One more thing to check - did you report any earnings this week? Even small amounts can sometimes trigger a slower manual review. Also, if you answered any of the weekly questions differently than usual (like saying you turned down work or didn't complete job search requirements), that would definitely slow things down.

btw my roommate works for a company that does payroll processing and she says all electronic payments follow basically the same timeline no matter how they get entered into the system. its all about when the batch processing happens. phone vs online is just how the data gets in but after that its all the same process

One more thing I forgot to mention - when you're ready to reactivate your claim, you'll need to meet the job search requirements again (currently 3 activities per week). And if your benefit year expires while you're on medical leave, then you would need to file a new claim instead of reactivating the old one. I successfully used my remaining benefits after my medical situation, so it definitely can be done!

To summarize the correct information in this thread: 1. You must stop claiming benefits while medically unable to work 2. Your benefit weeks remain available after recovery (they don't expire) 3. Contact ESD to reactivate your claim once medically cleared 4. Provide documentation of both your inability to work and clearance to return 5. Continue meeting all eligibility requirements (job search, etc.) after reactivation 6. If your benefit year expires during medical leave, you'll need a new claim The key distinction is between reactivating an existing claim (within the same benefit year) versus filing a new claim (if your benefit year expires). This is why some commenters had different experiences.

btw make sure u call oah if u havent heard anything in like 6 weeks... my friend never got her notice cuz they had wrong address and missed her hearing completely!! had to request a new one and wait another month!! total nightmare!!

Good news - misconduct cases have a fairly high rate of being overturned on appeal, especially if the employer doesn't show up to the hearing or doesn't have solid documentation. Just be honest, stick to relevant facts, and don't get baited into arguments or emotional responses if your case goes to hearing. In the meantime, I strongly recommend starting to document everything now. Write down a detailed timeline of events leading to your termination while it's fresh in your mind. Gather any emails, texts, or documents that support your position. If you know coworkers who witnessed relevant events, ask if they'd be willing to provide statements (though they're not obligated to). Also, keep a log of all communication with ESD about your appeal - dates, times, what was discussed. This can be helpful if there are any procedural issues later.

my cousin won his appeal against OAH few months back dont lose hope! but took him like 5 months to get decision which sucked

One more thing to consider - if you haven't already, check whether your case might qualify for free legal assistance. The Unemployment Law Project sometimes takes cases for appeals to the Commissioner, especially if there appears to be a clear legal error in the judge's decision. Worth checking if you qualify for their help.

To answer your question about specific percentages - ESD doesn't publish an exact percentage that automatically qualifies as "substantial," but based on previous cases, a 20%+ reduction is generally considered significant enough to justify refusing work, especially if you can demonstrate that it would create financial hardship. When you file your claim, you'll need to explain the situation during the application process. There's a section asking if you've refused any work, and you'll need to provide details about why the work wasn't suitable specifically because of the wage reduction. Be factual and specific - don't just say it was "unfair" but instead focus on the concrete financial impact.

hey just wondering did u decide what ur gonna do yet? im in a similar spot rn and trying to figure out my options too