btw my zoom meeting was only like 30 mins... wasnt a big deal. they just asked about my job search and gave some suggestions. don't stress too much!!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing this is standard procedure and not age-related targeting. I'll make sure to be prepared with detailed job search records and be upfront about my retirement timeline while showing I'm still actively looking. Really appreciate all the tips - this community is so helpful!

When I had trouble reaching ESD a few months ago, I ended up trying at exactly 8:00 am on Wednesday, and somehow got through after only about a 25-minute wait. Not sure if Wednesday is actually better or if I just got lucky. Regarding your adjudication - is it for able and available issues or job separation? Mine was for job search requirements because I missed uploading documentation for one week, and it took about 4 weeks total to resolve. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims while you wait for the adjudication to complete, even though you won't get paid until it's resolved. I made the mistake of skipping a week and it caused even more delays. Good luck! The waiting is so stressful when bills are piling up.

Just wanted to follow up - for job separation disputes like yours, having documentation ready is crucial. When you do reach an agent, make sure you have: 1. Any written communication about your layoff (emails, letters, texts) 2. Names and contact information of supervisors or HR personnel involved 3. Documentation of the budget cuts if possible 4. Dates of any meetings about your employment ending The adjudicator will need to investigate both sides, but having your evidence organized can speed up the process. Also, you might want to prepare a clear, concise timeline of events that led to your separation. Keep it factual and unemotional, as this helps the adjudicator focus on the relevant details.

when i was on unemployment last year i had this same question! i ended up just downloading the payment history and making my own spreadsheet to keep track of everything because the esd website is so confusing. helped me catch when they underpaid me one week too!

my sister just went thru this. she thought she was gettin $844 but was only gettin like $720 something. she called and they said its bcuz she owes child support LOL she was so mad

Has anyone had their account randomly go into adjudication when reporting gig work?? Mine did TWICE last year and I couldn't get anyone on the phone for WEEKS. Kept getting the "all agents are busy" message and then it would hang up on me!!! So FRUSTRATING!!

One additional important note: Make sure you're still meeting the job search requirements while doing gig work. You need to complete and document 3 job search activities each week, and those activities must be for suitable employment related to your skills and experience, not just any job. If you get selected for a job search review and don't have proper documentation of your activities, you could be disqualified and have to repay benefits. The WorkSource workshops can count as job search activities too, and they offer some good resources for finding employment in your field.

When I was getting unemployment my brother was getting married and I had to go to california for the wedding but I was worried about answering the able and available question that week and if I would get in trouble for being out of state briefly but my claim was fine and nothing bad happened. Sorry this isnt about training but similar worry I guess

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I feel much better about this now. I'll continue to mark "no" for that question since these are just short professional development courses and not a formal training program. I'll still be fully available for dispatches, which seems to be the key factor. Really appreciate all the advice!

anyone else notice that adjudication seems to take longer when the employer is fighting the claim? when i got laid off last year with no dispute my benefits started in like 10 days. but my friend who got fired for "performance" (totally bogus btw) waited like 6 weeks for adjudication. seems like they put the complicated ones at the bottom of the pile...

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to ESD today after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. The agent confirmed my case is assigned to an adjudicator but said they're backed up by about 3-4 more weeks. At least now I know what's happening. They also looked at my documentation and said I've done everything right so far. Thanks for all the advice and support!

The whole ESD system is rigged to force people into taking garbage pay!! They want us desperate so we'll take ANY job no matter how much of a pay cut. That's why they make these rules so complicated - so they can deny you when you stand up for yourself! My friend got completely DENIED because she wouldn't take a job paying 40% less than her previous job!! THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!

Thanks everyone for the advice! To summarize what I've learned: 1. Applying to jobs counts toward my 3 weekly activities regardless of the wage 2. I can legally decline offers paying less than 90% of my previous wage during the first 10 weeks 3. After 10 weeks, I can decline offers paying less than 75% of my previous wage 4. Documentation is critical - keep records of everything 5. WorkSource workshops are a good alternative activity that won't lead to job offers I might need to decline This helps a lot with my strategy going forward. I'll keep applying to meet my requirements but focus my serious efforts on positions closer to my previous wage.

Have you checked with your previous employers to make sure they properly reported your wages to ESD? I had an issue where my employer had me classified wrong in their system (as a 1099 instead of W-2), so none of those hours were showing up in the ESD system. Took some back and forth with the HR department but they eventually fixed it on their end.

I went through this exact nightmare last year. My determination letter was missing almost 850 hours from two different employers! After three appeal letters with no response, I finally got through to someone on the phone who explained that sometimes hours don't transfer properly in their system if there's ANY discrepancy in how your name or SSN was entered by different employers (like using a middle initial at one job but not another). Request a copy of your wage and hour history report directly from ESD. Compare that to your actual work records. If there's a mismatch, you'll need documentation from each employer confirming your actual hours worked. Time-consuming but it worked for me.

this happened to me last quarter too.. they do this sometimes but dont tell anyone in advance which is super annoying. my cousin works at a call center and said they get FLOODED with calls whenever this happens because everyone panics lol. definitely just keep doing ur job searches even tho they arent asking for them right now!!!

Just for everyone's future reference, here's what you need to know about these job search suspension weeks: 1. They typically happen 1-2 times per quarter 2. The system will not ask for job search details during these weeks 3. You are still required to perform your 3 job search activities each week 4. Keep your job search log updated even during suspension weeks 5. ESD can audit your job search records for up to a year 6. Notifications about suspension weeks are posted in your ESD message center Hope this helps clear up any confusion!

When I needed my old claim info for a background check, I ended up having to go to the WorkSource office in person. The staff there could access my full history immediately and printed everything out for me on the spot. Might be worth trying if you have one near you and can't wait for email responses or phone calls.

Quick update on the records request option - I just checked and the public records process typically takes 5-21 business days per ESD's website, so that's probably too slow for your mortgage deadline next week. Either try Claimyr to get through by phone faster, or the WorkSource in-person option someone mentioned might be your quickest solutions.