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I'm in a similar situation with my LLC that I elected to tax as an S corp. I've been following this thread and it's really helpful to see all the different perspectives. From what I'm gathering, the key seems to be having that clear employee-employer relationship documented, even when you're the owner. Ali, have you considered reaching out to a local SCORE mentor or small business attorney? They might be able to help you prepare your documentation package before you apply. Also, I'd definitely recommend keeping detailed records of when you stopped all business activities - dates, emails to clients about closure, etc. That timeline could be crucial if they question your separation from work. Good luck with your application!
That's really smart advice about SCORE and documenting the business closure timeline. I hadn't thought about reaching out to SCORE - they probably see these situations regularly and could help me organize everything properly before I submit. The documentation angle is so important from reading everyone's experiences here. I'm going to start putting together a folder with all my payroll records, tax filings, and a detailed timeline of when I stopped operations. Thanks for the practical suggestions!
I went through this exact situation with my S corp about 6 months ago and successfully received benefits. Here's what I learned: First, apply immediately - don't wait any longer while you're gathering documentation. You can always submit additional paperwork during the review process. Second, make sure you have your corporate resolutions documenting the layoff/business closure. I had to draft a board resolution showing the decision to cease operations and lay off all employees (including myself). Third, be prepared for the adjudication interview - they'll ask detailed questions about your day-to-day role, how decisions were made, and whether you truly functioned as an employee despite ownership. The fact that you've been paying W-2 wages and unemployment taxes for 18 months puts you in a good position. Your 60% ownership will definitely be scrutinized, but it's not an automatic disqualification. They're looking for whether you had genuine employer-employee relationship characteristics like set hours, defined duties, and limited control over employment terms. Document everything and be completely transparent in your application. The process took about 7 weeks for me but I received full back pay once approved.
This is incredibly detailed and helpful! The board resolution idea is brilliant - I hadn't thought about creating formal documentation of the layoff decision. That makes perfect sense since I need to show this was a legitimate business decision, not just me deciding to take time off. The 7-week timeline you mentioned is actually better than I expected based on some of the other stories here. It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation with majority ownership and still got approved. I'm definitely going to draft that board resolution this week and get my application submitted. Did you have to provide multiple rounds of documentation during the review, or was it mostly handled in that adjudication interview you mentioned?
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I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Filed my Training Benefits application on January 10th for a medical assistant program and have been in pending hell for over 6 weeks now. The two different adjudication dates thing had me so confused until I read all your explanations - makes sense that one is eligibility and one is the training plan review. The financial stress is absolutely brutal. I've been living off credit cards and borrowing money from friends just to survive. What really gets me is that I'm trying to better myself by getting training for a stable healthcare career, but the system makes it almost impossible to actually do it without going broke first. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and advice here - I had no idea about the hardship statement option or contacting state reps. Also didn't know there were only 4 specialists handling these statewide - that's absolutely ridiculous! No wonder we're all stuck. I'm going to upload a hardship statement today and contact my school about emergency financial aid. Hopefully those of us who applied in early January will start hearing something soon. This whole situation is just proof that the system needs serious reform.
Amina, I'm so sorry you're going through this too! January 10th means you should definitely be getting close to the front of that processing queue. Medical assistant is such a great field - stable, in-demand, and you'll be helping people. It's so frustrating that the state makes it this hard to pursue career training that benefits everyone. I applied January 12th so we're basically in the same boat timeline-wise. The credit card debt from trying to survive this wait is going to take months to pay off even after we (hopefully) get approved and receive backpay. It's like being punished for trying to improve your career prospects! Definitely get that hardship statement uploaded ASAP and check with your school's financial aid office. Someone mentioned that most community colleges have emergency grants specifically for students dealing with unemployment delays - that could really help bridge the gap while we wait for ESD to finally process our applications. Hang in there, we're all rooting for each other!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Applied for Training Benefits on January 18th for a web development bootcamp and have been stuck in pending status for almost 5 weeks. Like everyone else, I have those two confusing adjudication dates showing up in my account. The financial stress is absolutely destroying me - I've had to ask family for help with groceries and I'm terrified about making rent next month. What's really frustrating is that I'm trying to transition into tech because my previous industry (retail management) has been dying, but ESD is making it nearly impossible to actually get the training I need. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting and horrifying. Comforting to know I'm not alone, but horrifying to learn there are only 4 specialists statewide handling these approvals! That explains why we're all experiencing the same nightmare delays. I'm definitely going to upload a hardship statement today and contact my school about emergency financial aid - I had no idea those options existed. Also going to look up my state representatives just in case. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and strategies. It really helps to know we're all fighting the same broken system together. Hopefully those of us who applied in mid-January will start hearing something soon!
