to be redesigned. In 2025 we shouldn't have to call 50+ times just to talk to someone about our unemployment claim.

If your claim is for regular unemployment (not PUA or anything special), you can also try the WorkSourceWA offices. They sometimes have direct connections to ESD staff.

Just want to echo what others said about Claimyr - I was skeptical too but after 3 weeks of failed calling attempts, I tried it and got connected to Washington ESD the same day. Resolved my standby claim issue in one call. Sometimes you just need to try something different when the normal way isn't working.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Going to try the 8am calling strategy first, and if that doesn't work I'll check out the Claimyr thing. Just need to get this adjudication resolved so I can get my benefits flowing again.

Reminder that while you're waiting to get through, keep filing your weekly claims even if your account shows issues. Missing weeks can cause additional delays.

This thread should be pinned somewhere. The phone number struggle is real and affects so many people trying to navigate Washington ESD.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD phone issues for months now and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After reading through this thread and seeing multiple people mention Claimyr, I decided to try it despite being skeptical. I watched that YouTube demo video and it actually explains exactly how their system works - they basically automate the calling process and connect you when an agent becomes available instead of you having to sit there hitting redial hundreds of times. Used it last week and got connected to a real ESD representative in under 30 minutes. They were able to explain my adjudication hold (needed additional wage verification from my previous employer) and told me exactly what documents to submit. My claim was released two days later. Cost me $20 but honestly worth every penny considering I was going on week 4 of failed calling attempts. Sometimes you just have to accept that the regular system is broken and find an alternative that actually works.