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.

btw when i finaly got my id verified i got ALL my payments at once! was like $4200!! came 3 days after verification completed

Oh wow, that's great to hear! Hopefully mine will come through quickly too once they finish the verification. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I work with older job seekers and want to mention that while you're waiting for ESD resolution, you might want to connect with your local WorkSource office. They have specific programs for job seekers 55+ that can help with the "ghost job" situation you're experiencing. They offer free workshops on addressing age bias in interviews and can sometimes match you directly with employers who specifically value experienced workers. Additionally, the WorkSource case managers can sometimes help expedite ESD issues.

dont forget to check your ESD account for any hidden "alert" messages. Sometimes they say theres a problem but DONT EVEN TELL YOU. I was stuck for 2 months before finding out they needed a document and never bothered to tell me!!! Check the NOTICES section.

btw the phone system asks different questions sometimes. like they word them weird compared to online. just pay attention. oh and have a pen ready cuz they give u a confirmation number at the end

Just to follow up on your original question - changing your PIN is absolutely fine and won't affect your claim status. The UI telephone system (1-800-318-6022) and eServices are just different ways to access the same claim system. The PIN is purely for telephone security verification, similar to your eServices password being for online security. One advantage of phone filing is that it's available longer hours than the website, which sometimes goes down for maintenance. But as others mentioned, the online system offers more features like uploading documents or checking detailed claim status.