i know this sounds weird but try calling right when they open in the morning like 2-3 minutes before 8am. thats how i finally got through after weeks of trying. also my friend had good luck calling the special olympia number instead of the main one, its 360-486-5817 i think

One more important thing - make sure you're clearly requesting backpay (retroactive benefits) in all your communications. Once your denial is reversed, you're entitled to all weeks you correctly filed claims for, but sometimes you need to specifically request this. Also, for your immediate financial crisis, please consider: 1. Calling 211 for emergency assistance resources 2. Contacting your mortgage company to request hardship forbearance 3. Applying for emergency food assistance (takes about 24-48 hrs for approval) 4. Reaching out to local community action agencies Don't give up on the ESD fight, but also put some effort into stopgap measures to keep things together while you wait. This is a temporary situation, and there are resources designed specifically to help during this type of crisis.

Update: Finally got through to ESD this morning after 3 days of trying! The agent confirmed it was a system error - apparently someone with a similar name (not even the same last name, just similar) had applied for L&I in my county. She cleared the flag while I was on the phone and said my payments should resume with next week's claim. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

@user6 I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Honestly didn't think it would work, but I was desperate and it actually connected me to an ESD agent in about 30 minutes. Worth it to get this resolved so quickly!

yeah my sister won her appeal but it took 2 months and was super stressful. she had to have a phone hearing and everything. the judge person asked the employer to provide proof she was fired for misconduct and they couldnt show anything so she won. but ya gotta stay on top of it and keep filing claims every week.

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I submitted my appeal this morning through eServices and uploaded the suspension email, texts asking about return date, and proof my benefits are still active. I'll keep filing weekly claims and try to stay patient through this process. It helps knowing others have gone through this and won their appeals.

Sigh... welcome to the wonderful world of ESD technical glitches. The eServices loop has been a problem for YEARS and they still haven't fixed it. Classic government efficiency! 🙄 I went through this last year - called for weeks and got nowhere. The regular unemployment line people just told me to call tech support, tech support told me to call the regular line. Round and round we go! Eventually I filed a complaint with my state representative and magically my account was fixed within 48 hours. Funny how that works! If you can't get through on the phone, try that route - sometimes a little political pressure works wonders with these agencies.

UPDATE: We finally got through to someone at ESD after using the Claimyr service that was recommended! Turns out there was an identity verification hold on my husband's account. Even though he's never filed before, apparently they automatically put these holds on many first-time filers as a fraud prevention measure. The agent was able to send us a secure link to upload his ID documents, and she said the verification usually takes 3-5 business days. She also noted that benefits will be backdated to his eligibility date once approved. For anyone else experiencing the login loop and suspended account issues - it's definitely something only an agent can fix, so don't waste time troubleshooting on your end like we did. The technical support line (855-682-0785) is the right number to call for this specific problem. Thank you all so much for your help! This community has been a lifesaver during a really stressful time.

I had a similar experience a few months ago. After weeks of trying to call ESD and getting nowhere, I used Claimyr.com to get through to an agent. Found out my claim was stuck because of a simple system flag that needed manual clearing. The agent fixed it while I was on the phone and all my weeks switched from processing to paid within 48 hours. Seriously worth checking out their video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 if you're desperate to talk to someone at ESD.

Update: I FINALLY got through to ESD this morning! Called right at 8am like someone suggested. Turns out my claim has been in adjudication this whole time due to the contractor work I did last year. The agent said they need to verify my earnings from that period. She expedited my claim and said I should see movement within 7-10 business days. Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions!