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My cousin in Oregon told me they do something kinda like this already. When COVID hit and unemployment went crazy, they took people who were waiting for benefits and hired them as temp workers to process other people's claims. Makes WAY more sense than making everyone sit around doing nothing while waiting for money!!!
Oregon did temporarily reassign some state workers from other agencies to help with claims processing during COVID, but they didn't hire unemployment claimants as state workers. That would be a completely different program requiring legislative action, funding mechanisms, and significant changes to civil service rules. It's important to understand the distinction between redeploying existing trained state workers versus hiring brand new employees with no experience in claims processing.
what im wondering is how much would these temp state jobs pay? cause if it's minimum wage that wouldn't even cover my rent. unemployment benefits are supposed to be like 60% of your regular pay up to the maximum. would these temp jobs match that or would people take a big pay cut to work for the state?
Good question. Most entry-level state positions start around $19-23/hour depending on the classification, which is often less than what specialized manufacturing or tech workers earn. There's also the issue of benefits - regular state employees receive comprehensive benefits packages that wouldn't be cost-effective for very short-term positions. This creates another layer of complexity when considering temporary employment models.
Just wanted to update that I heard back from the Governor's office this morning! They said they've contacted their liaison at ESD, who confirmed my claim was flagged for "additional verification" but no one had been assigned to review it. The liaison manually assigned my case to an adjudicator who should be reaching out within 72 hours. I'm cautiously optimistic! I'll keep you all posted on what happens. Thanks for all the advice and support.
UPDATE: So the Governor's office actually did call me back today! Just 26 hours after I contacted them. The woman I spoke with was really helpful and said my claim had been flagged for wage verification (even though I submitted all my W-2s). She said she's emailed their direct contact at ESD and requested an expedited review because of my housing situation. She said it typically takes 3-5 business days after their intervention to see movement on a claim, but they'll be monitoring it and will call me again on Monday to check in. I'm still anxious but at least something is happening now! Will update again when I know more.
It's not sketchy - they basically use a system that continuously redials ESD and then connects you when they get through. Saved me hours of frustration. They don't access your personal information or anything, just connect you to ESD directly.
Quick update on my earlier comment - I've noticed ESD sometimes processes claims in batches. If you filed your initial claim at the end of a week or during a holiday period, it might take a bit longer. Those who file right at the beginning of a business week sometimes get processed faster. Also, while you're waiting, make absolutely sure you're still filing your weekly claims correctly. The biggest mistake I see people make is they stop filing weekly certifications while in adjudication, and then they have to go through an additional process to backdate those claims.
Quick update on my suggestion earlier - after you file the appeal, you should get assigned an appeal date/time. Don't wait for this! Keep trying to reach ESD directly because they can often fix it faster than the appeal process. The appeal is just a backup plan to protect your rights while you try to get it fixed the quicker way.
That makes a lot of sense. I'll try using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to an agent while also filing the appeal as backup. Thank you!
One last tip - when you do reach an ESD agent, ask them to check specifically for an "identity verification flag" or "payment block" on your account. Using those exact terms helps them understand what to look for. Also request that they make notes in your file about your contact attempt and what was discussed. This creates a paper trail showing you've been actively trying to resolve the issue.
Paolo Rizzo
has anyone else notice that they seem to be denying more waivers this year??? i know 3 ppl who all got denied even with good reasons!! seems like they just want our $$
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Keisha Johnson
•I haven't seen any evidence of increased denial rates. In fact, ESD published data showing they approved approximately 63% of waiver requests in Q1 2025, which is actually slightly higher than previous quarters. The key factors remain the same: whether the overpayment was your fault, your ability to repay, and how well you documented your financial hardship. Proper documentation is critical.
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Yara Sabbagh
Update: I actually just checked my mail and received a letter from ESD requesting additional information about my income for the 3 months after my benefits ended. They're giving me 7 days to respond. My friend still hasn't heard anything beyond the request for rent verification. Seems like they're processing our waivers separately even though we applied around the same time. I'm relieved to at least know someone is looking at my application!
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Amina Sy
•This is excellent news! When ESD requests specific additional information, it typically means your application is actively being reviewed. Make sure to provide exactly what they're asking for, and consider including a brief cover letter that references your waiver application number and summarizes the documents you're submitting. Send it with delivery confirmation if possible. The 7-day deadline is important - if you need more time, call immediately to request an extension rather than missing the deadline.
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