Carmen, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare too! Your timeline is almost identical to mine - I applied January 16th and have been stuck in the same pending hell. Web development is such a smart career move, especially coming from retail which has been hit so hard. It's absolutely maddening that they make it this difficult to retrain for growing industries. The financial anxiety is the worst part - I've also had to ask family for help and I'm constantly calculating how many more weeks I can survive without income. At least based on what others have shared, if they're currently processing early January applications, we should hopefully be getting close since we're mid-to-late January filers. Definitely get that hardship statement uploaded ASAP and check with your bootcamp about any emergency funding they might have available. Some coding bootcamps have partnerships with organizations that provide emergency assistance to students. Also, the state rep contact strategy seems to work surprisingly well based on what Grace shared earlier. We're all rooting for each other to get through this broken system - hang in there!
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I totally thought the same thing when I filed my appeal! I kept refreshing my eServices page hoping to see some update. The mail part is so old school, I almost missed my hearing notice because it looked like junk mail. If you're really worried about missing something, try calling OAH directly at 800-583-8271. Sometimes they can tell you if they've received your appeal from ESD and if a hearing date has been scheduled yet.
Just went through this exact same process a few months ago! The waiting period is definitely the worst part because you feel like you're in limbo with no information. Here's what helped me stay sane: 1. Set up a daily routine to check your mail at the same time - I made it part of my morning coffee routine so I wouldn't obsess over it all day. 2. While you're waiting, use the time to organize ALL your documentation. Create a timeline of events, gather pay stubs, save any relevant emails or texts from your employer, and write down your version of what happened while it's fresh in your memory. 3. If you haven't already, make sure your address is updated everywhere - not just ESD but also your bank, phone company, etc. You don't want the hearing notice going to an old address. The good news is that once you get that first letter from OAH, the process becomes much clearer. The OAH portal is actually pretty user-friendly compared to ESD's system. Hang in there - the waiting is the hardest part!
This is such helpful advice! I love the idea of making mail-checking part of a routine instead of obsessing over it randomly throughout the day. I've already started gathering my documentation but writing down my timeline while everything is still fresh is brilliant - I keep remembering little details that might be important. Thanks for the encouragement about the waiting being the hardest part. It's good to know the OAH portal is easier to use than ESD's system once you finally get access to it!
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As someone who just joined this community after struggling with ESD issues myself, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone is here! I've been dealing with intermittent login problems for weeks and this thread has given me so many solutions I hadn't considered. The fact that Darren got it working with the SAW password reset + Edge browser combo gives me real hope. I'm also bookmarking the phone filing number (800-318-6022) - I had no idea that was even an option! It's frustrating that we have to become tech experts just to access our unemployment benefits, but at least we can help each other figure it out. The ESD website really needs a major overhaul, but until then, threads like this are invaluable. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!
Welcome to the community Lucas! I'm also pretty new here but this thread has been a lifesaver. It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is when dealing with these ESD nightmares. I've been bookmarking all these solutions too - the VPN tip from Emma, the security software issues Collins mentioned, plus all the browser troubleshooting steps. It's kind of ridiculous that we need a whole arsenal of fixes just to log into a government website, but I'm grateful people share what works for them. Definitely keep that phone number handy as backup - knowing there's another way to file claims takes some of the panic away when the website acts up!
