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i think i know whats happening - did you put in the decimal point when entering your hours? like did you type 12.00 instead of just 12? i did that once and it messed up my whole calculation
Quick follow-up: If this was indeed caused by entering your hours as 12.0 (which the system might have read as 1.20 hours instead of 12 hours), you should explain this specifically when you talk to an ESD agent. They see this error frequently and can quickly correct it without going through a lengthy adjudication process. Just make sure to have your exact earnings information ready when you call.
If it's been 5 weeks with no movement, I would definitely try to speak to someone at ESD directly. After using the service that was mentioned earlier (Claimyr), I got through to ESD in about 45 minutes. The agent told me my claim was sitting in a queue waiting for an adjudicator to review it, but she was able to expedite it since it had been pending so long. Two days later, my claim was approved. If you do get through, specifically ask if your claim is in adjudication, and if so, why. Also ask if your former employer has responded to their request for information - sometimes claims are delayed simply because the employer hasn't responded yet.
This is really helpful, thank you. I'm going to try calling again tomorrow morning. I'll specifically ask about adjudication status and whether my employer has responded. Knowing what questions to ask is half the battle! I appreciate everyone's advice so much - this has been such a stressful situation.
Based on what you've described - being terminated due to "restructuring" with no prior warnings or disciplinary actions - your claim should eventually be approved. Restructuring is considered a lack of work situation, which is not disqualifying for unemployment benefits. The delay is frustrating but unfortunately common in 2025 with the current backlog at ESD. Keep documenting everything - save any emails or messages from your employer about the termination, any performance reviews that show you were meeting expectations, etc. This documentation will be crucial if they try to contest your claim. And definitely keep filing those weekly claims while you wait!
When i was in adjudication for 5 weeks last year I finally got through to someone who told me they needed additional income verification that they never bothered to request from me! Check your notices tab on eServices and see if there's anything there you missed. Sometimes they send requests for info but don't make it obvious.
One thing I learned the hard way: even though your employer has 10 days to respond to ESD about your claim, they can actually contest it MUCH later, which can trigger adjudication weeks after you start receiving benefits. Make sure you're carefully tracking your available balance in case you suddenly get disqualified and have to pay everything back. I've seen it happen to coworkers.
Well that's terrifying. I hadn't even thought about the possibility of getting benefits and then having to pay them back. This whole system feels designed to stress people out when they're already dealing with job loss. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow.
The same thing is happening to me right now but my letter said I'm approved starting November 1st. I've been trying to call ESD but it's impossible to get through! I've been hung up on 8 times already this week. Did you get this resolved yet? Did you have to do anything special to get someone on the phone?
UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! The agent confirmed exactly what you all said - the approval went through in their system but the disqualification flag wasn't removed. She fixed it while I was on the phone and said all my weekly claims should update to 'paid' status within 2-3 business days. She also said I should receive all the back payments for the weeks that were showing as disqualified (but that I had filed for) in one lump sum. Such a relief! For anyone else dealing with this issue, definitely call and specifically mention the 'disqualification flag' - that seemed to help the agent understand exactly what needed to be fixed.
LunarLegend
Sorry to hijack but this reminds me of my appeal from last month! I was so nervous I couldn't sleep for days, and then when I finally got the decision (took 5 days), I won but they miscalculated my backpay amount. Had to call 27 times to get them to fix it. Now dealing with a whole new issue about my job search requirements. Does the nightmare ever end with ESD??
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Oliver Becker
•IT NEVER ENDS!!! I swear they make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from collecting what they're owed. I've been dealing with ESD garbage since January and I'm STILL having to call them every other week about something!
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StardustSeeker
I want to address something important: the length of deliberation time is NOT directly correlated with whether you win or lose. I've seen quick denials and quick approvals. I've also seen lengthy deliberations for both outcomes. A more complex case typically requires a more detailed written decision regardless of outcome. The judge needs to cite specific regulations, address each piece of evidence, and create a legally sound document. This takes time. What you can do now: 1. Continue filing weekly claims 2. Check both your mailbox and online portal daily 3. Prepare documents for a further appeal if needed (you'll have 30 days if you need to appeal to Commissioner Review) 4. Look into temporary assistance if you're in immediate financial need Hang in there - a week is completely within normal timeframes for appeal decisions.
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Keisha Taylor
•Thank you for the thorough response. I think I was catastrophizing because of the financial stress. I'll keep filing weekly claims and checking both places. Is there any way to send a follow-up to the judge or would that just annoy them?
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StardustSeeker
•I wouldn't contact the judge directly - that could potentially be seen as attempting to influence the decision outside proper channels. The OAH contact center is your best resource for status updates. If it's been more than two weeks, you could politely inquire again, but one week is still well within normal processing times.
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