Who to call for unemployment at Washington ESD - can't get through anywhere
I've been trying to figure out who to call for unemployment issues at Washington ESD for the past week and I'm getting nowhere. Every number I try either has a busy signal, puts me on hold for hours, or just hangs up on me. My weekly claim is stuck and I can't get any answers. Does anyone know the actual working phone numbers to reach someone at Washington ESD? I've tried the main line, the adjudication department, and even the fraud line thinking maybe someone would transfer me. Nothing works.
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Sara Unger
The main customer service line is 800-318-6022 but good luck getting through. I've been calling for three weeks about my claim status.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorYeah I tried that one probably 50 times yesterday. Always busy or disconnects after 2 hours on hold.
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Butch Sledgehammer
That number is useless. I called 127 times in one day and never got through to a human.
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Freya Ross
There's also the adjudication line at 800-246-9763 if your claim is under review, but it's just as bad for wait times. The trick is calling right at 8am when they open.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorI tried calling at exactly 8:00am and still got a busy signal. Do they even have enough staff to answer phones?
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Leslie Parker
lol no they don't have enough staff. been like this for years
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Freya Ross
You might need to try calling a few minutes before 8am and staying on the line. Sometimes the system lets you through early.
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Sergio Neal
I had the same problem for weeks until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got through to someone within 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. Check out claimyr.com, they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorIs this legit? Never heard of paying someone to make phone calls for you.
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Sergio Neal
Yeah it's real. They basically do the waiting and redialing for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Savanna Franklin
Sounds like a scam to me. Why would you pay someone to dial a phone number?
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Juan Moreno
For specific issues you can try different numbers: Job search requirements 855-797-4357, Appeals 800-246-9763, Overpayments 866-663-3633. But honestly they're all swamped.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorThank you! I didn't know there were different numbers for different issues. My problem is with weekly claims so maybe the main line is still my best bet.
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Juan Moreno
For weekly claim issues yeah you'll need the main customer service line. Just keep trying or consider the service that other person mentioned.
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Amy Fleming
I tried calling 200+ times over two weeks. Finally got through and the agent told me I could have resolved my issue online through my eServices account. Make sure you check there first before spending hours on the phone.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorI checked my account but it just says 'claim under review' with no other details. That's why I need to talk to someone.
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Amy Fleming
Yeah that generic message doesn't help at all. You definitely need to speak with an agent to get real answers about what's holding up your claim.
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Butch Sledgehammer
This is ridiculous that we have to jump through hoops to get help with our own unemployment claims. The system is completely broken.
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Leslie Parker
totally agree, been dealing with this mess for months
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Sara Unger
At least we're not alone in this struggle. Every unemployed person in Washington is dealing with the same phone issues.
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Freya Ross
Another option is trying to reach them through your local WorkSource office. Sometimes they can help escalate issues or get you connected to the right department at Washington ESD.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorGood idea, I'll look up my local WorkSource office. Anything is worth trying at this point.
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Freya Ross
Yeah they can't resolve everything but they might be able to help with basic claim questions or point you in the right direction.
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Savanna Franklin
I heard if you call the Spanish language line you get through faster because fewer people call it. Then you can ask to be transferred to English speaking agent.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorWhat's the Spanish line number?
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Savanna Franklin
I think it's the same main number but you select option 2 for Spanish. Not 100% sure though.
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Juan Moreno
That's kind of unethical though. Those lines are meant for Spanish speakers who need language assistance.
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Sergio Neal
Update on Claimyr - I used them again last week for a different issue and got connected in under 15 minutes. They're definitely worth considering if you're spending hours trying to get through on your own.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorOk you've convinced me to at least check out their website. Can't be worse than what I'm dealing with now.
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Butch Sledgehammer
How much does it cost though?
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Sergio Neal
It's reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saves. Check their site for current pricing.
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Sara Unger
Another tip - if you do get through to someone, make sure to get a reference number for your call and the agent's name. That way if you need to call back you can reference the previous conversation.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorGreat advice! I'll make sure to write down all the details if I ever actually reach someone.
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Amy Fleming
Yes this is important! I forgot to get a reference number once and had to start over completely when I called back.
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Leslie Parker
just keep calling, thats all you can do. system sucks but eventually you'll get through
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorI'm going to keep trying but also look into that Claimyr service as a backup plan.
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Juan Moreno
One more thing - if your issue is urgent (like you're about to lose benefits or have a deadline), you might be able to get priority calling status. Ask about that when you do get through to someone.
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Tyler Murphy
AuthorI didn't know that was an option. My situation isn't quite that urgent yet but good to know for the future.
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Juan Moreno
Yeah they don't advertise it much but they do have procedures for urgent cases that can't wait weeks for resolution.
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Butch Sledgehammer
Honestly at this point I'm tempted to drive to their office in person. This phone system is a joke.
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Freya Ross
Most Washington ESD offices are closed to walk-ins since COVID. You'd probably just waste a trip unfortunately.
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Butch Sledgehammer
Figures. Everything about this system is designed to make it impossible to get help.
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Tyler Murphy
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow and also check out that Claimyr service as a backup. Will update if I make any progress.
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Sergio Neal
Good luck! Hope you get through soon. The Claimyr option is there if the regular calling doesn't work out.
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Sara Unger
Keep us posted! We're all dealing with the same frustrations so your experience might help others.
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Mateo Sanchez
I feel your pain - I've been in the exact same situation for the past month. One thing that finally worked for me was using an auto-redial app on my phone so I didn't have to manually keep calling the 800-318-6022 number over and over. I set it to redial every 30 seconds and just let it run while I did other things. Eventually got through after about 3 hours of auto-redialing. Also, if you have any documentation or case numbers related to your stuck claim, have those ready when you do get connected - it speeds up the process significantly.
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