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this whole thing reminded me when i got denied benefits last year because they said i voluntarily quit. took 3 months of appeals to finally get someone to understand i was laid off not fired. esd is such a mess sometimes
btw even if u have to do job search now doesnt mean u cant go back to ur old job later. ur not locked into taking a new job just cuz u applied. the system just wants u to try to find work while getting benefits
Just a heads-up that while waiting for PFML approval you should still do your weekly UI claims if you have any weeks left. If your PFML gets backdated to overlap with UI weeks, you'd have to pay back the UI for those weeks, but at least you'd have something coming in during the gap. Better safe than sorry. And document EVERYTHING – save confirmation numbers, take screenshots of submitted forms, etc. These systems are so broken it's crazy.
This is incorrect advice. You cannot legally claim UI and PFML for the same weeks - that's considered fraud. UI requires you to be able and available for work, while PFML requires a doctor to certify you CANNOT work. You should never claim both simultaneously. The correct approach is to stop UI claims when your medical leave begins.
I just got off the phone with my doctor's office and they confirmed they submitted all the required medical certification forms for PFML. They said it's not unusual for it to take 3-4 weeks for processing right now. I guess I just need to be patient and budget carefully for the gap. Thanks everyone for your advice and sharing your experiences. I'll stop my UI claims after my last eligible week and hope the PFML kicks in quickly after that.
I had an in-person interview back in February, and I was so nervous I almost didn't sleep the night before! But honestly, it was fine. The interviewer was very professional and just went through a checklist of questions. They did ask me details about my two most recent job search activities, so make sure you can talk about specific positions you've applied for and any follow-ups you've done. They're mainly checking that you're actually looking for work and available to accept suitable jobs. My benefits continued without interruption after the interview.
Lucky you! My interviewer was awful and kept trying to trip me up with trick questions!! Asked me why I applied for jobs that weren't "suitable" for my background! How am I supposed to know what THEY consider suitable???
Oh that's unfortunate! My interviewer explained that "suitable" means related to your skills, experience, and within reasonable commuting distance. They just want to see good-faith efforts to find appropriate work, not that you're applying to random jobs just to check a box. Maybe different offices have different approaches?
One more important point: if you've been receiving benefits for only a week, this might actually be an Eligibility Review Interview (ERI) rather than a random verification. ERIs typically happen within the first few weeks and are more comprehensive. This would also explain why they're doing it in-person rather than by phone. For an ERI, be prepared to discuss: 1. Your employment history (last 18 months) 2. Reason for separation from your last employer 3. Any potential availability issues (transportation, childcare, health) 4. Your salary expectations and type of work you're seeking If there were any questions about your initial eligibility, this is when they'll address them.
Ava Garcia
This is a known issue that happens periodically with ESD's payment processing system. Here's what you need to know: 1. The "processing IVR" status means your claim was received through the phone system and is queued for processing. 2. ESD typically processes claims in batches, and occasionally their system experiences delays, especially after weekends with high claim volumes. 3. These system delays DO NOT affect your eligibility or payment amount - you'll still receive the full amount you're entitled to. 4. Most processing delays resolve within 48-72 hours without any action needed on your part. 5. If your claim hasn't processed by the third business day after filing, then you should contact ESD directly as there might be an additional issue. For your situation, since you filed yesterday afternoon, I'd recommend waiting until tomorrow afternoon before becoming too concerned. The system is likely just experiencing a backlog.
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Amara Nnamani
•This is really helpful information, thank you. I feel better knowing it's just a system thing and not something wrong with my specific claim. I'll wait until tomorrow afternoon before I try calling them.
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Giovanni Mancini
UPDATE: Mine just changed from processing to paid!!! Check your account again - maybe they're finally pushing payments through.
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Amara Nnamani
•Just checked and mine says paid now too! Such a relief. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Mine too! Finally! Still annoying they can't communicate these delays better but at least it's resolved.
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