Hey there! I was in your exact situation last month - redetermination lost in the void and couldn't get through on the phone. I ended up trying the Claimyr service someone mentioned above, and I hate to admit it worked really well. But here's a hack: if you can find someone who works for the state government (any department), they often have internal contact numbers or can help escalate your issue. My neighbor works for DOL and was able to get me in touch with someone at ESD directly. \n\nAlso, don't forget to keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for the redetermination! I made that mistake and it caused even more problems.

That's a great reminder about continuing to file weekly claims - I've been doing that faithfully. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who works for the state, but sounds like I have a few other options to try from this thread. Thank you!

If you're having trouble getting through to ESD to ask questions about your specific situation (which is likely - their phone lines are insane), I'd recommend using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to an ESD agent quickly instead of waiting on hold forever. Really saved me when I had complicated questions about my claim. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website is claimyr.com. Basically they hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available.

Let us know how it goes with your claim! The application is pretty straightforward but sometimes the identity verification part can be tricky. Make sure you have your ID and social security card handy!

UPDATE: I called the main ESD number this morning and after a 45-minute wait, finally got through to an agent. They confirmed there IS an adjudicator assigned to my claim who's trying to reach me about the separation issue. Apparently my former employer is claiming I quit voluntarily (which would disqualify me), but I was actually laid off due to a department reorganization. The agent put notes in my file about the best times to reach me and gave me the adjudicator's direct line. She said I should gather any documentation proving the layoff (termination letter, emails, etc.) before the fact-finding interview. Just wanted to update in case anyone else runs into this situation!

Glad you got it sorted out! That's exactly the right approach. For the fact-finding interview, be prepared to explain in detail: 1. The exact circumstances of your separation 2. Any conversations you had with management about it 3. Whether you received any documentation 4. If there were any witnesses Stick to facts rather than emotions, and have your timeline clear. If your employer is claiming you quit but you were laid off, that's a significant discrepancy they need to resolve before approving benefits. Good luck with the interview!

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you start working full-time (even if it pays less than your benefits), you'll become ineligible for ANY unemployment, so at that point you should indicate that on your last weekly claim. The system will ask if you're working full-time now, and you'd select "yes" which will end your claim properly. But for part-time work, definitely keep filing and reporting your earnings! The formula ESD uses is: They subtract 75% of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. So if your weekly benefit is $500 and you earn $300, they deduct $225 (75% of $300) from your $500, leaving you with $275 in partial unemployment benefits!

One more thing to be aware of - make sure you're still doing your required job search activities each week (3 job search activities) even while working part-time. Many people forget this step and end up having benefits denied. You're still required to look for full-time work while collecting partial benefits.

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.