Just to add some important details: For PFML, you can apply retroactively for benefits going back several weeks, so you might be able to cover the time you've already been out of work. You'll need medical certification from your doctor confirming your condition and inability to work. For your specific situation with a broken foot, you should qualify for medical leave benefits. The current maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is around $1,475, though most people receive less based on their income. Once you're approved, payments are typically deposited weekly. The process is generally faster than UI adjudication.

my sister got denyed for unemployment too but she found out she could get food stamps at least while she was unable to work. maybe look into that too?

AWESOME news!! So happy for you! Thanks for updating us - it's helpful to know the timeline. Enjoy that backpay! 💰

Great to hear! This timeline (12 business days) is right in line with their standard processing time. Glad everything worked out for you!

One thing no one mentioned - check if you have the correct payment method set up in your account NOW. I won my appeal, waited 3 weeks, then discovered my direct deposit info was outdated with a closed bank account. Had to wait another 2 weeks after fixing that. Also make sure your address is current in case they need to mail you anything.

Just an update for anyone finding this thread later: Most appeal backpay is processing faster in 2025 than in previous years. The average time is now 17-21 days according to what an ESD supervisor told me last month. They've added more staff to the post-appeal processing team specifically because of the backlog issues in 2023-2024.

Just an update for anyone in a similar situation: I've seen appeal decision timelines vary significantly over the past year. The official OAH guideline is that decisions should be issued within 30 days of the hearing, but system backlogs can extend this timeline. Some factors that might affect your timeline: 1. Complexity of your case (simple eligibility issues tend to be faster) 2. Whether additional evidence was submitted after the hearing 3. Current OAH caseload and staffing 4. Whether the judge needed to research specific legal precedents If you reach the 30-day mark, I would definitely recommend contacting OAH directly rather than just ESD. Their contact info is on the hearing notice you received.

UPDATE: I followed the advice here and called OAH directly. The representative was actually really helpful! She checked my case and said the decision was made yesterday and is being mailed out today. She couldn't tell me what the decision was, but at least I know it's coming soon. Such a relief to know it's not lost in the system somewhere. Thanks everyone for the support and advice!

I tried calling ESD for DAYS about a similar issue last month and could never get through. The wait times are insane. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it when you need to actually talk to someone. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website is claimyr.com if you end up needing to call about the union status thing.

To directly answer your questions: 1. Yes, file normally: report zero hours/wages, available for work, and answer all questions as usual. 2. You don't need to do anything special since the claim has remained active throughout. 3. Since he maintained an active claim by continuously filing, there will be no waiting week. 4. Verify his union referral status is correctly showing in the system to avoid job search requirements. 5. Payment should process normally as long as there are no new issues with the claim. The key is that by continuously filing even during periods of work, you've maintained the claim's active status, which makes the transition back to receiving benefits seamless.