4 weeks in pending status - when will I get my first UI check? (Creditors are hounding me)

pending for 4 weeks is pretty normal these days tbh... mine took 6 weeks before it switched to paid status. the system is super backed up right now due to the tech layoffs

Six weeks??? I'm going to lose my apartment at this rate. Did you ever manage to talk to anyone at ESD during that time?

This is unfortunately common right now. There are a few reasons your claim might be stuck in pending status:\n\n1. Identity verification issues\n2. Employment separation verification (they need to confirm with your employer)\n3. Wage verification problems\n4. Adjudication for a specific eligibility question\n\nCheck your ESD account online and look for any alerts or action items - sometimes they need additional information but the notices don't make it to your email. Also check if your claim shows any issues that need to be resolved.\n\nAs for contacting them, your best bet is to call right when they open at 8:00 AM. The main claims center number is 800-318-6022, but it's notoriously difficult to get through.

Thank you for the detailed response. I checked my account again and there are no alerts or action items showing. Everything looks complete on my end - it just says

dude call your creditors and explain ur on unemployment!!! most have hardship programs they just dont advertise them. i got my car payment deferred for 3 months when i was waiting for my benefits to start last yr

That's a good idea, thanks. I've been avoiding their calls because I didn't have an answer, but maybe I should be proactive and explain the situation.

Four weeks in pending status is unfortunately common, but that doesn't make it any less stressful. I was in the same situation last winter and discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com), which was a lifesaver for getting through to an actual ESD agent. They basically call ESD for you and connect you when they reach a rep. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nWhen I finally got through to a person, they told me my claim was pending because of an employer response issue - my former company hadn't responded to ESD's request for information about my separation. The agent was able to expedite things once I explained my financial situation.\n\nHaving a specific person look at your claim can make all the difference.

I've heard about this service but was skeptical. Did it really work? How long did it take them to get you connected to someone? I've been pending for 3 weeks myself and am getting desperate.

It took about 40 minutes from start to finish, which beats the 3+ hours I spent trying to call on my own (and still never getting through). The key is they keep dialing and navigating the phone tree until they reach a person. Definitely worth it in my situation since I was about to miss a mortgage payment.

THE ENTIRE ESD SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been dealing with them for 7 weeks now and STILL no payment. First they put me in adjudication for 5 weeks, then when that was resolved my payments were still showing pending. Called 32 TIMES before I finally got someone who told me there was a SECOND adjudication that wasn't even showing in my online account!!! HOW ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE LIKE THIS???\n\nTheir phone system is a JOKE and they know it. I think they deliberately make it impossible to reach anyone so they don't have to pay people. The whole system is designed to wear you down until you give up.\n\nIf you're desperate enough to keep calling, try 800-318-6022 and press options 1, 3, 2 in that order. That seems to get to a slightly different queue than the main one.

That's infuriating! I'm worried the same thing is happening to me - that there's some issue not showing in my online account. I'll try that number sequence tomorrow morning. Thanks for the tip and sorry you're going through this too.

when i was on unemployment last time i had to wait like two months lol but then all the back payments came at once and it was like $4500 dropped into my account overnight\n\nhang in there man

Have you been completing all your weekly claims while your initial claim is pending? This is crucial - even though you won't get paid until the initial claim is approved, you need to keep filing your weekly certifications on time. Once approved, you'll get paid for all those weeks at once (assuming you've met all eligibility requirements for each week).\n\nAlso, make sure you're completing your three required job search activities each week and documenting them correctly. If you haven't been doing this, it could cause further delays or denials when your claim is finally processed.

Yes, I've been filing my weekly claims religiously and doing my three job search activities each week (actually doing more than required since I need a job ASAP). I'm documenting everything meticulously. I'm just stuck waiting for that initial approval to happen.

Has anyone tried contacting their state representative about ESD issues? My cousin did this last year when her claim was stuck for over 8 weeks, and miraculously it got resolved within 3 days after the representative's office contacted ESD. Just a thought if you're getting desperate...

I SECOND THIS!!! It's literally the ONLY thing that worked for me. I contacted my state rep's office and they have staff specifically for helping constituents with ESD problems. They can't prioritize everyone, but if you're facing eviction or utility shutoff they'll usually escalate your case.

I hadn't even thought about contacting my representative. That's a great idea - I'll look up their contact info right now. At this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks for the suggestion!

so did you quit or get laid off? if u quit without good cause thats prob why its taking so long, they gotta investigate

I was laid off in a company-wide reduction. Got a formal letter and everything stating it was due to economic conditions, not performance. I uploaded the layoff letter with my initial claim.

ok thats weird then, should be pretty straightforward. def sounds like somethin else is holdin it up

Since you were laid off and have documentation, I suspect this might be a verification or technical issue rather than a substantive problem with your claim. A few more suggestions:\n\n1. Check if the wages reported in your claim match what you actually earned - discrepancies can trigger reviews\n2. Make sure your identity verification (ID.me) is complete\n3. Double-check that your contact information is correct in the system\n4. Look for any correspondence in your eServices message center\n\nIf you get through to a representative, ask specifically if your claim is in adjudication and if so, what issue is being adjudicated. Also ask if there's anything you can do to expedite the process given your financial hardship.\n\nHang in there - the system is frustrating but persistence usually pays off eventually.

Thanks for the detailed checklist. I've confirmed all of these items seem to be in order. I completed ID.me verification right away, my wages match my W-2s, contact info is correct, and there are no messages in my inbox. That's what makes this so frustrating - there's no indication of any problem! I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow and if that fails, I'll reach out to my state representative. I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions.