SPOKANE, Wash. — The state unemployment office is taking steps to help those who are still waiting for benefits in Washington.
Since the coronavirus crisis began, the state Employment Security Department (ESD) has paid out more than $2 billion in benefits to more than 500,000 Washington residents. But about 57,000 people, or 7% of applicants, have been waiting for many weeks because their claim has been flagged with an issue that requires resolution.
In an effort to resolve these problems, the unemployment office has launched “Operation 100%,” an effort to help all eligible Washington residents receive unemployment benefits.
Part of this effort is increasing outbound claims resolution calls and limiting inbound phone calls for the week of May 13 to May 20. The unemployment office will accept incoming calls this week from those who need to apply for benefits via phone, those submitting weekly claims via phone, or those who have questions that are not already answered online.
You can reach the unemployment office by calling 1-800-318-6022.
The unemployment office is also reaching out to people who still have further action to take, including those who need to file a weekly claim or apply for expanded benefits.
If your claim is in adjudication, be sure to answer any phone calls from the number above. This is the unemployment office trying to reach you.
ESD Commissioner Suzi Levine says the unemployment office aims to make “significant headway” on the 57,000 claims in adjudication within two weeks, and have 100% of them resolved or paid by mid-June.
The unemployment office is also working to continue its rapid hiring of staff to help customers with questions and process claims, along with activating technology needed to clear issues and free up payments.
