Update: I decided to try out that Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier, and I actually got through to an ESD representative in about 30 minutes! The agent was able to correct my weekly certification where I reported the wrong income amount. They said it should be fixed by my next payment cycle and that I won't have to worry about overpayment issues. For anyone with a similar problem, it was definitely worth getting it sorted out now rather than dealing with complications later. Thanks everyone for your advice!

@casual_commenter It was worth it for me since I needed to fix this income reporting issue before it turned into a bigger problem. I can't remember the exact cost, but it seemed reasonable for saving me hours of frustration and potentially avoiding an overpayment situation down the road. Plus the ESD agent I spoke with was really helpful once I actually got connected.

Has anyone noticed that adjudication seems to take WAY LONGER now than it did during the pandemic? Back in 2021, my claim was processed in like 3 weeks even with an employer dispute. Now they're taking MONTHS for the exact same situations. It's like they're intentionally slowing everything down to make people give up!!!

Update: I finally got through to ESD on the phone! After dozens of calls over two days, I got a really helpful agent who looked up my claim. She said my adjudication is in the queue and appears to be moving normally, but restaurant industry claims often take longer because they have to verify seasonal employment patterns. She estimated another 2-3 weeks. Not great news but at least I have some kind of timeline now.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - you can also try to estimate your hours worked based on your bank deposits. If you can figure out your hourly rate, divide the deposit amounts by that rate to get approximate hours. It won't be perfect because of taxes, but it's a starting point. Also, reach out to the state's Child Care Licensing department (DCYF). Since you worked at a preschool/daycare, your employer should have been licensed and they might have records of staffing plans that showed your employment. Those records might help substantiate your claim. Lastly, did you save any work schedules, text messages about work hours, or emails from your employer? Even seemingly minor communications can help establish your work pattern.

Absolutely submit those schedule screenshots! Any documentation that shows you were scheduled to work specific hours will help your case. Print them out and include them with your wage adjustment form. The more evidence you can provide, the better your chances of getting this resolved quickly.

dont stress too much. if theyre not contacting u its probably fine. just keep doing ur job search stuff every week

When you do contact WorkSource, ask them about their specialized job search workshops too. Those count as job search activities for your weekly claims, and some of them are actually really helpful. I did their resume review workshop and interview skills training, and I think they helped me land my current job. Don't just think of WorkSource as a hurdle to clear for your unemployment - they actually have good resources.

Quick update - I tried that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier and it actually worked. Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. The agent told me they're processing claims from April 12th right now (as of yesterday), so if you filed after that, there's a backlog. They recommended continuing to file weekly claims while waiting.

UPDATE: My claim finally moved from pending to processing this morning! That's 6 business days total. I went ahead and submitted my first weekly claim yesterday even though the initial claim wasn't approved yet. Thanks everyone for your advice and reassurance that the delays are normal right now.