New member here and this thread is a goldmine! I've been battling the same login refresh loop for the past week and was getting desperate. Reading through everyone's solutions, I'm realizing there are so many potential causes I hadn't considered. I'm going to work through the checklist: SAW password reset, try Edge browser, disable extensions, check my VPN connection, and make sure I don't have multiple ESD tabs open. It's incredible how many different things can break their login system! Really appreciate everyone sharing what worked for them. Also saving that phone number (800-318-6022) as my backup plan. This community is way more helpful than ESD's actual support resources!
Welcome to the community Malia! You've got a solid troubleshooting plan there. I'd also suggest adding Emma's tip about disconnecting your VPN if you're using one - that seems to be a common culprit that people don't think of initially. The fact that this thread has turned into such a comprehensive troubleshooting guide really shows how widespread these ESD login issues are. It's frustrating that we all have to become IT specialists just to access our benefits, but I'm glad we can help each other out. Definitely keep that phone backup option handy - it's saved several people in this thread when the website completely failed them. Good luck getting through!
Ravi Gupta
Just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been lurking here for a while. This thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently on unemployment myself and have been worried about this exact scenario. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really clarified how the "suitable work" guidelines actually protect us from having to take jobs that are way below our qualifications and previous earnings. @Harmony Love - it sounds like you have a rock-solid case for refusing this position. The 41% pay cut, long commute, and the fact that you have multiple interviews lined up for appropriate positions next week really demonstrates you're being responsible about your job search. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and linked to the ESD resources. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that makes this community so valuable for those of us navigating the unemployment system. I feel much more confident now about how to handle similar situations if they come up in my own job search. Good luck with your interviews next week, Harmony! It sounds like you're on the right track.
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Lim Wong
•Welcome to the community, Ravi! I'm also relatively new here but this thread has been such a game-changer for understanding how the unemployment system actually works. Like you, I was worried about accidentally doing something wrong and losing my benefits, but seeing everyone's real experiences has been so reassuring. It's amazing how this community shares practical knowledge that you just can't find easily elsewhere. The distinction between "suitable" and "any" work is huge, and I never would have understood that without reading through these discussions. Thanks for the encouragement about my interviews! This whole conversation has given me the confidence to handle the job refusal properly instead of trying to hide it. Sometimes the best approach really is just being honest and following the guidelines as they're actually written.
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Tyrone Hill
Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. I'm currently on unemployment and was terrified about potentially facing a similar situation with unsuitable job offers. Reading through all the real experiences shared here has been eye-opening. I had no idea that the "suitable work" guidelines actually protect us from having to accept jobs that are significantly below our qualifications and previous earnings. The advice about documenting everything, being transparent with ESD, and focusing on legitimate reasons for refusal is exactly what I needed to understand. @Harmony Love - your situation with the 41% pay cut and long commute is a perfect example of why these protections exist. It's clear from everyone's responses that you're handling this the right way by being strategic about your job search rather than just taking anything to get off benefits. I've bookmarked that ESD suitable work link and will definitely keep detailed records of my own job search activities. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex situations!
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QuantumQuest
•Welcome to the community, Tyrone! I'm also fairly new here and completely agree about how valuable this thread has been. Before reading through all these responses, I was under the impression that refusing ANY job offer would automatically disqualify you from benefits - I had no idea about the "suitable work" protections. What really stands out to me is how everyone emphasized being transparent and documenting everything rather than trying to hide job refusals. It seems like ESD actually wants to help people find appropriate work, not just push them into any available position. The fact that they consider factors like wage differences, commute time, and professional qualifications shows the system has more nuance than I originally thought. I'm also keeping that ESD suitable work link handy and planning to document my job search activities more thoroughly. It's reassuring to know there's a community here with real experience navigating these situations!
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