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.
46 comments
Join the conversation
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Yeah I tried that one probably 50 times yesterday. Always busy or disconnects after 2 hours on hold.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
•That number is useless. I called 127 times in one day and never got through to a human.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•I tried calling at exactly 8:00am and still got a busy signal. Do they even have enough staff to answer phones?
0 coins
Leslie Parker
•lol no they don't have enough staff. been like this for years
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Is this legit? Never heard of paying someone to make phone calls for you.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Savanna Franklin
•Sounds like a scam to me. Why would you pay someone to dial a phone number?
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Thank 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.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•I checked my account but it just says 'claim under review' with no other details. That's why I need to talk to someone.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Leslie Parker
•totally agree, been dealing with this mess for months
0 coins
Sara Unger
•At least we're not alone in this struggle. Every unemployed person in Washington is dealing with the same phone issues.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Good idea, I'll look up my local WorkSource office. Anything is worth trying at this point.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•What's the Spanish line number?
0 coins
Savanna Franklin
•I think it's the same main number but you select option 2 for Spanish. Not 100% sure though.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•That's kind of unethical though. Those lines are meant for Spanish speakers who need language assistance.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Ok you've convinced me to at least check out their website. Can't be worse than what I'm dealing with now.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
•How much does it cost though?
0 coins
Sergio Neal
•It's reasonable considering how much time and frustration it saves. Check their site for current pricing.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Great advice! I'll make sure to write down all the details if I ever actually reach someone.
0 coins
Amy Fleming
•Yes this is important! I forgot to get a reference number once and had to start over completely when I called back.
0 coins
Leslie Parker
just keep calling, thats all you can do. system sucks but eventually you'll get through
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•I'm going to keep trying but also look into that Claimyr service as a backup plan.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•I didn't know that was an option. My situation isn't quite that urgent yet but good to know for the future.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•Yeah they don't advertise it much but they do have procedures for urgent cases that can't wait weeks for resolution.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
Honestly at this point I'm tempted to drive to their office in person. This phone system is a joke.
0 coins
Freya Ross
•Most Washington ESD offices are closed to walk-ins since COVID. You'd probably just waste a trip unfortunately.
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
•Figures. Everything about this system is designed to make it impossible to get help.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Sergio Neal
•Good luck! Hope you get through soon. The Claimyr option is there if the regular calling doesn't work out.
0 coins
Sara Unger
•Keep us posted! We're all dealing with the same frustrations so your experience might help others.
0 coins
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.
0 coins