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Word of warning: my gf had similar situation, had all docs proving hours cut, still took 7 weeks in adjudication & they kept asking for more stuff! Make sure u answer EVERY call (even unknown numbers) cuz if u miss adjudicator call they delay everything!!!!
Honestly this is just how ESD works - super inefficient and frustrating. They HAVE to verify with your employer no matter what documentation you provide. I was in adjudication for 8 weeks despite having similar proof about my hours being cut. The system is designed to be difficult. The most important advice I can give: CALL THEM. Don't just wait. Call every few days for a status update. I finally got mine resolved because I kept calling and finally got a helpful agent who escalated my claim. The worst part is they don't even tell you how long it will take or exactly what they're investigating! It's a completely opaque process designed to frustrate claimants.
While I understand your frustration, I do want to clarify that calling repeatedly typically won't speed up adjudication. The adjudicators work through claims in roughly the order received, with priority given to certain hardship cases. Most phone agents can't influence the adjudication timeline. However, calling can be useful if there's missing information or to check if they need additional documentation from you.
One more important point: if you receive an unfavorable decision, you still have the option to petition for review with the Commissioner's Review Office within 30 days of the judge's decision. Many claimants give up after the first appeal, but the Commissioner sometimes reverses decisions, especially in cases involving mental health where the judge may not have fully considered all aspects of the situation. Make sure to carefully read the appeal rights section of your decision letter if you need to take this step.
I didn't know there was another level of appeal after the OAH judge! That's really good to know as a backup option. If I do have to go that route, would I need to submit additional documentation or just explain why I think the judge made an incorrect decision? And does the Commissioner typically take longer to decide than the OAH judge?
For a Commissioner's Review, you can submit both additional arguments and, in some cases, new evidence (though there are strict rules about what new evidence is allowed). The Commissioner typically takes 2-3 months to issue a decision, so it's not a quick process. If you go this route, I highly recommend getting help from the Unemployment Law Project, which provides free legal assistance for these cases.
I've heard the opposite actually - that approvals can be faster because denials require more detailed explanations to hold up under further review. But it probably depends more on the individual judge's caseload and complexity of the case than anything else.
Has anyone had their claims FINALLY processed after being pending forever, only to then have the payments get stuck in processing? That's where I am now - they fixed my pending claims but the money hasn't hit my account after 5 days!
i treid calling the number like 20 times today and it just hangs up every time. what time did u call the governors office????
Fatima Al-Qasimi
Update: I submitted both the Redetermination Request and the Petition for Commissioner's Review yesterday. I also managed to talk to an actual claims specialist using the Claimyr service someone suggested above (which actually worked!). The specialist could see the problem right away - they had my work history completely mixed up in the system. She said she's flagging my account for urgent review and created a new fact-finding for my most recent employer. I'm cautiously hopeful this might finally get resolved. Will update when I hear more. Thanks for all the advice!
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Sofia Ramirez
•That's great progress! When a claims specialist flags an account for review, it typically gets prioritized. The fact they're doing a new fact-finding for your most recent employer is exactly what needed to happen. Keep checking your eServices account daily for any new information or questionnaires they might add.
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StarSeeker
Good luck! my cousin had something similar last yr took about 3 weeks after talking to specialist but she did get all her back pay eventually. hang in there!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Thanks for the encouragement! That gives me hope that I might actually see this resolved and possibly get backpay for all these months.
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