I wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful for both of your questions - ESD's Handbook for Unemployed Workers is available online and has detailed explanations of what needs to be reported and the school/training rules. It's pretty comprehensive and might give you more confidence about what you're dealing with. Also, I've found that when you're in adjudication like your husband is, it's actually a good time to get all these other questions sorted out (like the PTO reporting and school situation) so you don't run into issues later. You're being really proactive by asking these questions now. One small thing - when he does report the PTO payout on his weekly claim, there should be a section asking about "other income" or "earnings" for that week. Make sure to put the full amount there, not just a portion of it. ESD's system is pretty automated for calculating benefit reductions, so accuracy is key. Hang in there with the adjudication process - from everything you've described, it sounds like a straightforward performance issue rather than misconduct, which should work in your favor. The fact that your husband is being honest about it being "his fault" actually shows good character, but remember that fault doesn't automatically equal disqualifying misconduct in ESD's eyes.

I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm not in the exact same situation, but I've been worried about some similar issues with my own unemployment claim. The clarity everyone provided about PTO payouts being reported in the week they're received (not when earned) is something I never would have figured out on my own. And all the detailed advice about community college classes while on unemployment - especially the documentation tips and being prepared to quit school for full-time work - gives me confidence about some training I've been considering. @Anastasia Sokolov - I hope your husband's adjudication goes smoothly! From everything people have shared here, it sounds like you're handling everything exactly right by being proactive and transparent. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated similar performance-related terminations is really encouraging. This community is such a valuable resource when ESD's phone system seems impossible to navigate. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it makes such a difference to hear from people who've actually been through these situations!

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're still having trouble after trying the online reset, make sure you're not mixing up your old PIN with a temporary one. Sometimes when you reset it, the system gives you a temporary PIN that you have to change to a permanent one on first login. I got confused by this and kept trying to use the temporary one after I had already changed it. Check your email for any confirmation messages from ESD that might have additional instructions.

One more tip that saved me recently - if you've moved since you first filed your unemployment claim, make sure you're using the address that was on file when you originally applied, not your current address. I kept getting locked out during the PIN reset process because I was entering my new ZIP code, but the system was still expecting my old one from when I first set up the account. Once I used the original address info, the reset went through smoothly. Also, if you've changed your phone number, you might need to update that with ESD before the security questions will work properly.

Bottom line - keep detailed records, be honest about your job search activities, and don't try to game the system. The audits are real and the penalties for not having documentation are severe.

I've been on unemployment for about 3 months and this thread is making me realize I need to step up my documentation game. I've been keeping basic records but nothing as detailed as what you all are describing. Does anyone have a template or specific format they use for tracking their work search activities? I want to make sure I'm capturing all the right information in case I get selected for an audit.

This is actually really encouraging to hear! I'm currently 3 weeks into adjudication and seeing all these stories gives me hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. The fact that you got a response the same day after calling the governor's office is amazing - I had no idea that was even an option. One thing that might help while you wait is to document everything - screenshots of your pending issues, dates of any calls or contacts, etc. I've been keeping a detailed log just in case I need to escalate further. Also, have you tried reaching out to your local state representative? I've heard they can sometimes put additional pressure on ESD to move things along. Hang in there - it sounds like your claim is finally getting the attention it deserves!

I'm going through something similar right now - been in adjudication for 5 weeks and feeling completely overwhelmed by the whole process. Reading your post and all these responses is actually giving me some hope that there might be movement happening behind the scenes even when we can't see it. The fact that one of your pending issues disappeared is definitely encouraging! I've been checking my account obsessively every day looking for any kind of change. I had no idea that contacting the governor's office was even a possibility - that's brilliant that you got a callback the same day. I'm really sorry you're going through such financial stress with your savings drained. This whole system seems designed to push people to their breaking point. But it sounds like you're finally getting some traction with your claim. Fingers crossed the other 3 issues start disappearing soon too! Please keep us updated on what happens - stories like yours help the rest of us know what to expect and that we're not alone in this mess.

This is such a helpful thread! I just had this exact same issue happen to me last week - my payment showed "Paid $0" and I was completely panicking. After reading everyone's experiences here, I called ESD first thing Monday morning at 8 AM sharp and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. Turns out they had flagged my claim for a routine audit because I had reported working a few hours the week before, and their system wanted to verify that I had correctly calculated my earnings deduction. The agent cleared it immediately and my payment processed the next day. The most frustrating part was that there was absolutely no indication in my online account that there was any kind of review or hold - it just showed the confusing "Paid $0" status. For anyone dealing with this, definitely try calling right when they open and be persistent. Ask specifically if there are any holds, reviews, or flags on your account that aren't visible in the portal. It's ridiculous that they don't make these things transparent to claimants!

I went through this exact same nightmare back in October! My payment showed "Paid $0" for three weeks straight and I was losing my mind trying to figure out what was wrong. Turns out ESD had put a "quality control review" on my account because I had switched from part-time to full-time work search requirements, and their system flagged it as suspicious activity. There was literally ZERO indication of this review anywhere in my online account - no messages, no alerts, nothing. I only found out when I finally got through to an agent after calling for two weeks straight. The agent said these quality control reviews happen randomly and can take 2-3 weeks to complete, but they don't notify claimants because they don't want to "cause unnecessary worry." It's absolutely insane! Once the review was cleared, I got all my back payments within 48 hours. My advice: call every single day right at 8 AM and specifically ask if there are ANY reviews, audits, or quality control flags on your account, even if nothing shows up online. Don't let them brush you off - demand specifics about what might be causing the $0 payment!